St. John Shallow-water Ground Validation Transects

Metadata also available as [Questions & Answers] - [Parseable text] - [XML]

Metadata:


Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Adam Zitello, NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/CCMA Biogeography Branch
Publication_Date: 2009
Title: St. John Shallow-water Ground Validation Transects
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Silver Spring, MD
Publisher:
NOAA's Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)
Other_Citation_Details:
Please use citation for the written document "Benthic Habitats of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands" when using these data.
Online_Linkage: https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/projects/detail?key=205
Larger_Work_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator:
Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Program
Publication_Date: 2009
Title: Benthic Habitats of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Silver Spring, MD
Publisher: NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
Other_Citation_Details:
Zitello, A.G., L.J. Bauer, T.A. Battista, P.W. Mueller and M.S. Kendall. 2009. Benthic Habitats of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 96. 50 pp.
Description:
Abstract:
Benthic habitat maps of the nearshore marine environment of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands were created by visual interpretation of remotely sensed imagery. The objective of this effort, conducted by NOAA's Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment - Biogeography Branch in partnership with the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), was to provide spatially-explicit information on the habitat types, biological cover and live coral cover of St. John's coral reef ecosystem. The data described herein represent evaluation transects of ground validation (GV) sites explored by NOAA field scientists to further refine habitat map classification. Considering vessel drift during habitat characterization, the entire evaluation period was most accurately represented by a series of GPS points logged at five-second intervals.
Purpose:
The purpose of this survey data was to investigate areas of imagery where uncertainties existed on the photo interpreter's behalf during the decision making process of benthic habitat classification in St. John. This information was incorporated into a fine-scale assessment of the status, abundance, and distribution of marine habitats of St. John. The NOAA effort provides the U.S. National Park Service with increased technical capacity for ocean exploration, management, and stewardship. Direct implications to management measures include evaluation of management efficacy, a spatial framework for improved monitoring sampling design, improved assessment of human-use impacts, and marine spatial planning to support alternative marine protected area boundary alternatives.
Supplemental_Information:
The creation of high-quality benthic habitat maps required extensive field work to enhance accuracies of habitat attribution and, to a lesser degree, habitat delineation. Data were collected on 444 ground validation sites over a two-week field mission from January 5-16, 2009 aboard U.S. National Park Service small research vessels. As anchoring at each site was not feasible for rapid assessment, wind and wave effects caused the survey vessel to drift along a transect. Post-processing of the GPS data allowed for a series of points to represent the actual survey location.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 20090105
Ending_Date: 20090116
Currentness_Reference: ground condition
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned
Spatial_Domain:
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -64.839111
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -64.643499
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 18.373729
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 18.296091
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: NCEI Geoportal Filter
Theme_Keyword: CoRIS_Metadata
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Benthic Habitat
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: Geographic Information > Habitats
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: coral reef
Theme_Keyword: benthic habitats
Theme_Keyword: reef
Theme_Keyword: submerged aquatic vegetation
Theme_Keyword: unconsolidated sediments
Theme_Keyword: zone
Theme_Keyword: geomorphological structure
Theme_Keyword: biological cover
Theme_Keyword: ground validation
Theme_Keyword: transect
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: imageryBaseMapsEarthCover
Theme_Keyword: 010
Theme_Keyword: environment
Theme_Keyword: 007
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: United States
Place_Keyword: U. S. Virgin Islands
Place_Keyword: St. John
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Place Thesaurus
Place_Keyword:
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > U. S. Virgin Islands > St. John > St. John (18N064W0011)
Place_Keyword:
OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Virgin Islands > Virgin Islands > St. John (18N064W0011)
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Region
Place_Keyword: USVI
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints: Not for navigation.
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Tim Battista
Contact_Organization: NOAA National Ocean Service
Contact_Position: Researcher
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 1305 East West Highway
City: Silver Spring
State_or_Province: MD
Postal_Code: 20910
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: (301) 713-3028 x171
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (301) 713-4388
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Tim.Battista@noaa.gov
Native_Data_Set_Environment:
Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 3; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.3.0.1770

Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
The points in this data layer were acquired by GPS data using a Trimble GeoXT receiver. All data point characteristics were recorded in the GPS data logger automatically and seamlessly transferred to ArcGIS shapefiles using Trimble Pathfinder Office software. Attributes are all expected to be correct.
Logical_Consistency_Report:
Data points were collected with mapping-grade GPS receivers. The data were post processed for differential correction to the Continually Operating Reference System (CORS) station at St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (VITH).

All attribute information was recorded by the GPS receiver and stored directly in the raw GPS files. This automated process was assumed to be error free. This file is believed to be logically consistent.

Completeness_Report:
444 field positions were occupied and habitat characterizations were conducted for ground validation during this work. A small subset of the ground validation sites did not have transect information in this dataset, depending on the evaluation technique. Snorkel and visual inspection from distances did not allow for a GPS receiver to occupy the exact location, as a result, approximated GPS locations were used instead without the opportunity for transects with the underwater camera.
Positional_Accuracy:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:
The true positional accuracy of individual epics was determined to be within 1 m for 96% of the logged points. However, it is estimated that horizontal accuracies may be 0 - 20m from the true position of the underwater camera assessment due to line "lay-back" during drift.
Lineage:
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: NOAA
Publication_Date: 2009
Title: GPS Data
Type_of_Source_Media: GPS data
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Single_Date/Time:
Calendar_Date: 2009
Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition
Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Trimble SSF files
Source_Contribution:
GPS data, which were originally recorded as code-phase signals in Trimble SSF format, were differentially post-processed to the Continually Operating Reference System (CORS) station at St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (VITH).
Process_Step:
Process_Description:

Process_Date 2008-2009

Process_Date: 2009
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
NOAA field scientists explored the ground validation locations with a suite of assessment techniques depending on the conditions at each site. A combination of underwater video (primary method), free diving, snorkeling and surface observations were used to survey the ecological characteristics at each location.

At the start of every morning, the boat captain selected a general region to begin the day's work. Navigating to field locations was accomplished using a Garmin GPS 76 device with the uploaded GV site coordinates. The boat captain maneuvered the vessel to within 5 m of the target location and made every effort to maintain that location without jeopardizing crew and equipment safety. Once on site, NOAA scientists would simultaneously deploy a SeaViewer Sea-Drop 950 camera and begin logging a waypoint on a Trimble GeoXT GPS receiver.While the video camera was capturing bottom imagery, an observer viewed the video real-time on a Panasonic Toughbook aboard the survey vessel. They categorized each site according to the levels of the habitat classification scheme: major and detailed geomorphological structure, major biological cover, percent major biological cover and percent coral cover. Data was entered into a custom data dictionary generated in Trimble Pathfinder Office software and loaded onto the Trimble data logger.

Process_Date: 2009
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
Trimble Pathfinder Office software was used to post process and differentially correct the raw GPS data to the Continually Operating Reference System (CORS) station at St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (VITH).
Process_Date: 2009
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
Precisely positioned GPS positions and its associated transects were viewed in a GIS to enhance the accuracy of the draft benthic habitat map. Polygon boundaries and habitat classifications were revised where field data necessitated changes.
Process_Date: 2009

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector
Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:
SDTS_Terms_Description:
SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Entity Point
Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 5966

Spatial_Reference_Information:
Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
Planar:
Grid_Coordinate_System:
Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
UTM_Zone_Number: 20
Transverse_Mercator:
Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.999600
Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -63.000000
Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.000000
False_Easting: 500000.000000
False_Northing: 0.000000
Planar_Coordinate_Information:
Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: Coordinate Pair
Coordinate_Representation:
Abscissa_Resolution: 0.000001
Ordinate_Resolution: 0.000001
Planar_Distance_Units: meters
Geodetic_Model:
Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983
Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.000000
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257224

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Detailed_Description:
Entity_Type:
Entity_Type_Label: St. John Ground Validation Transects
Entity_Type_Definition: Shapefile attribute table
Entity_Type_Definition_Source: None
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: FID
Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number.
Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Shape
Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry.
Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Max_PDOP
Attribute_Definition: Maximum Positional Dilution of Precision
Attribute_Definition_Source: Automated by Trimble
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: unitless value
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Max_HDOP
Attribute_Definition: Maximum Horizontal Dilution of Precision
Attribute_Definition_Source: Automated by Trimble
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: unitless value
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: GPS_Date
Attribute_Definition: Date position was logged
Attribute_Definition_Source: Automated by Trimble
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Range_Domain:
Range_Domain_Minimum: 2009 January 5
Range_Domain_Maximum: 2009 January 16
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: GPS_Time
Attribute_Definition: Time position was logged
Attribute_Definition_Source: Automated by Trimble
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Range_Domain:
Range_Domain_Minimum: 06:00:00am
Range_Domain_Maximum: 06:00:00pm
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Vert_Prec
Attribute_Definition: Vertical Precision
Attribute_Definition_Source: Automated by Trimble
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: in meters
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Horz_Prec
Attribute_Definition: Horizontal Precision
Attribute_Definition_Source: Automated by Trimble
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: in meters

Distribution_Information:
Distributor:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Program
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 1305 East West Highway
City: Silver Spring
State_or_Province: MD
Postal_Code: 20910
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 301-713-3028 x171
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 301-713-4384
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: tim.battista@noaa.gov
Hours_of_Service: 0800 - 1700, Monday to Friday, EST
Resource_Description: Downloadable Data
Distribution_Liability:
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) is publishing this data on their website. NCCOS Biogeography Branch does not guarantee the accuracy of the geographic features or attributes. Please see the written report and metadata records for each data set for complete information on the source, limitations, and proper use.
Custom_Order_Process: Contact NOAA for distribution options (see Distributor).

Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20200329
Metadata_Review_Date: 20100226
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Branch
Contact_Position: Primary Map Creator
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 1305 East West Highway
City: Silver Spring
State_or_Province: MD
Postal_Code: 20910
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 301-713-3028
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 301-713-4384
Hours_of_Service: 0800 - 1700, Monday to Friday, EST
Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
Metadata_Time_Convention: Local Time

CoRIS:
CoRIS_ID: 20100226074351
CoRIS_Children: None
CoRIS_Beginning_Date: 20090105
CoRIS_Ending_Date: 20090116
CoRIS_Metadata_Link:
https://www.coris.noaa.gov/metadata/records/html/metadata_gvdata_shallowwater_sites_transects.html
CoRIS_Tracking_ID: 4500

Generated by mp version 2.9.48 on Thu Mar 28 11:03:37 2024