Identification_Information: Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Laurie Bauer, NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/CCMA Biogeography Branch Publication_Date: 2010 Title: Vieques, Puerto Rico Benthic Habitat Map - Ground Validation Sites 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 Vieques, Puerto Rico" when using these data. Online_Linkage: https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/projects/detail?key=76 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: 2010 Title: Benthic Habitats of Vieques, Puerto Rico Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document Publication_Information: Publication_Place: Silver Spring, MD Publisher: NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Other_Citation_Details: Bauer, L.J., M.S. Kendall, A.G. Zitello, and T. Battista. 2010. Benthic Habitats of Vieques, Puerto Rico. pp. 9-46. In: Bauer and Kendall (eds.), An Ecological Characterization of the Marine Resources of Vieques, Puerto Rico Part II: Field Studies of Habitats, Nutrients, Contaminants, Fish, and Benthic Communities. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 110. Silver Spring, MD. 174 pp. Description: Abstract: Benthic habitat maps of the nearshore marine environment of Vieques, Puerto Rico 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 NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration, was to provide spatially-explicit information on the habitat types, biological cover and live coral cover of Vieques' coral reef ecosystem. The data described herein represent ground validation (GV) sites explored by NOAA field scientists to further refine habitat map classification. 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 Vieques. This information was incorporated into a fine-scale assessment of the status, abundance, and distribution of marine habitats of Vieques. The NOAA effort provides resource managers 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 137 ground validation sites over a two-week field mission from October 7-13, 2008 aboard a small research vessel. Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Range_of_Dates/Times: Beginning_Date: 20081007 Ending_Date: 20081013 Currentness_Reference: ground condition Status: Progress: Complete Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned Spatial_Domain: Bounding_Coordinates: West_Bounding_Coordinate: -65.627695 East_Bounding_Coordinate: -65.338752 North_Bounding_Coordinate: 18.196053 South_Bounding_Coordinate: 18.067873 Keywords: Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: NCEI Geoportal Filter Theme_Keyword: CoRIS_Metadata 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: point Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category Theme_Keyword: environment Theme_Keyword: 007 Theme_Keyword: biota Theme_Keyword: 002 Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus Theme_Keyword: Geographic Information > Habitats Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Theme Thesaurus Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Benthic Habitat Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Mapping > Habitat Mapping Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Habitats Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Coral Cover Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None Place_Keyword: United States Place_Keyword: Puerto Rico Place_Keyword: Vieques Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Place Thesaurus Place_Keyword: OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Vieques Island > Vieques Island (18N065W0002) Place_Keyword: COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Vieques > Vieques Island (18N065W0002) Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Region Place_Keyword: PR Access_Constraints: None Use_Constraints: Not for navigation. Point_of_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Person_Primary: Contact_Person: Laurie J. Bauer 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: Marine Ecologist/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 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: laurie.bauer@noaa.gov Hours_of_Service: 0800 - 1700, Monday to Friday, EST 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 thematic data layer were acquired by GPS data using a Trimble GeoXT receiver with a customized data dictionary designed to reflect the habitat classification scheme described in "Benthic Habitats of Vieques, Puerto Rico" (Bauer et al. 2010). All habitat determinations were made in the field by trained NOAA scientists, recorded in the GPS data logger and seamlessly transferred to ArcGIS shapefiles using Trimble Pathfinder Office software. Attributes are all expected to be correct. Logical_Consistency_Report: Data points with accompanying attribute information 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). Site information was recorded in the field both in a data dictionary within the GPS receiver and on waterproof field sheets. A comparison between soft and hard copy data records were completed to ensure attribute collection consistency. Furthermore, underwater video was recorded at each site to maintain a record of habitat condition. This video was reviewed by NOAA staff in the office to ensure correct habitat attribution was made in the field. All errors were identified through these quality assurance techniques and corrected. This file is believed to be logically consistent. Completeness_Report: 137 field positions were occupied and habitat characterizations were conducted for ground validation during this work. These data were included in the mapping dataset as a GIS layer and the draft habitat map was edited based on this ground condition. All areas where uncertainty existed on the part of the photo interpreter during habitat delineation were investigated in the field. All data were collected and integrated into the mapped products as planned. 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. For each survey site, individual epics were averaged to generate a mean GPS point for each location. Lineage: Source_Information: Source_Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: NOAA Publication_Date: 2008 Title: GPS Data Type_of_Source_Media: GPS data Source_Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Single_Date/Time: Calendar_Date: 2008 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: A first draft benthic habitat map was generated by delineating all features that could be identified by visual inspection of the remotely sensed imagery. During the creation of this first draft, the interpreter placed discrete points on the map that were difficult to distinguish and that warranted further field investigation. These sites were labeled as "ground validation" (GV) positions. Process_Date: 2008 Process_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Person_Primary: Contact_Person: Laurie J. Bauer 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: Marine Ecologist/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 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: laurie.bauer@noaa.gov Hours_of_Service: 0800 - 1700, Monday to Friday, EST 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: 2008 Process_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Person_Primary: Contact_Person: Laurie J. Bauer 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: Marine Ecologist/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 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: laurie.bauer@noaa.gov Hours_of_Service: 0800 - 1700, Monday to Friday, EST 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: 2008 Process_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 Process_Step: Process_Description: Precisely positioned GPS positions and its associated classification data 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: Unknown Process_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Person_Primary: Contact_Person: Laurie J. Bauer 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: Marine Ecologist/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 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: laurie.bauer@noaa.gov Hours_of_Service: 0800 - 1700, Monday to Friday, EST 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: 137 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: WGS_1984 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: Vieques Ground Validation Sites 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: Site_ID Attribute_Definition: Unique identifier for each ground validation site Attribute_Definition_Source: None Attribute_Domain_Values: Codeset_Domain: Codeset_Name: Arbitrarily defined unique code Codeset_Source: Specific to this field mission Attribute: Attribute_Label: Date_ Attribute_Definition: Date of site visit and data collection Attribute_Definition_Source: None Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 2008 October 7 Range_Domain_Maximum: 2008 October 13 Attribute: Attribute_Label: Time Attribute_Definition: Time of site visit and data collection Attribute_Definition_Source: None Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 06:00:00am Range_Domain_Maximum: 06:00:00pm Attribute: Attribute_Label: Type Attribute_Definition: Purpose of data collection Attribute_Definition_Source: None Attribute_Domain_Values: Enumerated_Domain: Enumerated_Domain_Value: GV Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Ground Validation Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: None Attribute: Attribute_Label: Assessment Attribute_Definition: Method used to obtain habitat characterization information Attribute_Definition_Source: None Attribute_Domain_Values: Enumerated_Domain: Enumerated_Domain_Value: Drop Camera Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: SeaViewer Sea-Drop 950 underwater camera Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: None Attribute_Domain_Values: Enumerated_Domain: Enumerated_Domain_Value: Snorkel Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: NOAA scientist visually characterized habitat by free diving or surface swimming with a mask and snorkel Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: None Attribute_Domain_Values: Enumerated_Domain: Enumerated_Domain_Value: Other Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Any other assessment technique, including inspection from the vessel deck with a "look bucket" or binoculars Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: None Attribute: Attribute_Label: Maj_Struct Attribute_Definition: Major Geomorphological Structure Attribute_Definition_Source: Refer to "Benthic Habitats of Vieques, Puerto Rico" (Bauer et al. 2010) Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: Unknown Attribute: Attribute_Label: Det_Struct Attribute_Definition: Detailed Geomorphological Structure Attribute_Definition_Source: Refer to "Benthic Habitats of Vieques, Puerto Rico" (Bauer et al. 2010) Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: Unknown Attribute: Attribute_Label: Maj_Cover Attribute_Definition: Major Biological Cover Attribute_Definition_Source: Refer to "Benthic Habitats of Vieques, Puerto Rico" (Bauer et al. 2010) Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: Unknown Attribute: Attribute_Label: P_Maj_Cov Attribute_Definition: Percent Patchiness of Major Biological Cover Attribute_Definition_Source: Refer to "Benthic Habitats of Vieques, Puerto Rico" (Bauer et al. 2010) Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: Unknown Attribute: Attribute_Label: P_Coral_Cv Attribute_Definition: Percent Cover of Live Coral Attribute_Definition_Source: Refer to "Benthic Habitats of Vieques, Puerto Rico" (Bauer et al. 2010) Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: Unknown Overview_Description: Entity_and_Attribute_Overview: Specific details of the attributes and values therein can be found in "Benthic Habitats of Vieques, Puerto Rico" (Bauer et al. 2010) Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: Bauer, L.J., M.S. Kendall, A.G. Zitello, and T. Battista. 2010. Benthic Habitats of Vieques, Puerto Rico. pp. 9-46. In: Bauer and Kendall (eds.), An Ecological Characterization of the Marine Resources of Vieques, Puerto Rico Part II: Field Studies of Habitats, Nutrients, Contaminants, Fish, and Benthic Communities. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 110. Silver Spring, MD. 174 pp. 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 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 301-713-4384 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: laurie.bauer@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. Standard_Order_Process: Digital_Form: Digital_Transfer_Information: Format_Name: ESRI Shapefile Transfer_Size: 0.012 Digital_Transfer_Option: Online_Option: Computer_Contact_Information: Network_Address: Network_Resource_Name: https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/projects/detail?key=76 Fees: None Custom_Order_Process: Contact NOAA for distribution options (see Distributor). Metadata_Reference_Information: Metadata_Date: 20200329 Metadata_Review_Date: 20100622 Metadata_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Person_Primary: Contact_Person: Laurie J. Bauer 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: Marine Ecologist/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 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: laurie.bauer@noaa.gov 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 Online_Linkage: http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html ESRI Metadata Profile Online_Linkage: http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html ESRI Metadata Profile Online_Linkage: http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html ESRI Metadata Profile Online_Linkage: http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html ESRI Metadata Profile CoRIS: CoRIS_ID: 20100622054632 CoRIS_Children: None CoRIS_Beginning_Date: 20081007 CoRIS_Ending_Date: 20081013 CoRIS_Metadata_Link: https://www.coris.noaa.gov/metadata/records/html/metadata_vieques_ground_validation_sites.html CoRIS_Tracking_ID: 4931