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Value | Definition |
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1 | Benthic/Artificial |
2 | Benthic/Coral Reef and Hardbottom/Coral Reef and Colonized Hardbottom/Aggregated Patch Reefs |
3 | Benthic/Coral Reef and Hardbottom/Coral Reef and Colonized Hardbottom/Colonized Bedrock |
4 | Benthic/Coral Reef and Hardbottom/Coral Reef and Colonized Hardbottom/Colonized Pavement |
5 | Benthic/Coral Reef and Hardbottom/Coral Reef and Colonized Hardbottom/Colonized Pavement with Sand Channels |
7 | Benthic/Coral Reef and Hardbottom/Coral Reef and Colonized Hardbottom/Linear Reef |
8 | Benthic/Coral Reef and Hardbottom/Coral Reef and Colonized Hardbottom/Scattered Coral/Rock in Unconsolidated Sediment |
9 | Benthic/Coral Reef and Hardbottom/Coral Reef and Colonized Hardbottom/Spur and Groove |
10 | Benthic/Coral Reef and Hardbottom/Uncolonized Hardbottom/Reef Rubble |
11 | Benthic/Coral Reef and Hardbottom/Uncolonized Hardbottom/Uncolonized Bedrock |
12 | Benthic/Coral Reef and Hardbottom/Uncolonized Hardbottom/Uncolonized Pavement |
14 | Benthic/Submerged Vegetation/Macroalgae/Patchy (Discontinuous) - 50% to less than 90% cover |
15 | Benthic/Submerged Vegetation/Macroalgae/Patchy (Discontinuous) - 10% to less than 50% cover |
16 | Benthic/Submerged Vegetation/Macroalgae/Continuous - 90% to 100% cover |
32 | Benthic/Unconsolidated Sediments/Mud |
33 | Benthic/Unconsolidated Sediments/Sand |
34 | Benthic/Unknown |
37 | Land/Bare Areas/Other |
38 | Land/Bare Areas/Rock |
39 | Land/Bare Areas/Sand/Beach |
40 | Land/Bare Areas/Soil |
41 | Land/Developed/Commercial |
46 | Land/Inland Water Bodies/Freshwater Pond |
47 | Land/Inland Water Bodies/Saltwater Pond |
49 | Land/Natural & Semi-Natural Areas/Forest/Trees/Sparse - 1%-15% canopy coverage |
50 | Land/Natural & Semi-Natural Areas/Forest/Trees/Open - 15%-65% canopy coverage |
51 | Land/Natural & Semi-Natural Areas/Forest/Trees/Closed - >65% canopy coverage |
52 | Land/Natural & Semi-Natural Areas/Shurbs/Bushes/Sparse - 1%-15% canopy coverage |
53 | Land/Natural & Semi-Natural Areas/Shurbs/Bushes/Open - 15%-65% canopy coverage |
54 | Land/Natural & Semi-Natural Areas/Shurbs/Bushes/Closed - >65% canopy coverage |
55 | Land/Natural & Semi-Natural Areas/Vegetated Field |
56 | Land/Roads/Paved |
57 | Land/Roads/Unpaved |
58 | Mangrove/Avicennia germanis/Closed - >65% canopy cover |
59 | Mangrove/Avicennia germanis/Open - 15%-65% canopy coverage |
60 | Mangrove/Avicennia germanis/Sparse - 1%-15% canopy coverage |
61 | Mangrove/Dead |
62 | Mangrove/Laguncularia racemosa/Closed - >65% canopy cover |
63 | Mangrove/Laguncularia racemosa/Open - 15%-65% canopy coverage |
64 | Mangrove/Laguncularia racemosa/Sparse - 1%-15% canopy coverage |
65 | Mangrove/Mixed/Closed - >65% canopy cover |
66 | Mangrove/Mixed/Open - 15%-65% canopy coverage |
67 | Mangrove/Mixed/Sparse - 1%-15% canopy coverage |
68 | Mangrove/Rhizophora mangle/Closed - >65% canopy cover |
69 | Mangrove/Rhizophora mangle/Open - 15%-65% canopy coverage |
70 | Mangrove/Rhizophora mangle/Sparse - 1%-15% canopy coverage |
71 | Benthic/Submerged Vegetation/Seagrass/Patchy (Discontinuous) - 10% to less than 50% cover |
72 | Benthic/Submerged Vegetation/Seagrass/Patchy (Discontinuous) - 50% to less than 90% cover |
73 | Benthic/Submerged Vegetation/Seagrass/Continuous - 90% to 100% cover |
74 | Land/Developed/Residential |
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
These maps were created to support current and future monitoring and management efforts of the National Park Service (NPS) for this site, and support the programmatic objectives of the NPS service-wide Inventory and Monitoring Program. In particular, maps created from the time series of the photographs cover periods both before and after Hurricane Hugo (1989), providing insight to habitat changes that occurred following the disaster.
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Twenty-one distinct benthic habitat types within eight zones were mapped directly into a GIS system using visual interpretation of orthorectified aerial photographs. Benthic features were mapped that covered an area of 1600 km^2. In all, 49 km^2 of unconsolidated sediment, 721 km^2 of submerged vegetation, 73 km^2 of mangroves, and 756 km^2 of coral reef and colonized hardbottom were mapped.
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During the digitizing process, image stretches and manipulation of image contrast, brightness and color balance were performed in the ArcView Image Analysis Extension to enhance features in the processed imagery. Additional collateral information, including previously completed habitat maps, NOS nautical charts, and other descriptive references dealing with benthic and coastal habitats of Salt River National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve was used to assist with image interpretation.
A first draft map was completed and features in the imagery where uncertainties existed, due to confusing or difficult to interpret signatures, were identified for future ground validation effort. Since maps where based on historical imagery that didn't necessarily reflect current ground condition, similar signatures were identified in year 2000 aerial photographs. An ArcView GIS point theme was generated with points positioned on the features of uncertain habitat type or along transects through gradients between habitat types. The GIS points were converted to GPS waypoints, and were visited for on the ground habitat validation.
Benthic habitat characterization was conducted at each site by snorkeling, free diving, or via observations from the surface where water depth and clarity permitted. Mangrove habitat characterization was conducted by driving, kayaking or hiking to points and visually identifying mangrove type and cover. GPS data was collected at each location, and site ID, depth, habitat type, and the method used to make the assessment were recorded. The ground validation data was incorporated into the second draft of each map.
Person who carried out this activity:
In comparison, the map described here was created from higher resolution imagery (25 microns), finer minimum mapping unit (MMU) (100 square meters), and habitat delineation occurred at a smaller image scale (1:1500). A greater number of ground truth points over more habitat types were verified for the year 2000 mapping data, in a study site of much smaller area. Ground truth points could not be taken directly for the 1988 data, however, year 2000 points were referenced when appropriate. Mapping methods were otherwise the identical to those used previously. Attribute accuracy was therefore presumed to be equivalent to or better than that of the previous map, although an assessment was not conducted on the current map directly.
The Minimum Mapping Unit (MMU) for identifying habitats or features was 100 square meters for visual photointerpretation. The software utilized in this project was designed to alert the photointerpreter each time a polygon was drawn smaller than the MMU. When this occurred, the photointerpreter has the choice of weather to include the polygon in the dataset or not.
GIS topologic quality was established by executing ArcView extension routines that check for: overlapping polygons, multipart polygons, sliver polygons and void polygons. Additionally, checks for adjacent polygons with the same habitat attributes were completed. All errors were identified and corrected. This file is believed to be logically consistent.
Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
- Access_Constraints: None
- Use_Constraints: Not for Navigation
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) produced this data for Salt River Bay National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve (NPS). NCCOS Biogeography Program does not guarantee the accuracy of the geographic features or attributes. Please see the metadata records for each data set for complete information on the source, limitations, and proper use.Disclaimer- While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.
Data format: | ESRI shapefile |
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Network links: |
http://products.coastalscience.noaa.gov/collections/biogeo/e36sari/ |