Sidescan-Sonar imagery collected within New York Bight 1995 - 1998

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Frequently-anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

    Title:
    Sidescan-Sonar imagery collected within New York Bight 1995 - 1998
    Abstract:
    In 1995, the USGS, in cooperations with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, began a program designed to generate reconnaissance maps of the sea floor offshore of the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area, one of the most populated coastal regions within the United States. The goal of this mapping program is to provide a regional synthesis of the sea-floor environment, including a description of sedimentary environments, sediment texture, sea-floor morphology, geologic history, and the geometry and structure of the Quaternary strata. This mapping effort differs from previous studies of theis area by obtaining digital, sidescan-sonar images that cover 100 percent of the sea floor. The sidescan-sonar data were digitally mosaicked to provide a base suitable for use in the geographic information system (GIS) of the New York Bight region.

  1. How should this data set be cited?

    U.S. Geological Survey, 2000, Sidescan-Sonar imagery collected within New York Bight 1995 - 1998:.

     

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Schwab, William C., Denny, Jane F., Foster, David S., Lotto, Linda L., Allison, Mead A., Uchupi, Elazar, Swift, B. Ann, Danforth, William W., Thieler, Robert E., and Butman, Bradford, 2002, High-Resolution Quaternary seismic stratigraphy of the New York Bight Continental Shelf: Open-File Report OFR02-152, U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole, MA.

     

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -74.06
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -71.8000
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.2322
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 40.15

  3. What does it look like?

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Beginning_Date: 1994
    Ending_Date: 1997
    Currentness_Reference: Publication Date

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: raster data

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
      Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
      UTM_Zone_Number: 18
      Transverse_Mercator:
      Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.9996
      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -075.000000
      Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: +00.000000
      False_Easting: 500000
      False_Northing: 0

      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 500000
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 400000
      Planar coordinates are specified in Meters

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    Tiff Image
    Sidescan-sonar image stored in TIFF format (Source: ESRI)


Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    Jane F. Denny
    US Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543
    USA

    508-457-2311 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    jdenny@usgs.gov


Why was the data set created?

In 1995, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), began a program to generate reconnaissance maps of the sea floor offshore of the New York - New Jersey metropolitan area and within the southern Long Island nearshoe area. Our methods include high-resolution sidescan sonar and subbottom profiling techniques, along with surface grab and vibracore sampling to verify the geophysical interpretations. The goal of the investigation is to provide a regional synthesis of the sea-floor environment, to determine regional-scale availability of sand as a resource for beach nourishment programs, and to investigate the role that inner-shelf morphology and geologic framework have in the evolution of the coastal region within the New York Bight Apex and southern Long Island. Maps derived from interpretation of the subbottom profiles show information on the geometry and distribution of the Quaternary sediments and the underlying coastal-plain unconformity. This seismic stratigraphy yields a regional framework on which explanations of present (and past) sediment movement, dispersal, and erosion processes are based.


How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

    Data Archive - SEAX95007 (source 1 of 4)
    Denny, Jane F , and Schwab, William C. , 1999, Archive of sidescan-sonar data and Differential Geographic Positioning System navigation data collected during USGS cruise Seax95007, 8 May - 24 May 1995.: USGS Open-File Report 99-356, USGS, Reston, VA.

     

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Schwab, William C., Denny, Jane F., Foster, David S., Lotto, Linda L., Allison, Mead A., Uchupi, Elazar, Swift, B. Ann, Danforth, William W., Thieler, Robert E., and Butman, Bradford, 2002, High-Resolution Quaternary seismic stratigraphy of the New York Bight Continental Shelf: Open-File Report OFR02-152, U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole, MA.

     

    Type_of_Source_Media: DVD
    Source_Contribution:
    These are the raw QMIPS sidescan-sonar data that were used to generate the sidescan-sonar mosaic.

    Data Archive - ALPH98013 (source 2 of 4)
    Denny, Jane F , Schwab, William C. , Danforth, William W. , O'Brien, Thomas F. , Nichols, Dave S. , and Irwin, Barry, 2000, Archive of sidescan-sonar data and Differential Geographic Positioning System navigation data collected during USGS cruise ALPH98013, September10-23, 1998.: USGS Open-File Report 98-590, USGS, Reston, VA.

     

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Schwab, William C., Denny, Jane F., Foster, David S., Lotto, Linda L., Allison, Mead A., Uchupi, Elazar, Swift, B. Ann, Danforth, William W., Thieler, Robert E., and Butman, Bradford, 2002, High-Resolution Quaternary seismic stratigraphy of the New York Bight Continental Shelf: Open-File Report OFR02-152, U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole, MA.

     

    Type_of_Source_Media: DVD
    Source_Contribution:
    These are the raw QMIPS sidescan-sonar data that were used to generate the sidescan-sonar mosaic.

    Data Archive - SEAX97032 (source 3 of 4)
    Hammar-Klose, Erika, Hill, Jenna, and Schwab, William C. , 2002, Archive of sidescan-sonar data and Differential Geographic Positioning System navigation data collected during USGS cruise DIAN97032, September 25 - October 19, 1997.: USGS Open-File Report 99-356, USGS, Reston, VA.

     

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Schwab, William C., Denny, Jane F., Foster, David S., Lotto, Linda L., Allison, Mead A., Uchupi, Elazar, Swift, B. Ann, Danforth, William W., Thieler, Robert E., and Butman, Bradford, 2002, High-Resolution Quaternary seismic stratigraphy of the New York Bight Continental Shelf: Open-File Report OFR02-152, U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole, MA.

     

    Type_of_Source_Media: DVD
    Source_Contribution:
    These are the raw QMIPS sidescan-sonar data that were used to generate the sidescan-sonar mosaic.

    Data Archive - SEAX96007 (source 4 of 4)
    Hill, Jenna, Schwab, William C. , and Danforth, William, 2000, Archive of sidescan-sonar data and Differential Geographic Positioning System navigation data collected during USGS cruise Seax96004, New York Bight, 1 May - 9 June 1996.: USGS Open-File Report 00-153, USGS, Reston, VA.

     

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Schwab, William C., Denny, Jane F., Foster, David S., Lotto, Linda L., Allison, Mead A., Uchupi, Elazar, Swift, B. Ann, Danforth, William W., Thieler, Robert E., and Butman, Bradford, 2002, High-Resolution Quaternary seismic stratigraphy of the New York Bight Continental Shelf: Open-File Report OFR02-152, U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole, MA.

     

    Type_of_Source_Media: DVD
    Source_Contribution:
    These are the raw QMIPS sidescan-sonar data that were used to generate the sidescan-sonar mosaic.

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: 1998 (process 1 of 3)
    The sidescan-sonar data were acquired with a Datasonics SIS 1000 CHIRP sonar system, which operates in a frequency range of 100 - 120 kHz. The sidescan-sonar imagery of the New York Bight region is comprised of data acquired on seven geophysical cruises operated by the USGS during 1995 - 1998.

    All sidescan-sonar data were logged digitally at a sample rate resulting in a 0.18-m pixel size in the across-track direction and approximately 0.14-m in the along-track direction following the methodology outlined in Danforth and others (1991). A median filtering routine (Malinverno and others, 1990) was applied to the sidescan-sonar data to remove speckle noise, resulting in a 0.73-m pixel size. The data for each survey were further processed and digitally mosaicked using PCI Geomatica Software and procedures described in Danforth and others (1991), Danforth (1997), and Paskevich (1992) resulting in an enhanced, geographically correct, sidescan-sonar mosaic with 4 meters/pixel resolution. The seven individual images were then mosaicked to form one composite sidescan-sonar image for the New York Bight region. The composite mosaic has a resolution of 16 meters/pixel. The composite mosaic was exported as a TIFF image, with an associated ESRI world file.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Jane F. Denny
    US Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543
    USA

    508-457-2311 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    jdenny@usgs.gov

    Data sources used in this process:
    • Danforth, W.W., 1997, Xsonar/ShowImage: A complete system for rapid sidescan-sonar processing and display: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 97-686, 77 p.
    • Danforth, W.W., O'Brien, T.F., and Schwab, W.C., 1991, USGS Image processing system: near real-time mosaicking ofhigh-resolution sidescan-sonar data Sea Technology, Vol 1, p.54-59.
    • Malinverno, A., Edwards, M, and Ryan, W.B.F, 1990, Processing of SeaMARC swath sonar data: IEEE, Journal of Coean Enginneering, v.15, p. 14-23.
    • Paskevich, V., 1992, Digital mapping of sidescan-sonar data with the Woods Hole Image Processing System software: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 92-536, 87.p

    Date: 2000 (process 2 of 3)
    The sidescan-sonar image was clipped to the extent of the 1995 and 1996 geophysical surveys using the GRIDCLIP script within ArcView 3.2.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Jane F. Denny
    US Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543
    USA

    508-457-2311 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    jdenny@usgs.gov

    Date: 2000 (process 3 of 3)
    The TIFF image (sonar.tif) was compressed using LizardTech, MrSID GeoSpatial Encoder 1.3.1. This software compresses the image at a specified ratio, which is 20:1 by default. An associated sdw file accompanies the .sid file. The .sdw is an ESRI world file for the given .sid image file. In order to view these data within ArcView, the MrSID Image Support extension must be loaded. Once, the extension is loaded, the .sid image file can be loaded into ArcView as an Image.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Jane F. Denny
    US Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543
    USA

    508-457-2311 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    jdenny@usgs.gov

  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?


How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    These data are internally consistent and accurate.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    DGPS is assumed to be accurate within 1-2 meters. Standard GPS is assumed accurate within 5-10 meters. 99% of the positional data is DGPS. Unless noted, all GPS/DGPS data is referenced to WGS84 (NAD83). Slant-range distance is recorded between the sidescan-sonar tow vehicle and a sidemount rigged with an acoustic transponder. Offset between the sidemount and GPS antennae is measured. Basic trigonomic calculations use the slant-range offset to calculate a 'fish' (tow-vehicle) navigation. An assumption in these calculations is that the tow-vehicle is traveling directly behind the vessel; movement to port or starboard is not accounted for within 'fish' navigation. Thus, the horizontal accuarcy of the sidescan-sonar tow-vehicle is +/- 15 meters.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    These data are complete.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    These data are logically consistent; they were acquired with a Datasoncis SIS-1000 sidescan-sonar system, and processed following an identical procedure.


How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints:
None

Use_Constraints:
Please recognize the USGS as the source of these data.

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

    Jane F. Denny
    US Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543
    USA

    508-457-2311 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    jdenny@usgs.gov

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    apex_of.sid

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    Altough this data set and its lineage have been used by the USGS, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to the accuracy of the data and/or it's related materials. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in the use of these data or related items. Users must assume responsibility for the proper use of this data. This data should not be used at resolutions for which it is not intended. This data has no been reviewed for conformity with US Geological Survey editorial standards, or the North American Strigraphic code. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the US Government.

  4. How can I download or order the data?


Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 19-Jan-2002
Last Reviewed: 2002

Metadata author:
Jane F. Denny
US Geological Survey
Geologist
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA 02543
USA

508-457-2311 (voice)
508-457-2310 (FAX)
jdenny@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)


Generated by mp version 2.7.17 on Thu Apr 11 12:26:15 2002