LIS_SURVEYS: area outlines of the Long Island Sound sidescan sonar mosaics

Frequently-anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How should this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  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?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
• Who wrote the metadata?

Title:

LIS_SURVEYS: area outlines of the Long Island Sound sidescan sonar mosaics

Abstract:

Since 1982, the U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, has been involved in a collaborative research program with the State of Connecticut to provide long-term studies of Long Island Sound. In support of these studies, several sidescan sonar surveys were conducted within Long Island Sound. The collected sidescan data were processed to produce individual sonar mosaics of various locations within the Long (1) define the geological variability of the sea floor, one of the primary controls of benthic habitat diversity; (2) improve our understanding of the processes that control the distribution and transport of bottom sediments, benthic habitats, and associated infaunal community structures; and (3) provide a detailed framework for future research, monitoring, and management activities. The sidescan mosaics also serve as base maps for subsequent sedimentological, geochemical and biological observations because precise information on environmental setting is important to the selection of sampling sites and to the accurate interpretation of point measurements.

1. How should this data set be cited?

   Paskevich, Valerie, 2001, LIS_SURVEYS: area outlines of the Long Island Sound sidescan sonar mosaics: U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2004/1003/data/basemaps/boundaries/surveys/lis_surveys.zip>

   Other_Citation_Details: Data are released via CD-ROM media

   This is part of the following larger work.

   Poppe, L.J., 2004, Sidescan Sonar Imagery and Surficial Geologic Interpretation of the Sea Floor off Branford, Connecticut: Open-File Report 2004-1003, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -73.341273

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -71.863079

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.319674

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 40.981740

3. What does it look like?

   lis_surveys (GIF)

   Image showing the extent of the GIS layer with the location and area coverages of the eight USGS Long Island Sound sidescan sonar surveys

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

   Beginning_Date: 07-Nov-1993

   Ending_Date: 17-Mar-1998

   Currentness_Reference: ground condition

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

   Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

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

      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):

      • G-polygon (8)

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

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.000000. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.000000. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees.

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222.
      

7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   lis_surveys

   Shapefile Attribute Table (Source: None)

   FID

   Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

   Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

   Shape

   Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

   Coordinates defining the features.

   ID

   AREA

   Area of polygon in native units. (Source: User Defined)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0.001
   Maximum:	50.295
   Units:	decimal degrees
   Resolution:	.001

   PERIMETER

   Perimeter of polygon in native units. (Source: User Defined)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0.217
   Maximum:	51.585
   Units:	decimal degrees
   Resolution:	.001

   NAME

   Name used to commonly refer to mosaic/survey area. (Source: User Defined)

   Character String

   ABBREV

   Abbreviation used to refer to mosaic/survey area. (Source: User Defined)

   Character String

   YEAR

   Year of survey. (Source: User Defined)

   Character String

   YEAR2

   If a multi-year program, this field will contain the ending year of the mapping/survey activity. (Source: User Defined)

   Frequency of measurement: As needed

   Value	Definition
   0	A zero value indicates that this field activity was completed in on year. See the YEAR field for identification

   Character String

   CRUISE_ID

   Cruise identifier assigned by USGS/CMGP/WHFC. This is a historical cruise identifier that was a combination of ship name and sequential cruise number. This identifier is no longer used to identify CMGP field activities. Please see the attribute field SERIAL_NO. (Source: CMGP/WHSC Data Library)

   Character String

   SERIAL_NO

   Serial number assigned to cruise. This is a sequential number assigned by the CMGP/WHFC throughout the USGS fiscal year. (Source: CMGP/WHSC Data Library)

   Value	Definition
   0	The cruise serial number could not be idenitifed. This may be due to the fact that the survey was completed during a multi-cruise or multi-year program.

   Character String

   SSS

   Field used to indicate sidescan sonar was collected during cruise. (Source: User Defined)

   Value	Definition
   Y	YES

   SB

   Field used to indicate swath bathymetry collected during cruise. (Source: User Defined)

   Value	Definition
   Y	YES

   MB

   Field used to indicate multibeam echosounder data collected during survey. (Source: User Defined)

   Value	Definition
   Y	YES

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

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

   Valerie Paskevich, USGS, for creating the data layer.

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

   Valerie Paskevich
   U.S. Geological Survey
   Information Specialist, GIS Coordinator
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
   USA
   

   (508) 548-8700 x2281 (voice)
   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
   vpaskevich@usgs.gov
   

This ArcView shapefile contains the outlined areas of eight sidescan sonar mosaics produced by the U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole, MA.

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

   'mosaic'.pix (source 1 of 1)

   Poppe(ed.), Lawrence J. , and Polloni(ed.), Chris, 1998, Long Island Sound environmental Studies: Open-File Report 98-502, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/of98-502>

   Type_of_Source_Media: online

   Source_Contribution:

   Each of the completed Long Island Sound sidescan sonar mosaics were contained in separate PCI database files. These georeferenced files and images were used to trace the extent of the mosaic area.

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

   Date: 19-Dec-2000 (process 1 of 3)

   The individual, completed sidescan sonar mosaics were traced with a vector line around the extent of the mosaics. The nodes of the vector line were recorded in geographic coordinates. The vector line was closed to create a complete polygon and saved in a segment of the PCI database with the mosaic image. The saved vector segment was then exported via the PCI utility program as an ArcView shapefile. This step was repeated for all eight LIS region mosaics.

   Person who carried out this activity:
   

   U.S. Geological Survey
   c/o Valerie Paskevich
   Information Specialist, GIS Coordinator
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
   USA
   

   (508) 548-8700 x2281 (voice)
   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
   vpaskevich@usgs.gov
   

   Data sources used in this process:

   • 'mosaic'.pix

   Data sources produced in this process:

   • 'mosaic'll.dbf
   • 'mosaic'll.shp
   • 'mosaic'll.shx

   Date: 19-Dec-2000 (process 2 of 3)

   The completed shapefile was brought into ArcView where the table was modified to add additional attribute fields.

   This process was repeated for each of the eight shapefiles.

   Person who carried out this activity:
   

   U.S. Geological Survey
   c/o Valerie Paskevich
   Information Specialist, GIS Coordinator
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
   USA
   

   (508) 548-8700 x2281 (voice)
   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
   

   Data sources used in this process:

   • 'mosaic'.dbf
   • 'mosaic'.shp
   • 'mosaic'.shx

   Data sources produced in this process:

   • 'mosaic'll.dbf
   • 'mosaic'll.shp
   • 'mosaic'll.shx

   Date: 21-Dec-2000 (process 3 of 3)

   The individual, geographic shapefiles were combined using the ArcView extension Geoprocessing wizard to combine the individual eight files as one shapefile.

   Person who carried out this activity:
   

   U.S. Geological Survey
   c/o Valerie Paskevich
   Information Specialist, GIS Coordinator
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
   USA
   

   (508) 548-8700 x2281 (voice)
   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
   

   Data sources used in this process:

   • 'mosaic'll.dbf
   • 'mosaic'll.shp
   • 'mosaic'll.shx

   Data sources produced in this process:

   • lis_surveys.dbf
   • lis_surveys.shp
   • lis_surveys.shx

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

1. How well have the observations been checked?

2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

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

   This is a subset of the U.S. Geological Survey surveys data layer that contains the location and extent of various seafloor mapping surveys and activities.

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

   No additional checks for topological consistency were performed on this dataset.

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

Access_Constraints: None

Use_Constraints:

Public domain data are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as the originator of this dataset.

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

   U.S. Geological Survey
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
   USA
   

   (508) 548-8700 (voice)
   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
   

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

   Downloadable Data: lis_survys - Long Island Sound mosaic coverage areas; ArcView Shapefile

3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   Although these data have been used by the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior, no warranty expressed or implied is made by the U.S. Geological Survey as to the accuracy of the data.

   Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

   The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the U.S. Geological Survey in the use of this data, software, or related materials.

4. How can I download or order the data?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	Size: 0.096

   • Cost to order the data:

5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?

   The data are available in the ESRI shapefile format. The user must have Environmental Systems Research Institute's (ESRI) ArcView 3.0 or greater or ArcGIS software to read and process the data file. In lieu of ArcView, the user may utilize another GIS application package capable of importing the data. A free GIS data viewer, ArcExplorer, is available from the ESRI website at www.esri.com/software/arcexplorer/download4.html

   Access to the data and information contained on this CD-ROM was developed using the HyperText Markup Language (HTML) utilized by the World Wide Web (WWW) project. Development of the CD-ROM documentation and user interface in HTML allows a user to access the information by using a variety of WWW information browsers to facilitate browsing and locating information and data. To access the information contained on this disk with a WWW client browser, open the file 'index.htm' at the top level directory of this CD-ROM with your selected browser.

   This CD-ROM should be readable by a variety of operating systems including Windows 95/98/NT, Macintosh and UNIX.

Dates:

Last modified: 18-Feb-2004

Metadata author:

U.S. Geological Survey
c/o Valerie Paskevich
Information Specialist, GIS Coordinator
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
USA

(508) 548-8700 x2281 (voice)
(508) 457-2310 (FAX)
vpaskevich@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:

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