This DVD-ROM contains an Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) Geographic Information System (GIS) project file. The file, geoproj1.apr, stored at the top-level directory, contains Puerto Rico Trench data that include a regional Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the study area, an ESRI grid of the Trench, TIFF images with associated world files (tfw), a sidescan-sonar mosaic, research area trackline data, CTD/ XBT data, and sound velocity profiles It also contains several data layers (or themes) that are used to create perspective views of the Puerto Rico Trench.

Most data layers are provided in geographic coordinates (decimal degrees) to allow the data to be integrated into most GIS systems. The imagery was collected and processed in UTM coordinates (UTM, WGS84 datum, Zone 19) and is available in both UTM projection and decimal degrees (unprojected). 

Each GIS data layer from this publication is cataloged for easy access. The individual data layers are available with Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) metadata and as downloadable archive 'zip' files. 

The metadata for the individual data layers is provided in three versions (HTML, FAQ, text). Selecting associated metadata files from the table will open the information in a new browser window.

A 'zip' compressed, downloadable archive file containing the ArcView shapefile and its components for each data layer is also provided. Compressed downloadable files were created using the Windows program WINZIP v8.0. For users who do not have software capable of uncompressing the archived zip files, a free version of the software is available from Winzip Computing, Inc. or Pkware, Inc In addition to the ESRI shapefile, the CTD/XBT and navigation position data layers are available in an ASCII text format and Microsoft Excel spreadsheet formats to allow users who may not have access to GIS software to read the data layer tabular information in an alternate format. The first record of the ASCII file and Excel spreadsheet contains the name of the data fields for that file.

If the user does not have access to ArcView 3.2 or higher, ESRI's free view, ArcExplorer, may be used. See the ESRI Website for a detailed description of this product and download instructions.

Note: ESRI supports Microsoft Windows/XP and UNIX systems. Macintosh users will not be able to view the GIS project file, geoproj1.apr, as ESRI does not support Macintosh operating systems.

The ESRI Project File:

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