STATE_BOUNDS: internal United States (US) boundaries

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: STATE_BOUNDS: internal United States (US) boundaries

Abstract:

This shapefile data layer represents the internal boundaries of the 48 contiguous United States and the political boundaries between the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Supplemental_Information:

This dataset was created to be used with the NOS80K coastline (allus80k.shp) to provide state bounds. In creating the data layer, some issues of the NOS80K coastline became apparent. One example, is the US/Mexico boundary. The NOS80K coastline closes and draws a straight line well below the Texas border. The same type of problem can be seen around the US/Canada boundary of the Great Lakes. The state_bounds.shp will draw the political boundaries while the allus80k.shp file will display the U.S. beyond the political boundaries. If this is unacceptable to the user, they should consider masking the annexed U.S. possession.

1. How should this data set be cited?

   Paskevich, Valerie, Unpublished Material, STATE_BOUNDS: internal United States (US) boundaries.

   Online Links:

   • <http://coastalmap.marine.usgs.gov/GISdata/basemaps/boundaries/state_bounds/state_bounds.zip>

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -124.211606

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -67.158958

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 49.384359

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 25.837377

3. What does it look like?

   <http://coastalmap.marine.usgs.gov/GISdata/basemaps/boundaries/state_bounds/state_bounds.gif> (GIF)

   Image showing extent and coverage of the state_bounds shapefile with large US lakes.

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

   Calendar_Date: 04-Oct-2002

   Currentness_Reference: publication date

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):

      • String (19)

   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 0.000001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.000001. 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?

   state_bounds.dbf

   Shapefile Attribute Table (Source: ESRI)

   FID

   Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

   Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

   Shape

   Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

   Coordinates defining the features.

   ID

   Assigned feature id and has no applicable relevenace to the data. (Source: User Defined)

   LENGTH

   Length of line in native units (Source: User Defined)

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?

   The dataset is a derived from ESRI's 50 individual state 'trct' files.

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

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

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

This data layer includes the internal boundaries for the United States and the political boundaries of the US, Canada and Mexico. The state boundaries are drawn to the U.S. coastline and does not include any coastline or islands. The state boundaries does not extend beyond the shoreline and therefore does not represent state water territories. This data layer was created so it could be used to indicate state boundaries when used with the high resolution NOS80K coastline (allus80k.shp) which does not include any internal boundaries.

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

   usa.shp (source 1 of 1)

   Paskevich, Valerie, Unpublished Material, USA: United States basemap data layer.

   Type_of_Source_Media: disc

   Source_Scale_Denominator: 500000

   Source_Contribution:

   The compiled usa.shp file was used as the source for this new data layer.

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

   Date: 03-Oct-2002 (process 1 of 1)

   The dataset is a derived from ESRI's 50 individual state 'trct' files. The original state shapefiles were processed to dissolve the individual counties and create a comprehensive shapefile for each state. Those individual state files where then combined to create the single US shapefile. Several fields from the original dataset were removed.

   Person who carried out this activity:
   

   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
   

   Data sources used in this process:

   • 'state'trct.dbf
   • 'state'trct.shp
   • 'state'trct.shx

   Data sources produced in this process:

   • usa.dbf
   • usa.shp
   • usa.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?

   Positional accuracy is unknown, therefore boundaries are not to be used for legal purposes.

3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

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

   This data set contains the internal boundaries for the continental United States (US) and the US/Canada and US/Mexico political boundaries.

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

   No additional checks for topological consistency were performed on this data set.

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

Access_Constraints: None

Use_Constraints:

Not to be used for legal purposes.

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

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

   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
   

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

   Downloadable Data

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.

   Trade, firm, or product names and other references to non-USGS products and services are provided for information only and do not constitute endorsement or warranty, express or implied, by the USGS, USDOI, or U.S. Government, as to their suitability, content, usefulness, functioning, completeness, or accuracy.

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

     Data format:

     The SHP file contains the geospatial data. The SHX file contains the index of the geospatial data. The DBF file contains the attribute data in dBASE format. The PRJ file contains the coordinate system information (optional). The AVL file contains the legend information (optional). The SBN and SBX files contain the spatial index of the geospatial data (optional). The XML file contains the metadata describing the data set <data set name>.shp.xml. An ASCII version of the metadata file. A browse graphic showing the data layer coverage and extent. in format SHP (version ArcView 3.2) ESRI shapefile Size: 2.744

     Network links:

     \\192.168.0.85\Data01\basemaps\boundaries\state_bounds.zip

   • Cost to order the data: none

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

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

Dates:

Last modified: 07-Apr-2005

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)

Metadata extensions used:

• <http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html>