Geographic Information System

This report contains Geographic Information System (GIS) data in both vector and raster format. The vector data are provided in shapefile format compatible with ArcView and ArcGIS software from Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI). These data are in the Geographic, WGS84 coordinate system. The raster data are provided in GeoTIFF format and ESRI binary grid format. These raster data are provided in both the Geographic, WGS84 coordinate system and a Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), Zone 19, NAD 83 projection. Data layers archived here should not require additional processing to be used in ESRI software.

For users who do not have the ESRI software or a compatible GIS data browser available on their computer, a free viewer, ArcExplorer, is available from ESRI. The key functionality of ArcExplorer is the display of spatial data. The user will need to add the selected data layers by using ArcExplorer's "add data" button.

Data Description

This report includes links to several data layers (or themes) that can be used to create views of the study area offshore of southeastern Massachusetts in central Nantucket Sound. GeoTIFFs of the bathymetry are provided as color hill-shaded relief images. ArcRaster binary grids of the multibeam bathymetric data are included at a 1-meter resolution.

Ancillary vector data consist of (1) polygon data layers that provide base maps of the coastline for the Nantucket Sound GIS project area, an outline of the survey area, an interpretation of sea-floor sedimentary environments, and an interpretation of sea-floor features; and (2) point data layers of the sediment data and locations of bottom photos. The photographic data are provided in mid- and full-resolution JPEG image format.

Each GIS data layer from this publication is cataloged below for easy access. The individual data layers are described below and include the GeoTIFF, grid, or shapefile name (for example, h12007_1mmb_utm19.tif), which is linked to a browse graphic showing the data-layer extent and coverage. Selecting the data-layer name will result in the browse graphic being displayed in a separate browser window.

The top level of this report on the DVD-ROM contains an ArcView project file (h12007.apr) created in ArcView 3.3 and an ESRI ArcMap document (h12007.mxd) created in ArcMap 9.2, but saved as an ArcMap 9.0/9.1 document to make it accessible to older versions of the software.

Federal Geographic Data Committee compliant metadata for the individual data layers are provided in HTML, FAQ HTML, and text versions. Selecting associated metadata files from the table below will result in the information being displayed in a separate browser window.

A compressed (.zip), downloadable archive file containing the components of the shapefile, grid, or image for each data layer is also provided. Compressed, downloadable files were created by using the Windows program WINZIP v8.0. Users who do not have software capable of uncompressing the archived files may obtain a free version of the software from Pkware, Inc (2011).

BATHYMETRIC IMAGERY

BATHYMETRIC GRIDS

VERIFICATION DATA LAYERS

INTERPRETIVE DATA LAYERS

BASEMAP DATA

NAVIGATION DATA LAYER

Individuals interested in accessing the NOAA Descriptive Report, which contains descriptions of survey operations, can view it at h12007_dr.pdf.

Individuals interested in accessing the NOAA Data Acquisition and Processing Report, which contains detailed descriptions of the data-acquisition and data-processing methods, can view it at OPR-B356-TJ-09.pdf.

To view files in PDF format, download a free copy of Adobe Reader.