VS_BATHTYMETRYTRACKLINES: Survey tracklines along which bathymetric data were collected with a SEA Ltd., SWATHplus-M interferometric sonar offshore of Massachusetts within Vineyard Sound by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2009, 2010, and 2011 (ESRI Shapefile, Geographic, WGS84).

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Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
VS_BATHTYMETRYTRACKLINES: Survey tracklines along which bathymetric data were collected with a SEA Ltd., SWATHplus-M interferometric sonar offshore of Massachusetts within Vineyard Sound by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2009, 2010, and 2011 (ESRI Shapefile, Geographic, WGS84).
Abstract:
These data were collected under a cooperative agreement with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center (WHSC). Initiated in 2003, the primary objective of this program is to develop regional geologic framework information for the management of coastal and marine resources. Accurate data and maps of sea-floor geology are important first steps toward protecting fish habitat, delineating marine resources, and assessing environmental changes due to natural or human impacts. The project is focused on the inshore waters of coastal Massachusetts, primarily in water depths of 3-30 meters deep. Data collected for the mapping cooperative have been released in a series of USGS Open-File Reports (<http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/project-pages/coastal_mass/html/current_map.html>). The data collected in the study area located in Vineyard Sound Massachusetts includes high-resolution geophysics (bathymetry, backscatter intensity, and seismic reflection). The data were collected during three separate surveys conducted between 2009 and 2011and cover approximately 340 square kilometers of the inner continental shelf. More information about the individual USGS surveys conducted as part of the Vineyard Sound project can be found on the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Field Activity webpage:

2009-002-FA: <http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2009-002-FA>

2010-004-FA: <http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2010-004-FA>

2011-004-FA: <http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2011-004-FA>

  1. How should this data set be cited?

    U.S. Geological Survey, 2012, VS_BATHTYMETRYTRACKLINES: Survey tracklines along which bathymetric data were collected with a SEA Ltd., SWATHplus-M interferometric sonar offshore of Massachusetts within Vineyard Sound by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2009, 2010, and 2011 (ESRI Shapefile, Geographic, WGS84).: Open-File Report 2012-1006, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Andrews, Brian D. , Ackerman, Seth D. , Baldwin, Wayne E. , Foster, David S. , and Schwab, William C. , 2012, High-Resolution Geophysical Data From the Inner Continental Shelf at Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts: Open-File Report 2012-1006, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -71.029464
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.431198
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.539733
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.270898

  3. What does it look like?

    <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1006/GIS/browse_jpg/VS_BathymetryTracklines.jpg> (JPEG)
    Thumbnail image of tracklines along which bathymetry was collected in the Vineyard Sound survey area.

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

    Beginning_Date: 02-Jun-2009
    Ending_Date: 17-May-2011
    Currentness_Reference:
    ground condition of individual surveys on the following dates: 2009062-20090603; 20100521-20100604; 20110507-20110509; 20110514-20110517

  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 (416)

    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 0.0000001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.0000001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees.

      The horizontal datum used is D_WGS_1984.
      The ellipsoid used is WGS_1984.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257224.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    VS_BathymetryTracklines
    Tracklines for swath bathymetric systems (Source: USGS)

    FID
    Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

    Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

    Shape
    Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    LineName
    Name of the survey line and raw data file that was collected along the line. For example "L34F2" is survey line (L) 34, File 2 (F2). (Source: USGS)

    Character set.

    Survey
    WHSC Field Activity number (Source: USGS)

    Character set.

    JulDay
    The Julian Day the data were collected where Julian day is the integer number representing the interval of time in days since January 1 of the year of collection. (Source: USGS)

    Character set.

    Vessel
    Name of the survey vessel used to collect the data. (Source: USGS)

    Character set.

    Length_km
    Length of polyline feature in kilometers (calculated using UTM Zone 19, WGS84). (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.22
    Maximum:24.0
    Units:meters

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?

    Brian Andrews
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geographer
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2348 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    bandrews@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

The purpose of these data is to manage the location and filenames of the approximately 3,920 kilometers of raw bathymetry files collected using a Systems Engineering and Assessment (SEA) Ltd. SWATHplus-M interferometric sonar within the Vineyard Sound survey area.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

    (source 1 of 1)
    Source_Contribution:
    SONAR CONFIGURATION: Bathymetry data were acquired using a Systems Engineering and Assessment Ltd. (SEA) SWATHplus interferometric sonar operating at 234 kHz. Survey lines were run at an average speed of 5 knots and were spaced 100 m apart to obtain overlapping swaths of data and full coverage of the seafloor. During USGS field activities 2009-002-FA and 2010-004-FA, the SWATHplus transducers were mounted on a rigid pole on the starboard side of the M/V Megan T. Miller, about 2.46 m below the waterline. The DGPS antenna was mounted on top of the same pole 4.3 m above the waterline of the vessel. During USGS field activities 2011-004-FA, the SWATHplus transducers were mounted on a rigid pole on the starboard side of the M/V Scarlett Isabella, about 2.17 m below the waterline. The DGPS antennae was mounted on top of the same pole 4.6 m above the waterline of the vessel.

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

    Date: 2009 (process 1 of 5)
    Step 1. Raw to Processed Conversion: Survey navigation information is stored within each SWATHplus raw (sxr) data file. Each raw SWATHplus bathymetric sonar file (sxr) was converted to a SWATHplus processed file (sxp) using SEA SWATHplus Swath Processor (ver. 3.06 for 2009-004_FA; 3.07 for 2010-004-FA, 2011-004-FA).

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Brian Andrews
    U.S. Geological Survey,
    Geographer
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2348 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    bandrews@usgs.gov

    Date: 2009 (process 2 of 5)
    Step 2.CARIS Processing: A new Computer Aided Resource Information System (CARIS) Hydrographic Information Processing System (HIPS) project (ver. 6.1 and 7.1) was created for each of the three surveys with projection information set to Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 19, WGS84. Each SWATHplus processed file (sxp) was imported to the new CARIS project using the Import/Conversion Wizard. Navigation was checked and edited as needed using the Navigation Editor tool.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Brian Andrews
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geographer
    384 Woods Hole Rd
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2348 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    bandrews@usgs.gov

    Date: Dec-2011 (process 3 of 5)
    Step 3.Convert CARIS Tracklines to Shapefile: The tracklines in the separate CARIS projects were converted to an ESRI shapefile during a two-step process. First the CARIS tracklines were converted to a CARIS Map using the export tool within HIPS "HIPS to CARIS Map" Input File: All lines in the HIPS Project. The "Export Track Lines" option was checked Output File: "SurveyName"BathTrks.des Second, using CARIS Conversion Utility (ver. 2.1) The CARIS Map (.des) file was converted to a ESRI shapefile. During the conversion the name of the HIPS line file "Source" and "Date was carried over to the shapefile. Input File: "SurveyName"BathTrks.des Output File: "SurveyName"BathTrks.shp

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Brian Andrews
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geographer
    384 Woods Hole Rd
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2348 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    bandrews@usgs.gov

    Date: Dec-2011 (process 4 of 5)
    Step 4. Add Attributes to each shapefile: The following string attributes were added to each of the three trackline shapefiles by using the context menu within ArcGIS 9.3. "LineName", "Survey", "Vessel" "JulDay" The LineName was derived from the "Source" attribute, and JulDay was derived from the "Day" attribute. In addition the "Length_km" attribute (double) was added to each shapefile. The length of each polyline in kilometers was calculated using the context menu "Calculate Geometry" within ArcMap.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Brian Andrews
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geographer
    384 Woods Hole Rd
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2348 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    bandrews@usgs.gov

    Date: Dec-2011 (process 5 of 5)
    Step 5. Merge and Project Shapefiles from UTM 19 WGS84, to WGS84 Coordinate System: The three separate bathymetric tracklines from each of the three surveys (SurveyNameBathTrks.shp) were merged into on shapefile (VS_BathymetryTracklines.shp) using the "Merge" Tool in ArcToolbox (ver 9.3). During the merge process the input coordinate system was UTM Zone 19, WGS84, and the output coordinate system was the Geographic Coordinate System (GCS), WGS84.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Brian Andrews
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geographer
    384 Woods Hole Rd
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2348 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    bandrews@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?

    All attributes were checked in a consistent manner.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    Coordinates from the Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) was used record the horizontal position of the SWATHplus transducers during all three surveys. Differential corrections were transmitted to the survey vessel by cellular modem and VHF radio from the base station established at the USGS Marine Operations Facility in Falmouth, MA. A conservative estimate of horizontal positional accuracy is estimated at 10 m, although the horizontal navigation system used for these surveys (DGPS) can be as reliable as +/- 2m. NAVIGATION DETAILS: Navigation was acquired with a Coda Octopus F180 Differential Global Positioning System, plus Wide Area Augmentation System (DGPS + WAAS) accurate to +/- one to two meters horizontal mounted directly above the sonar transducers. All DGPS data were referenced to WGS84. The horizontal accuracy of these tracklines is assumed to be within the accuracy of the DGPS. A conservative estimate of positional accuracy is +/- 2 meters.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

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

    Only the subsets of interferometric bathymetric sonar collected during field activities 2009-002-FA, 2010-004-FA, and 2011-004-FA that are within the Vineyard Sound survey area have been included in this spatial dataset. This shapefile includes all bathymetric tracklines collected in the Vineyard Sound survey area, however, not all of these tracklines were included in the final bathymetric grid published in this same report. Data collected along transit lines, east-west seismic tie lines, and other lines of poor quality were excluded from this grid. The following survey lines from this shapefile are not included in the vs_bath_5m grid published in this report: 2009-002-FA L63f1, L64f1, L74f1 2010-004-FA Patch2_1- Patch2_7, TIE8F1-TIE20F1, L286F1 2011-004-FA: Patch1-Patch7, L130F1, TIE1, TIE8-TIE15

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

    Any spurious navigation points were removed during processing before the polyline was produced. Duplicate names may exist for the "LineName" attribute; however further querying the data by the "Survey", "Vessel", or "JulDay" attributes will produce a unique trackline for each record in this spatial dataset.

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:
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)

    Brian Andrews
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geographer
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA 02543
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2348 (voice)
    bandrews@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?

    Neither the U.S. Government, the Department of the Interior, nor the USGS, nor any of their employees, contractors, or subcontractors, make any warranty, express or implied, nor assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, nor represent that its use would not infringe on privately owned rights. 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 materials. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

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

    This zip file contains data available in Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) shapefile format. The user must have software capable of uncompressing the WinZip file and displaying the shapefile. In lieu of ArcView or ArcGIS, the user may utilize another GIS application package capable of importing the data. A free data viewer, ArcExplorer, capable of displaying the data is available from ESRI at www.esri.com.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 24-Sep-2012
Metadata author:
Brian Andrews
U.S. Geological Survey
Geographer
384 Woods Hole Rd.
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
USA

508-548-8700 x2348 (voice)
508-457-2310 (FAX)
bandrews@usgs.gov

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

Generated by mp version 2.8.25 on Mon Sep 24 08:35:00 2012