American Samoa ESI: BENTHIC (Benthic Marine Habitat Polygons)

Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
• Spatial_Reference_Information
• Entity_and_Attribute_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration, Hazardous Materials Response Division, Seattle, Washington, and NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program.

Publication_Date: 200402

Title: American Samoa ESI: BENTHIC (Benthic Marine Habitat Polygons)

Edition: First

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Vector digital data

Series_Information:

Series_Name: None

Issue_Identification: American Samoa

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Seattle, Washington

Publisher:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration, Hazardous Materials Response Division, Seattle, Washington

Other_Citation_Details:

Prepared by Research Planning, Inc., Columbia, South Carolina for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration, Hazardous Materials Response Division, Seattle, Washington, and NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program.

Description:

Abstract:

This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for benthic habitats in American Samoa. Vector polygons in this data set represent the distribution of macroalgae, coral reef and colonized hardbottom, uncolonized hardbottom, and encrusting/coralline algae habitats. This data set comprises a portion of the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) data for American Samoa. ESI data characterize the marine and coastal environments and wildlife by their sensitivity to spilled oil. The ESI data include information for three main components: shoreline habitats, sensitive biological resources, and human-use resources. See also the CASSPT (Coral Areas of Special Significance - Points) data layer, part of the larger American Samoa ESI database, for additional coral information.

Purpose:

The ESI data were collected, mapped, and digitized to provide environmental data for oil spill planning and response. The Clean Water Act, with amendments by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, requires response plans for immediate and effective protection of sensitive resources.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 2002

Ending_Date: 2004

Currentness_Reference:

The biological data were compiled during 2002 to 2003. The currentness date for these data is 2003 and is documented in the Source_Information section.

Status:

Progress: Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None Scheduled

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -171.266

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -167.964

North_Bounding_Coordinate: -10.873

South_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.723

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Theme_Keyword: ESI

Theme_Keyword: Sensitivity maps

Theme_Keyword: Coastal resources

Theme_Keyword: Oil spill planning

Theme_Keyword: Coastal Zone Management

Theme_Keyword: Wildlife

Theme_Keyword: Benthic

Theme_Keyword: Algae

Theme_Keyword: Coral

Theme_Keyword: Hardbottom

Theme_Keyword: Macroalgae

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Place_Keyword: American Samoa

Access_Constraints: None

Use_Constraints:

DO NOT USE MAPS FOR NAVIGATIONAL PURPOSES. Besides the above warning, there are no use constraints on these data. Note that the ESI database should not be used to the exclusion of other pertinent data or information held by state or federal agencies or other organizations. Likewise, information contained in the database cannot be used in place of consultations with environmental, natural resource, and cultural resource agencies, or in place of field surveys. Recognize that the information contained in the ESI database represents known concentration areas or occurrences of natural, cultural, and human-use resources, but does not necessarily represent the full distribution or range of each species or resource. This is particularly important to recognize when considering potential impacts to protected resources, such as endangered species, wetlands, etc. Acknowledgment of the originators, publishers, contributors, and sources listed would be appreciated in products derived from these data.

Browse_Graphic:

Browse_Graphic_File_Name: datafig.jpg

Browse_Graphic_File_Description:

Relationships between spatial data layers and attribute data tables for the American Samoa ESI data.

Browse_Graphic_File_Type: JPEG

Data_Set_Credit:

This project was supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration, Hazardous Materials Response Division, Seattle, Washington, and NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program.

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

The software packages used to develop the atlas are Environmental Systems Research Institute's ARC/INFO(r) (version 8.3) and SQL SERVER(r) (version 7.0). The hardware configuration is PC's with Windows Operating System (NT4.0/2000).

The Spatial_Data_Organization Information section refers only to the source files in the ARC export format. The following files are included in that data set: benthic.e00, birds.e00, casspt.e00, esi.e00, fish.e00, hydro.e00, index.e00, invert.e00, m_mammal.e00, mgt.e00, nests.e00, reptiles.e00, socecon.e00, t_mampt.e00. Associated relational and desktop data tables provided in Arc export and text format are bio_lut, biofile, biores, breed, breed_dt, seasonal, soc_dat, soc_lut, sources, species, and status.

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

A multi-stage error checking process is used to verify both attribute accuracy and logical consistency throughout data production. The process includes a standardized data entry methodology, hardcopy data review by in-house and external resource experts, a final Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) process, and multiple automated logical consistency checks. Quantitative data (such as densities, counts, abundances, or concentrations) provided by resource experts for inclusion in the data set may vary widely in attribute accuracy, depending upon the methodology used to collect and compile such data. For a more detailed evaluation of source data attribute accuracy, contact the sources listed in the Lineage section.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

A multi-stage error checking process, described in the above Attribute_Accuracy_Report, is used to verify both attribute accuracy and logical consistency throughout data production. This process includes multiple automated logical consistency checks that test the files for missing or duplicate data, rules for proper coding, GIS topological consistencies (such as dangles, unnecessary nodes, etc.). A final review is made by the GIS manager, where the data are written to CD-ROM and the metadata are written. After the data are delivered to NOAA, they are again subjected to a number of quality and consistency checks.

Completeness_Report:

The source data used for this data set were provided in digital format by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Center for Coastal Ocean Science, Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment, Biogeography Program. See also the CASSPT (Coral Areas of Special Significance - Points) data layer, part of the larger American Samoa ESI database, for additional coral information. The following benthic groups are included in this data set: macroalgae, coral reef and colonized hardbottom, uncolonized hardbottom, and encrusting/coralline algae habitats.

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

Some of the spatial components of the biological data sets are developed using regional experts who estimate concentration areas. It is difficult to estimate the positional accuracy of such data, except to state that they are compiled on hardcopy basemaps with a scale of 1:24,000. The rest of the spatial components of the biological data sets are developed from pre-existing digital sources and reflect the positional accuracy of these original data. See the Lineage and Process_Description sections for more information on the original data source and how these data were integrated or manipulated to create the final data set. Note that biological resource data by their very nature are considered "fuzzy", and this should be understood when considering the positional accuracy of vector digital objects representing these resources.

Lineage:

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Services (NOS), National Center for Coastal Ocean Science, Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment, Biogeography Program

Publication_Date: 2003

Title: Digitized Benthic Habitats for American Samoa

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Shapefiles

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Unknown

Publisher: Unpublished

Type_of_Source_Media: Online

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 2002

Ending_Date: 2003

Source_Currentness_Reference: Date of publication

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: None

Source_Contribution: Benthic habitat information

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

The main source used to depict habitat distribution for this data layer was a 2003 vector polygon benthic habitat data set provided by the NOAA NOS Biogeography Program. The data were posted on an ftp site as shapefiles and contained a three-tiered hierarchical classification structure, therefore making it possible to display the benthic habitat types as general or as detailed as deemed appropriate. In order to keep the hardcopy ESI maps readable and to maintain a level of detail commensurate with oil spill response and planning, we chose to display the "second tier" of the classification structure that included the following benthic habitat categories: macroalgae, coral reef and colonized hardbottom, uncolonized hardbottom, and encrusting and coralline algae. No seasonality or concentration information was used. These data were not yet publicly available when they were provided for this project. Please see the following website: <http://biogeo.nos.noaa.gov/projects/mapping/pacific/territories/as/> or contact Tim Battista (Phone: 301/713-3028 x 171; Email: Tim.Battista@noaa.gov) for more information.

Process_Date: 200311

Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: NOAA, Office of Response and Restoration

Contact_Person: Jill Petersen

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Physical address

Address: 7600 Sand Point Way, N.E.

City: Seattle

State_or_Province: Washington

Postal_Code: 98115-6349

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (206) 526-6944

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (206) 526-6329

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Jill.Petersen@noaa.gov

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector

Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: GT-polygon composed of rings

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 592

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Area point

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 592

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Complete chain

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 1348

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Link

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 76091

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Node, planar graph

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 973

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Geographic:

Latitude_Resolution: 0.00005

Longitude_Resolution: 0.00005

Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983 (HARN)

Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80

Semi-major_Axis: 6378137

Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: BENTHIC.PAT

Entity_Type_Definition:

The BENTHIC.PAT table contains attribute information for the vector polygons representing macroalgae, coral reef and colonized hardbottom, uncolonized hardbottom, and encrusting and coralline algae concentration areas. See the Browse_Graphic section for a link to the entity-relationship diagram, which describes the relationships between attribute tables in the ESI data structure

Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Research Planning, Inc.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: TYPE

Attribute_Definition: Type of benthic habitat

Attribute_Definition_Source: NOAA

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Macroalgae

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Macroalgae

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Research Planning, Inc.

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Coral Reef and Colonized Hardbottom

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Coral Reef and Colonized Hardbottom

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Research Planning, Inc.

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Uncolonized Hardbottom

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Uncolonized Hardbottom

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Research Planning, Inc.

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Encrusting and Coralline Algae

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Encrusting and Coralline Algae

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Research Planning, Inc.

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: John Kaperick

Contact_Organization: NOAA, Office of Response and Restoration

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Physical Address

Address: 7600 Sand Point Way, N.E.

City: Seattle

State_or_Province: Washington

Postal_Code: 98115-6349

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (206) 526-6400

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (206) 526-6329

Resource_Description: ESI Atlas for American Samoa

Distribution_Liability:

Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by NOAA regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. NOAA warrants the delivery of this product in computer-readable format, and will offer a replacement copy of the product when the product is determined unreadable by computer-input peripherals, or when the physical medium is delivered in damaged condition.

Custom_Order_Process:

Contact NOAA for distribution options (see Distributor). ESI data are processed into multiple formats to make them useful to a wider community of GIS/mapping users. Distribution formats include ARC export, MOSS and Shape files, and MARPLOT map folders. An ArcView ESI project and ESI_Viewer product are also included on the distribution CDs for ease of use of the ESI data. The database files are distributed both in the NOAA standard relational database format (see NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS ORCA 115) and in a simplified desktop flat file format. This metadata document includes information on both of these database formats.

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 200402

Metadata_Review_Date: 200402

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Jill Petersen

Contact_Organization: NOAA, Office of Response and Restoration

Contact_Position: GIS Manager

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Physical Address

Address: 7600 Sand Point Way, N.E.

City: Seattle

State_or_Province: Washington

Postal_Code: 98115-6349

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (206) 526-6944

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (206) 526-6329

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Jill.Petersen@noaa.gov

Metadata_Standard_Name: Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998