U.S. Vector Shoreline Derived from NOAA Nautical Charts

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:

Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Coast Survey (OCS), Coast Survey Development Laboratory (CSDL)

Publication_Date: 20011001

Title: U.S. Vector Shoreline Derived from NOAA Nautical Charts

Edition: First

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

Series_Information:

Series_Name: Vector Shoreline Series

Issue_Identification: kapp number

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Silver Spring, MD

Publisher: NOAA's Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey (OCS)

Online_Linkage: <http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/csdl/ctp/cm_vs.htm>

Description:

Abstract:

The vector shoreline data were originally derived from NOAA Nautical Charts using a process and software developed by the Coast Survey Development Laboratory, Cartographic & Geospatial Technology Program (CGTP). The products' target scale of 1:20,000 allows for applications at a higher spatial resolution that was not possible with the prior 1:80,000 digital shoreline. The derived vector shoreline data are provided in the shapefile format used in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) environments.

Purpose:

Digital shoreline data are beneficial for many applications. Coastal zone managers apply vector shoreline data to plan for disaster mitigation, in environmental decision making, and for urban planning. The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) Remote Sensing Division and the Office of Coast Survey (OCS) Hydrographic Surveys Division use shoreline data for change analysis. While the NOAA nautical charts contain shoreline data in raster format, the derived vector shoreline data can be used in GIS environments.

Supplemental_Information:

Vector shoreline data are intended for GIS applications. The derived Mean High Water and Mean Lower Low Water outlines may not always correspond to these well-defined shoreline datums. The vector shoreline data are not intended to be used for navigation nor to be interpreted as the legal shoreline. Data accuracy is checked against the source nautical charts. NOAA assumes no liability for use of these data.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 200110

Ending_Date: 200310

Currentness_Reference: publication date

Status:

Progress: In work

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed.

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: 141

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -61.1

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 74.8

South_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.6

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Theme_Keyword: Vector Shoreline

Theme_Keyword: Geographic Information Systems

Theme_Keyword: Topography

Theme_Keyword: Shape File

Theme_Keyword: NOAA Nautical Chart

Theme_Keyword: Aerial Photography and Shoreline Mapping

Theme_Keyword: Oceans

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Place_Keyword: U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone

Place_Keyword: U.S. Territories

Place_Keyword: U.S. Waters

Place_Keyword: Coast

Access_Constraints: none

Use_Constraints:

Vector shoreline data are intended for GIS applications. The derived Mean High Water and Mean Lower Low Water outlines may not always correspond to these well-defined shoreline datums. The derived vector data are not intended to be used for navigation nor to be interpreted as the legal shoreline. Data accuracy is checked against the source nautical charts. NOAA assumes no liability for use of these data.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS), Coast Survey Development Laboratory (CSDL)

Contact_Position: Cartographic & Geospatial Technology Programs

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address

Address: 1315 East West Highway, N/CS12

City: Silver Spring

State_or_Province: MD

Postal_Code: 20910

Country: U.S.A

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (301) 713-2645 x143

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Matthew.Austin@noaa.gov

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Windows NT 4.0 Operating System, Intergraph's CIT Format Binary Raster, MicroStation/IRASB/GEOVEC, FME SR2000, ArcView 8, Coast Survey Development Laboratory developed programs

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS), Coast Survey Development Laboratory (CSDL), Cartographic & Geospatial Technology Program (CGTP)

Publication_Date: 200110 - 200310

Title: Vector Shoreline

Edition: First

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

Series_Information:

Series_Name: Vector Shoreline Series

Issue_Identification: kapp number

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Silver Spring, MD

Publisher: NOAA's Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey (OCS)

Online_Linkage: <http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov>

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

Data accuracy is checked against the source nautical charts. Prior to 1995, the paper charts were composed manually. In 1995, the paper charts were scanned to create the raster charts. Both the paper and raster charts are composed from the same digital files. The derived vector data contain all the errors and cartographic interpretations as in the original raster nautical charts.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

The projection of the source data set has been altered to non-projected geographic positions. The data set contains topology but has not been corrected for spatial relationships between charts. While the topology is good, lines may not always intersect where intended. Polygons intersected by the neatline close along that border.

Completeness_Report:

A complete list of selection criteria, generalization, and definitions used to determine what is included in the data set are completely outlined in the NOAA Nautical Chart Manual Seventh (1992) Edition. On a 1:40,000 scale chart, a feature could have a potential error of 40 to 80 meters (about 130-160 feet) due to scale alone. This is often the cause of the "ship on the pier" situation, where the vessel tied up at the pier appears on the navigation system to be on the pier rather than alongside. Another source of this type of discrepancy is that symbols on a chart of a given scale may be a representation for multiple real features that are too close together to be shown at chart scale. Similarly, symbols may be displaced from their original location for legibility and presentation. The NOAA Nautical Chart Manual has an extensive description of the horizontal datum.

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

Nautical charts are updated as part of an ongoing process to create a cartographic representation of the best available data collected through the years employing a variety of data collection technology and techniques and provided to the Office of Coast Survey using numerous different scales, datums, and projections. As technology has allowed for a drastic increase in positional accuracy historical data has not been superseded for many areas. The availability of digital chart products and Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) has drastically changed navigation. Navigation systems using DGPS for locating a vessel's position on the earth have put mariners in a unique predicament due to a false perception of greater positional accuracy of features portrayed on the charts. In many cases, the DGPS is more accurate than the surveying technology that was used to put the soundings and features on the nautical chart, paper or raster. The derived Mean High Water and Mean Lower Low Water vector data may not always correspond to these well-defined shoreline datums. The vector shoreline data are not intended to be used for navigation nor to be interpreted as the legal shoreline. Data accuracy is checked against the source nautical charts. NOAA assumes no liability for use of these data.

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

Depths are biased for shoals. Charts use multiple vertical datums (Mean Higher High Water [MHHW]; Mean High Water [MHW]; Mean Sea Level [MSL]; Mean Low Water [MLW]; Low Water Datum [LWD]; Mean Lower Low Water [MLLW]; Gulf Coast Low Water Datum [GCLWD].) The NOAA Nautical chart manual has an extensive description of the vertical datum used. Sounding datums used in coastal areas for nautical charting are determined by local observations, ideally over a period of 19 years. The official time period over which tide observations are taken to obtain mean values for tidal datums has been standardized by NOS. The present National Tidal Datum Epoch is from 1960 through 1978. There have been two epochs used previously this century; 1924 through 1942, and 1941 through 1959. The individual chart title block documents the datum used for that chart. Nautical charts are updated as part of an ongoing process to create a cartographic representation of the best available data collected through the years employing a variety of data collection technology and techniques. As technology has allowed for a drastic increase in survey accuracy historical data has not been superseded for many areas. Therefore, soundings found on a single chart may contain multiple collection dates and be only accurate as the technology used to collect them allowed. The derived Mean High Water and Mean Lower Low Water outlines may not always correspond to these well-defined shoreline datums. The derived vector data are not intended to be used for navigation nor to be interpreted as the legal shoreline. Data accuracy is checked against the source nautical charts. NOAA assumes no liability for use of these data.

Lineage:

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS), Coast Survey Development Laboratory (CSDL), Marine Charting Division

Publication_Date: 19950101

Title: Nautical Chart

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map

Series_Information:

Series_Name: Nautical Charts

Issue_Identification: kapp number

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Silver Spring, MD

Publisher: NOAA's Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey (OCS)

Source_Scale_Denominator: 10,000 to 80,000

Type_of_Source_Media: raster digital data

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 19950101

Ending_Date: Present

Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Source Nautical Chart

Source_Contribution: Vector shoreline data were derived from source nautical chart.

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Vector shoreline data were originally derived from NOAA nautical charts using a process and software developed by CGTP. The derived Mean High Water and Mean Lower Low Water outlines were originally processed from the 762 dpi binary raster files that are used to produce nautical charts. The derived shoreline data were converted from paper-charted units to geographic coordinates, then imported to ESRI shapefile (vector) format.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: Source Nautical Chart

Process_Date: 20010801

Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS), Coast Survey Development Laboratory (CSDL)

Contact_Position: Cartographic & Geospatial Technology Programs

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address

Address: 1315 East West Highway, N/CS12

City: Silver Spring

State_or_Province: MD

Postal_Code: 20910

Country: U.S.A

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (301) 713-2645 x143

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Matthew.Austin@noaa.gov

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Indirect_Spatial_Reference: The Coastal United States

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Geographic:

Latitude_Resolution: 0.01

Longitude_Resolution: 0.01

Geographic_Coordinate_Units: decimal seconds

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: NAD 83

Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80

Semi-major_Axis: 6,378,137.0

Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222101

Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Depth_System_Definition:

Depth_Datum_Name:

Mean Higher High Water, Mean High Water, Mean Sea Level, Mean Low Water, Low Water Datum, Mean Lower Low Water, Gulf Coast Low Water Datum

Depth_Resolution: 1

Depth_Distance_Units: feet, meters, fathoms

Depth_Encoding_Method: Explicit depth coordinate included with horizontal coordinates

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: Shoreline

Entity_Type_Definition:

The line of contact between land and a body of water. On National Ocean Service nautical charts, the shoreline approximates the Mean High Water line.

Entity_Type_Definition_Source: NOAA Nautical Chart Manual Seventh (1992)

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: charted shoreline

Attribute_Definition:

These data are derived from the charted Mean High Water and Mean Lower Low Water lines, though the derived outlines may not always correspond to these well-defined shoreline datums.

Attribute_Definition_Source: NOAA Nautical Chart Manual Seventh (1992)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Mean High Water Line (MHWL)

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

The line on a chart which represents the intersection of land with the water surface at the elevation of mean high water.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NOAA Nautical Chart Manual Seventh (1992)

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW)

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

The line on a chart which represents the intersection of land with the water surface at the elevation of mean lower low water.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NOAA Nautical Chart Manual Seventh (1992)

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS), Coast Survey Development Laboratory (CSDL)

Contact_Position: Cartographic & Geospatial Technology Programs

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address

Address: 1315 East West Highway, N/CS12

City: Silver Spring

State_or_Province: MD

Postal_Code: 20910

Country: U.S.A.

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (301) 713-2645 x143

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Matthew.Austin@noaa.gov

Resource_Description: Downloadable Data

Distribution_Liability:

The vector shoreline data are intended for GIS applications. The derived Mean High Water and Mean Lower Low Water outlines may not always correspond to these well-defined shoreline datums. The derived vector data are not intended to be used for navigation nor to be interpreted as the legal shoreline. Data accuracy is checked against the source nautical charts. NOAA assumes no liability for use of these data.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: ESRI shapefile

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: <http://historicals.ncd.noaa.gov/cm_vs_query.asp>

Fees: None

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20050301

Metadata_Review_Date: 20050430

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS), Coast Survey Development Laboratory (CSDL)

Contact_Position: Cartographic & Geospatial Technology Programs

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address

Address: 1315 East West Highway, N/CS12

City: Silver Spring,

State_or_Province: MD

Postal_Code: 20910

Country: U.S.A.

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (301) 713-2645 x143

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Matthew.Austin@noaa.gov

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998