CMECS substrate, geoform, and biotic component polygons derived from multibeam echosounder data and underwater video observations collected offshore of south-central California in support of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Cal DIG I, offshore alternative energy project

Frequently anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How might 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?

What does this data set describe?

1. How might this data set be cited?
   Cochrane, Guy R., Kuhnz, Linda A., Dartnell, Peter, Gilbane, Lisa, and Walton, Maureen A., 20220108, CMECS substrate, geoform, and biotic component polygons derived from multibeam echosounder data and underwater video observations collected offshore of south-central California in support of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Cal DIG I, offshore alternative energy project: data release DOI:10.5066/P9QQZ27U, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, CA.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.5066/P9QQZ27U

   This is part of the following larger work.
   Cochrane, Guy R., Kuhnz, Linda A., Dartnell, Peter, Gilbane, Lisa, and Walton, Maureen A., 2022, Multibeam echosounder, video observation, and derived benthic habitat data offshore of south-central California in support of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Cal DIG I, offshore alternative energy project: data release DOI:10.5066/P9QQZ27U, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, CA.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.5066/P9QQZ27U

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -122.000031
   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -120.789226
   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 35.896673
   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 34.522442
   

3. What does it look like?

   Cal_DIG_I_CMECS.jpeg (JPEG)

   Quick view of Cal DIG I CMECS biotopes

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

   Beginning_Date: 2016

   Ending_Date: 2020

   Currentness_Reference:

   ground condition at time data were collected.

5. What is the general form of this data set?

   Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: polygon shapefile
   

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):
      • Area point (280,397)
   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 0.00001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.00001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees. The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is GRS80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222101.
      
7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   Cal DIG I CMECS Shapefile

   Shapefile consisting of polygons classified into Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) biotopes (Source: Producer defined.)

   Geoform

   CMECS geoform code (Source: Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS))

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS)
   Codeset Source:	Federal Geographic Data Committee

   Substrate

   CMECS substrate class code (Source: Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS))

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS)
   Codeset Source:	Federal Geographic Data Committee

   Modifier

   CMECS modifier code (Source: Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS))

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS)
   Codeset Source:	Federal Geographic Data Committee

   GeofrmDesc

   CMECS description of geoform (Source: Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS))

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS)
   Codeset Source:	Federal Geographic Data Committee

   SubstrDesc

   CMECS description of substrate class (Source: Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS))

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS)
   Codeset Source:	Federal Geographic Data Committee

   ModfrDesc

   description of modifiers (Source: Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS))

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS)
   Codeset Source:	Federal Geographic Data Committee

   BioticGrp

   CMECS biotic group code; some points did not have physical habitats that correlated to a biotic group and were not assigned a value (Source: Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS))

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS)
   Codeset Source:	Federal Geographic Data Committee

   BtcGrpDesc

   Biotic group description; some points did not have physical habitats that correlated to a biotic group and were not assigned a value (Source: Kuhnz and others 2021)

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	none
   Codeset Source:	Kuhnz and others 2021

   BtcGrpNum

   Biotope assigned to video observation (Source: Linda Kuhnz)

   Value	Definition
   1	biotope 1
   2	biotope 2
   3	biotope 3
   4	biotope 4
   5	biotope 5
   6	biotope 6
   7	biotope 7
   8	biotope 8
   9	biotope 9
   10	biotope 10
   11	biotope 11
   12	biotope 12
   13	biotope 13
   14	biotope 14
   15	biotope 15
   16	biotope 16
   17	biotope 17
   18	biotope 18
   0	no biotope assigned

   Area

   surface area of polygon (Source: Esri)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	64.0380858924
   Maximum:	1512652524.93
   Units:	Square meters
   Resolution:	1e-17

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   There are 297 unique combinations of variables resulting in 280,397 CMECS polygons in the shapefile. These polygons are grouped into 22 geoforms, 6 substrate types, 28 modifier groups, and 16 biotopes.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Federal Geographic Data Committee, Marine and Coastal Spatial Data Subcommittee, 2012, Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard: FGDC, 343 p., accessed March 10, 2021, at https://www.fgdc.gov/standards/projects/cmecs-folder/CMECS_Version_06-2012_FINAL.pdf

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • Guy R. Cochrane
   • Linda A. Kuhnz
   • Peter Dartnell
   • Lisa Gilbane
   • Maureen A. Walton
2. Who also contributed to the data set?
3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

   Attn: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator

   2885 Mission Street

   Santa Cruz, CA
   

   831-427-4747 (voice)

   pcmsc_data@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

This project was conducted to map surficial geology and benthic habitat as part of the USGS/BOEM Interagency Agreement M17PG0021 titled California Deepwater Investigations and Ground-truthing I (Cal DIG I). These data are intended to provide regional surficial geology and benthic habitat information in an area of interest for offshore wind energy development. These data are also intended for science researchers, students, policy makers, and the public. These data can be used in GIS and statistical analysis projects, or other software to spatially identify geomorphologic biota, surficial lithology, and biotopes in the study area. Field activities were augmented through the Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems (EXPRESS) collaboration (https://www.usgs.gov/centers/pcmsc/science/express-expanding-pacific-research-and-exploration-submerged-systems?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects).

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

   Kuhnz and others 2021 (source 1 of 1)

   Kuhnz, Linda A., Gilbane, Lisa, Cochrane, Guy R., and Paull, Charles K., 2021, California Deepwater Investigations and Groundtruthing (Cal DIG) I, Volume 1: Biological site characterization offshore Morro Bay: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, online.

   Online Links:

   • https://espis.boem.gov/final%20reports/BOEM_2021-037.pdf

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Kuhnz, L.A., Gilbane, L. Cochrane, G.R., and Paull, C.K., 2021, California Deepwater Investigations and Groundtruthing (Cal DIG) I, Volume 1: Biological site characterization offshore Morro Bay: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Pacific OCS Region, OCS Study, BOEM 2021-037, 72 p.

   Type_of_Source_Media: report
   Source_Contribution:

   Report describes methodology used to collect, observe seafloor physical habitats and characteristics, and annotate underwater video

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

   Date: 30-Nov-2020 (process 1 of 1)

   Underwater video was collected and annotated, and multibeam echosounder (MBES) data were classified into Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) biotope classes as described in the sourced report. Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Linda Kuhnz

   Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI)

   Biologist

   7700 Sandholdt Road

   Moss Landing, CA
   

   831-775-1700 (voice)

   831-775-1620 (FAX)

   linda@mbari.org

   Data sources used in this process:

   • Kuhnz and others 2021

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?
   The attributes found in this dataset are from the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS). The attribute values were derived from numerical classification of derivatives of multibeam echosounder (MBES) bathymetry and backscatter intensity data. Derivatives of the bathymetry data include slope and bathymetry position index. The accuracy of these characteristics of the seafloor are dependent wholly on the vertical position accuracy of the MBES bathymetry. In general, the vertical accuracy of the Simrad EM710 MBES is on the order of decimeters. In this case noise in the data did create false slope and curvature in the data that cannot be quantified but appears to be on the order of meters. Video observations of seafloor substrate were used to supervise the numerical classification of backscatter intensity data (and bathymetry derivatives) into substrate type. Accuracy of the substrate is good near video transects and diminishes as a function of distance from video ground-truth information. This accuracy cannot be quantified. The substrate attribute values should be considered geologic interpretations by the user.
2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
   Hydrographic survey vessels outfitted with an Applanix POS-MV position and motion compensation system have a post-processed horizontal positional accuracy of about 0.1 m and roll and pitch accuracies of about 0.02 degrees (https://www.applanix.com/downloads/products/specs/posmv/POS-MV-WaveMaster-II.pdf). Accuracies of final products may be lower due to water depth and total propagated uncertainties of the mapping systems, which include sonar system, position and motion compensation system, and navigation, as well as data processing that includes sounding cleaning, gridding, and datum transformations.
3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
   Polygons were assigned a depth class based on bathymetry data acquired for this study. The hydrographic surveys used for this dataset absolute difference statistics of the junctions between crossing lines show that 95 percentof soundings have a deviation of 1.3 meters or less. The vertical accuracy is not defined. https://data.ngdc.noaa.gov/platforms/ocean/nos/coast/H12001-H14000/H13151/DR/H13151_DR.pdf
4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
   Some polygons in this data set have null attribute values when the attribute value could not be ascertained from the data.
5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
   Polygons do not overlap. Voids in the multibeam echosounder data were filled prior to numerical classification. No additional checks for consistency were performed on this data.

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:

USGS-authored or produced data and information are in the public domain from the U.S. Government and are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize and acknowledge the U.S. Geological Survey and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management as the originator(s) of the dataset and in products derived from these data.

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
   
   U.S. Geological Survey - CMGDS

   2885 Mission Street

   Santa Cruz, CA
   

   831-427-4747 (voice)

   pcmsc_data@usgs.gov
2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? These data are available in shapefile format (Cal_DIG_I_CMECS.shp and associated files) contained in a single zip file (Cal_DIG_I_CMECS.zip), accompanied by CSDGM FGDC-compliant metadata.
3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.

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

     Data format:	Zip file contains the polygons shapefile in format shapefile (version ArcGIS 10.7.1) Esri polygon shapefile Size: 35.8
     Network links:	https://doi.org/10.5066/P9QQZ27U

   • Cost to order the data: None.

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

   These data can be viewed with GIS software.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 26-Jan-2022

Metadata author:

U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Attn: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator

2885 Mission Street

Santa Cruz, CA

831-427-4747 (voice)

pcmsc_data@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:

Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)