Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) version 4.3 transects with end-point rate calculations for sheltered shorelines between the Colville River Delta and Point Barrow for the time period 1947 to 2005

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) version 4.3 transects with end-point rate calculations for sheltered shorelines between the Colville River Delta and Point Barrow for the time period 1947 to 2005
Abstract:
The Arctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska is an area of strategic economic importance to the United States, is home to remote Native American communities, and encompasses unique habitats of global significance. Coastal erosion along the north coast of Alaska is chronic, widespread, may be accelerating, and is threatening defense and energy-related infrastructure, natural shoreline habitats, and Native communities. There is an increased demand for accurate information regarding past and present shoreline changes across the United States. To meet these national needs, the Coastal and Marine Geology Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is compiling existing reliable historical shoreline data along sandy shores of the conterminous United States and parts of Alaska and Hawaii under the National Assessment of Shoreline Change project. There is no widely accepted standard for analyzing shoreline change. Existing shoreline data measurements and rate calculation methods vary from study to study and prevent combining results into state-wide or regional assessments. The impetus behind the National Assessment project was to develop a standardized method of measuring changes in shoreline position that is consistent from coast to coast. The goal was to facilitate the process of periodically and systematically updating the results in an internally consistent manner.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    U.S. Geological Survey, 2015, Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) version 4.3 transects with end-point rate calculations for sheltered shorelines between the Colville River Delta and Point Barrow for the time period 1947 to 2005: Open-File Report 2015-1030, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz and Menlo Park, CA.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Gibbs, Ann E., 2015, National Assessment of Shoreline Change: A GIS Compilation of Vector Shorelines and Associated Shoreline Change Data for the North Coast of Alaska, U.S.-Canadian Border to Icy Cape: Open-File Report 2015-1030, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -156.605048276
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -152.764170106
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 71.3463871251
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 70.8400855155
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 1947
    Ending_Date: 2005
    Currentness_Reference:
    ground condition
  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 (2189)
    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 0.0196071112. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.0579683571. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal seconds. The horizontal datum used is D_WGS_1984.
      The ellipsoid used is WGS_1984.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.0.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257223563.
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    Attribute Table
    Table containing attribute information associated with the data set. (Source: Producer defined)
    OBJECTID
    Internal feature number generated for each row of the transect attribute table when stored as a feature class in a geodatabase. This value is the common attribute field when joining to the TransectID value in short-term results output table calculated by DSAS. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:2256
    BaselineID
    Unique identification number of the baseline segment. If BaselineID=0 no transects will be generated. Used by DSAS to determine transect ordering alongshore if multiple baseline segments exist. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:31
    Group_
    Region ID as defined in Gibbs and Richmond (Cross referenced in this report) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    ValueDefinition
    6Cape Halkett to Drew Point
    7Drew Point to Dease Inlet
    8Dease Inlet to Barrow
    TransOrder
    Assigned by DSAS based on ordering of transects along the baseline. Used to allow user to sort transect data along the baseline from baseline start to baseline end. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:2247
    ProcTime
    Assigned by DSAS automatically to record the date and time a transect was processed. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Unknown
    Autogen
    Assigned by DSAS to indicate whether or not a transect was automatically created by DSAS (1= transect was auto generated by DSAS; blank or 0=transect was not auto-generated). (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    ValueDefinition
    0Unknown
    1Transect was auto generated by DSAS
    StartX
    Assigned by DSAS automatically to record the X coordinate of the beginning of the transect in meter units (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:371943.04
    Maximum:507525.64
    StartY
    Assigned by DSAS automatically to record the Y coordinate of the beginning of the transect in meter units (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:7860663
    Maximum:7919661.77
    EndX
    Assigned by DSAS automatically to record the X coordinate of the end of the transect in meter units (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:371321.16
    Maximum:508621.9
    EndY
    Assigned by DSAS automatically to record the Y coordinate of the end of the transect in meter units (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:7859570.35
    Maximum:7919857.47
    Azimuth
    Assigned by DSAS to record the azimuth of the transect measure in degrees clockwise from North. When zero, transect was manually created by user. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:3.17
    Maximum:354.74
    ShoreType
    User defined shoreline type (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    ValueDefinition
    Sheltered IslandUnknown
    Sheltered MainlandUnknown
    Shape_Leng
    Unknown (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:134.235311544
    Maximum:1144.48449399
    TransectId
    Same value as ObjectID. Used as a permanent and unique identification number for each transect in the output rates table calculated by DSAS. This attribute was used as the common field when joining the rates table (.dbf) to the transect feature class in a geodatabase. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:2256
    EPR
    The end point rate is calculated by dividing the distance of shoreline movement by the time elapsed between the two shorelines. The rate is reported in meters per year with positive values indicating accretion and negative values indicating erosion. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-16.43
    Maximum:10.87
    Units:meters per year
    ECI
    Describes the uncertainty of the reported end point rate in meters. The shoreline uncertainties for the two positions used in the end point calculation are each squared, then added together (summation of squares). The square root of the summation of squares is divided by the number of years between the two shorelines. This result is reported as the confidence of the end point rate calculation (ECI). (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.295
    Maximum:0.311
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    All calculations for length are in meter units and were based on the coincident UTM zone WGS84
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: Unknown

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • U.S. Geological Survey
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Ann E. Gibbs
    Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
    Santa Cruz, CA
    USA

    831-460-7540 (voice)
    831-427-4748 (FAX)
    agibbs@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

This dataset consists of shoreline change rates for the north coast of Alaska between the Colville River Delta and Point Barrow. Rate calculations were computed within a GIS using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) version 4.3, an ArcGIS extension developed by the U.S. Geological Survey. Rates of shoreline change were calculated using an end-point rate method based on shorelines between 1947 and 2005 to provide an approximately 58-yr rate. A reference baseline was used as the originating point for the orthogonal transects cast by the DSAS software. The transects intersect each shoreline establishing measurement points, which are then used to calculate change rates.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 2012 (process 1 of 9)
    Transect Features Generated using DSAS v4.2 in ArcMap v9.3. Parameters Used: baseline layer=UTMX_Baseline, transect spacing=50 meters, transect length=500m, cast direction=onshore, baseline location=offshore, cast method=smoothed, smoothing distance=50 meters. For additional details on these parameters, please see the DSAS help file distributed with the DSAS software, or visit the USGS website at: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1278/
    Date: 2012 (process 2 of 9)
    Some transects did not intersect all shorelines at the default transect length. These transects were manually lengthened in an edit session using standard editing tools in ArcMap v9.3. Some transects intersected the shorelines at an oblique angle. These transects were manually adjusted to a more shore-normal position in an edit session using standard editing tools in ArcMap v9.3.
    Date: 09-Oct-2014 (process 3 of 9)
    Rate calculations performed in DSAS v4.3 using ArcMap v10.1 on selected shoreline features. Parameters Used: shoreline layer= Shorelines_WestBeaufort, shoreline date field=DATE_, shoreline uncertainty field name=Uncy, the default accuracy= 0 meters, shoreline intersection parameters=nearest, stats calculations=[End Point Rate (EPR)], shoreline threshold=2, confidence interval=90%, Output rate table name= Transects_WestBeaufort_Sheltered_rates_20141009_131320
    Date: 09-Oct-2014 (process 4 of 9)
    Shoreline rates table (Transects_WestBeaufort_Sheltered_rates_20141009_131320) was joined to the transect feature class in ArcMap v10.1 by right-clicking on the transect layer > joins and relates > join > join attributes from a table. Parameters: join field - ObjectID; table to join - Transects_WestBeaufort_Sheltered_rates_20141009_131320; field in table: TransectID; join options - keep only matching records.
    Date: 09-Oct-2014 (process 5 of 9)
    The joined transect feature class was exported to a shapefile in ArcMap v10.1 by right-clicking the transect layer > data > export data, permanently linking the joined rate fields to the transect attribute table.
    Date: 09-Oct-2014 (process 6 of 9)
    The exported transect shapefile was projected in Esri's ArcToolbox (v.10.1) > Data Management Tools > Projections and Transformations > Feature > Project. Parameters: input projection - UTM zone XN (NAD83; where X is the corresponding UTM Zone); output projection - geographic coordinates (WGS84); transformation = WGS_1984_(ITRF00)_To_NAD_1983.
    Date: 07-Feb-2017 (process 7 of 9)
    Keywords section of metadata optimized for discovery in USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Data Catalog. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Alan O. Allwardt
    Contractor -- Information Specialist
    2885 Mission Street
    Santa Cruz, CA

    831-460-7551 (voice)
    831-427-4748 (FAX)
    aallwardt@usgs.gov
    Date: 26-Apr-2018 (process 8 of 9)
    Added keywords from Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) to metadata. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Alan O. Allwardt
    Contractor -- Information Specialist
    2885 Mission Street
    Santa Cruz, CA

    831-460-7551 (voice)
    831-427-4748 (FAX)
    aallwardt@usgs.gov
    Date: 19-Oct-2020 (process 9 of 9)
    Edited metadata to add keywords section with USGS persistent identifier as theme keyword. No data were changed. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: VeeAnn A. Cross
    Marine Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA

    508-548-8700 x2251 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    vatnipp@usgs.gov
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
    Gibbs, Ann E., and Richmond, Bruce M., 2015, National Assessment of Shoreline Change: Historical Shoreline Change along the North Coast of Alaska, U.S.-Canadian Border to Icy Cape: Open-File Report 2015-1030, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Santa Cruz, CA.

    Online Links:

    Thieler, E.R., Himmelstoss, E.A., Zichichi, J.L., and Ergul, A., 2009, Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) version 4.0 - An ArcGIS extension for calculating shoreline change: Open-File Report 2008-1278, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: Current version at time of use was 4.3

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    The attributes of this dataset are based on the field requirements of the Digital Shoreline Analysis System and were automatically generated by the software during the generation of the transect layer or during the calculation of shoreline change rates performed by the software.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    A formal accuracy assessment of the horizontal positional information in the data set has not been conducted.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
    A formal accuracy assessment of the vertical positional information in the data set has either not been conducted, or is not applicable.
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    This dataset contains the transects automatically generated by the DSAS software application that were used to calculate shoreline change rates along sections of the north coast of Alaska, between the U.S.-Canadian border and Icy Cape, where shoreline position data were available. Additional transects may have been generated but did not intersect the shoreline dates specified.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    These data were generated using DSAS v4.3, an automated software program which does not perform checks for fidelity of the input features. The transects were visually inspected and sometimes manually adjusted within a standard ArcMap edit session to adjust the position at which an individual transect intersected the shorelines.

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:
This information is not intended for navigational purposes. Read and fully comprehend the metadata prior to data use. Uses of these data should not violate the spatial resolution of the data. Where these data are used in combination with other data of different resolution, the resolution of the combined output will be limited by the lowest resolution of all the data. Acknowledge the U.S. Geological Survey in products derived from these data. Share data products developed using these data with the U.S. Geological Survey. This database has been approved for release and publication by the Director of the USGS. Although this database has been subjected to rigorous review and is substantially complete, the USGS reserves the right to revise the data pursuant to further analysis and review. Furthermore, it is released on condition that neither the USGS nor the United States Government may be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized or unauthorized use. Although this Federal Geographic Data Committee-compliant metadata file is intended to document these data in nonproprietary form, as well as in ArcInfo format, this metadata file may include some ArcInfo-specific terminology.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
    Santa Cruz, CA
    USA

    831-460-7540 (voice)
    831-427-4748 (FAX)
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? WestBeaufort_sheltered_transects.shp
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    This information is not intended for navigational purposes. This database has been approved for release and publication by the Director of the USGS. Although this database has been subjected to rigorous review and is substantially complete, the USGS reserves the right to revise the data pursuant to further analysis and review. Furthermore, it is released on condition that neither the USGS nor the United States Government may be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized or unauthorized use. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof.
  4. How can I download or order the data?
    • Availability in digital form:
      Data format: This WinZip file contains a shapefile of transects generated by the Digital Shoreline Analysis System including short-term rate calculations for the Alaska North Coast region from the U.S.-Canadian border to Icy Cape. in format vector digital data (version 9.0) Esri polyline shapefile Size: 0.198
      Network links: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2015/1030/downloads/WestBeaufort_sheltered_transects.zip
    • Cost to order the data: None

  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) polyline shapefile format. The user must have ArcGIS or ArcView 3.0 or greater software to read and process the data file. 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: 19-Oct-2020
Metadata author:
Ann E. Gibbs
U.S. Geological Survey
Geologist
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Santa Cruz, CA
USA

831-460-7540 (voice)
831-427-4748 (FAX)
agibbs@usgs.gov
Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/pcmsc/SeriesReports/OFR/OFR_2015-1030/WestBeaufort_sheltered_transects.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.50 on Tue Sep 21 18:17:53 2021