Table and accompanying photographs for biogeomorphic classification of shorebird nesting sites on the U.S. Atlantic coast from May to August, 2014

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Table and accompanying photographs for biogeomorphic classification of shorebird nesting sites on the U.S. Atlantic coast from May to August, 2014
Abstract:
Atlantic coast piping plover (Charadrius melodus) nest sites are typically found on low-lying beach and dune systems, which respond rapidly to coastal processes like sediment overwash, inlet formation, and island migration that are sensitive to climate-related changes in storminess and the rate of sea-level rise. Data were obtained to understand piping plover habitat distribution and use along their Atlantic Coast breeding range. A smartphone application called iPlover was developed to collect standardized data on habitat characteristics at piping plover nest locations. The application capitalized on a network of trained monitors that observe piping plovers throughout their U.S. Atlantic coast breeding range as part of the species’ recovery plan. Monitors used iPlover to document nest locations as well as randomly distributed points at beaches and barrier islands over ~1500 km of coast between Maine and North Carolina, USA. This work is one component of a larger research and management program that seeks to understand and sustain ecological value, ecosystem services, and habitat suitability of beaches in the face of storm impacts, climate change, and sea-level rise. Tabular digital data generated by field data collection with iPlover with accompanying site photographs in JPEG format are presented in this data release.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Sturdivant, Emily J., Thieler, E. Robert, Zeigler, Sara L., Winslow, Luke A., Hines, Megan K., Read, Jordan S., and Walker, Jordan I., 2016, Table and accompanying photographs for biogeomorphic classification of shorebird nesting sites on the U.S. Atlantic coast from May to August, 2014: U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Sturdivant, Emily J., Thieler, E. Robert, Zeigler, Sara L., Winslow, Luke A., Hines, Megan K., Read, Jordan S., and Walker, Jordan I., 2016, Biogeomorphic classification and images of shorebird nesting sites on the U.S. Atlantic coast: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -76.34725831
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -69.98218428
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 43.49606856
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 34.82823709
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 29-May-2014
    Ending_Date: 30-Jul-2014
    Currentness_Reference:
    ground condition
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Tabular digital data and JPEG photographs
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a point data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • Point (575)
    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 0.00000001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.00000001. 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?
    iplover_fieldpts_2014.csv
    These files contain attribute information for the classification of biogeomorphic attributes and imagery of coastal habitats associated with shorebird nesting sites for 2014. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    id
    Unique identifying string generated by iPlover application. The id value is used as the file name of the photo taken for the point. (Source: iPlover application)
    ValueDefinition
    naNot Applicable - Record was created outside of iPlover PostgreSQL database and has no ID value.
    character set
    clientversion
    Textual description of the version of the iPlover application used by the user, i.e., installed on their device. Points entered manually by an administrator without the iPlover application are coded here as 'Manual entry'. (Source: iPlover application)
    ValueDefinition
    1.2-SNAPSHOT1.2-SNAPSHOT is the version of the iPlover application code used for data collection in 2014. It refers to the most updated form (snapshot, as termed in in Maven java programming) of iPlover version 1.2.
    Manual entryAn iPlover administrator manually entered values provided by the field user into the database at this point.
    datetime
    Date and time when the data were recorded in the field in YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM format. Records that were manually entered in the database do not include the time (YYYY-MM-DD). (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    ValueDefinition
    2014-05-02Data were recorded manually in the field on May 2, 2014.
    2014-06-06Data were recorded manually in the field on June 6, 2014.
    naNot Applicable - Record was created outside of iPlover PostgreSQL database and has no date or time value.
    Range of values
    Minimum:2014-05-29 10:24
    Maximum:2014-08-25 13:13
    latitude
    Latitude coordinate, in decimal-degrees, of data point. (Source: Smartphone GPS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:34.82823709
    Maximum:43.49606856
    Units:signed decimal degrees
    Resolution:1.0E-8
    longitude
    Longitude coordinate, in decimal-degrees, of data point. West longitude is recorded as negative values (Source: Smartphone GPS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-76.34725831
    Maximum:-69.98218428
    Units:signed decimal degrees
    Resolution:1.0E-8
    accuracy
    The location accuracy reported by the smartphone in meters. These values tend to be imprecise. In iPhones, values are reported in 5m increments. When accuracy was not reported, such as when the data were recorded outside of iPlover, accuracy was left blank. (Source: Smartphone GPS)
    ValueDefinition
    (blank)Data was logged outside of iPlover application and accuracy was not recorded.
    Range of values
    Minimum:3
    Maximum:30
    Units:meters
    Resolution:1
    site
    Identifier given to the nest either by iPlover user or by the generator of the random point. (Source: iPlover user defined) character set
    setting
    Geomorphic setting of data point as identified by the user selecting one of eight radio button choices within the iPlover application. When geomorphic setting was not reported, such as when the data were recorded outside of iPlover, setting was left blank. (Source: iPlover user)
    ValueDefinition
    (blank)Data was logged outside of iPlover application and geomorphic setting was not recorded.
    barrierinterior“Barrier Interior” selected by user - All areas spanning the interior boundary of the dunes (or backshore in the absence of dunes) on the ocean-side to the interior boundary of the marsh, dunes, or backshore on the back-barrier side. This setting was typically used to describe areas that did not fall into any other geomorphic setting (e.g., washovers, ridge/swale complexes).
    beach“Beach” selected by user - The area between the ocean- or sound-side study area boundary and the mean high water line (approximated by the upper-most wrack line in the field).
    blowout“Dune Blowout” selected by user - "A general term for a small saucer-, cup-, or trough-shaped hollow or depression formed by wind erosion on a preexisting dune or other sand deposit, esp. in an area of shifting sand or loose soil, or where protective vegetation is disturbed or destroyed; the adjoining accumulation of sand derived from the depression, where recognizable, is commonly included" (Neuendorf and others, 2011).
    dune“Dune” selected by user - A low mound, ridge, bank, or hill of loose, windblown granular material (generally sand), either bare or covered by vegetation, capable of movement from place to place but retaining its characteristic shape (Neuendorf and others, 2011). In this study, “dune” also describes low-lying areas between dunes (or “interdune” regions) that are part of the larger dune complex.
    lowduneforedune“Low Dune/Foredune” selected by user - A coastal dune or dune ridge of loose, windblown granular material (generally sand) oriented parallel to the shoreline, occurring at the landward margin of the beach, along the shoreward face of a beach ridge, or at the landward limit of the highest tide, variably bare or covered by vegetation.
    ridgeswale“Beach Ridge/Swale” selected by user - Long sub-parallel ridges and swales aligned obliquely across the regional trend of the contours. In this study area, these occur typically at the downdrift ends of barrier islands or spits (e.g., a low peninsula or barrier ending in a recurved spit such as the southern end of Assateague Island) (Neuendorf and others, 2011).
    upperbeach“Upper Beach” selected by user - The upper, usually dry, zone of the shore or beach, lying between the high-water line of mean spring tides and the upper limit of shore-zone processes; it is acted upon by waves or covered by water only during exceptionally severe storms or unusually high tides (Neuendorf and others, 2011).
    washover“Washover” selected by user - A fan of material deposited from the ocean landward on a mainland beach or barrier island, produced by storm waves breaking over low parts of the mainland beach or barrier and depositing sediment either landward (mainland beaches) or across a barrier island into the bay/sound (barrier islands). A washover typically displays a characteristic fan-like shape (Neuendorf and others, 2011).
    vegtype
    Predominant vegetation type within 5x5 m area around point as identified by the user selecting one of four radio button choices within the iPlover application. Vegtype may not always agree with vegdens due to confusion of user. In some cases, users selected vegtype none and vegdens or vegdens none, but categorized vegtype. (Source: iPlover user)
    ValueDefinition
    herbaceous“Herbaceous” selected by user - Areas containing primarily herbaceous vegetation and lacking shrubs, trees, or any other vegetation with woody stems (Forb/herb growth habit; U.S. Department of Agriculture 2015). In this study, the Herbaceous vegetation type typically described the vegetation cover found in Godfrey’s (1976) (i) “grassland” ecological zone along the backshore and dunes, dominated by beach grasses (e.g., Ammophila breviligulata) or (ii) “intertidal marsh” ecological zone dominated by cordgrass (e.g., Spartina patens).
    shellbed“Shell Bed” selected by user - Areas with substrate containing a mixture of sand, shell or rock fragments, or large rocks (shell/gravel/cobble) which precludes the presence of vegetation.
    water“Water” selected by user - Areas of water, which precludes the presence of vegetation.
    woodyshrub“Woody/Shrub” selected by user - Areas containing multi-stemmed woody plants or trees (Subshrub and Shrub growth habits, Tree growth habit; U.S. Department of Agriculture 2015). In this study, the Shrub vegetation type typically described vegetation cover found in Godfrey’s (1976) “shrublands” or “woodlands/forests” ecological zone found in stable dune systems or barrier island interiors.
    vegdens
    Predominant vegetation density within 5x5 m area around point (None, Sparse, Moderate, or Dense) as estimated by the user and selected from one of four radio button choices within the iPlover application. Vegdens may not always agree with vegtype due to confusion of user. In some cases, users selected vegtype none and vegdens or vegdens none, but categorized vegtype. (Source: iPlover user)
    ValueDefinition
    dense"Dense [greater than] 90%" selected by user - Vegetation covered more than 90% of the 5x5 m area surrounding an iPlover data point or map cell.
    moderate"Moderate 20-90%" selected by user - Vegetation covered 20-90% of the 5x5 m area surrounding an iPlover data point or map cell.
    none"None" selected by user - No vegetation observed in the 5x5 m area surrounding an iPlover data point or map cell.
    sparse"Sparse [less than] 20%" selected by user - Vegetation was apparent and covered less than 20% of the 5x5 m area surrounding an iPlover data point or map cell.
    substrate
    Predominant substrate type within 5x5 m area around point as identified by the user selecting one of four radio button choices within the iPlover application. (Source: iPlover user)
    ValueDefinition
    forestshrub“Forest/Shrub” selected by user - Areas containing multi-stemmed woody plants or trees (Subshrub and Shrub growth habits, Tree growth habit; U.S. Department of Agriculture 2015). In this study, the Shrub vegetation type typically described vegetation cover found in Godfrey’s (1976) “shrublands” or “woodlands/forests” ecological zone found in stable dune systems or barrier island interiors.
    sandy“Sandy” selected by user - Rock or mineral grains with diameters between 0.074 and 4.76 mm (Neuendorf and others, 2011). In this study, a predominantly “sandy” substrate consisted of finer grains with no discernible shells fragments or large rock fragments.
    wetland“Wetland” selected by user - A low-lying and regularly wet or flooded area that is usually composed of mud or peat.
    unknown“Unknown” selected by user - substrate type is unknown or missing.
    imagefile
    JPEG photo filename if the image is present in the dataset. Values 'MISSING' or 'REMOVED' indicate whether the file was not retrieved by the server or removed to address privacy concerns. (Source: iPlover application)
    ValueDefinition
    MISSINGImage file is not present in the dataset because it could not be retrieved from the server.
    REMOVEDImage file was removed from the dataset to protect the privacy of individuals.
    character set
    setting_2
    Reclassified to agree with the coding used in analysis starting in 2015. The value was reclassified from that selected in iPlover version 1 in 2014, which is recorded in attribute 'setting'. (Source: Sara L. Zeigler)
    ValueDefinition
    *Geomorphic setting unknown or missing.
    BackshoreThe upper, usually dry, zone of the shore or beach, lying between the high-water line of mean spring tides and the upper limit of shore-zone processes; it is acted upon by waves or covered by water only during exceptionally severe storms or unusually high tides (Neuendorf and others, 2011). In this study, the Backshore geomorphic setting occurred between the mean high water line and either (i) the dune toe, (ii) the edge of developed areas, or (iii) the edge of dense vegetation (or forest).
    BarrierInteriorThe Barrier Interior geomorphic setting described all areas spanning the interior boundary of the dunes (or backshore in the absence of dunes) on the ocean-side to the interior boundary of the marsh, dunes, or backshore on the back-barrier side. This setting was typically used to describe areas that did not fall into any other geomorphic setting (e.g., washovers, ridge/swale complexes).
    BeachThe relatively thick and temporary accumulation of loose, water-borne material (usually well-sorted sand and pebbles, accompanied by mud, cobbles, boulders, and smoothed rock and shell fragments) that is in active transit along, or deposited on, the shore zone between the limits of low water and high water (Neuendorf and others, 2011). In this study, the Beach geomorphic setting occurred between the ocean- or sound-side study area boundary and the mean high water line (approximated for by the upper-most wrack line in the field).
    DuneA low mound, ridge, bank, or hill of loose, windblown granular material (generally sand), either bare or covered by vegetation, capable of movement from place to place but retaining its characteristic shape (Neuendorf and others, 2011). In this study, “dune” also describes low-lying areas between dunes (or “interdune” regions) that are part of the larger dune complex.
    RidgeSwaleThe point occurs in a ridge/swale complex: long sub-parallel ridges and swales aligned obliquely across the regional trend of the contours. Common on the “hooks” (i.e., a low peninsula or barrier ending in a recurved spit and formed at the end of a bay; e.g., the hook of Chincoteague Island) of barrier islands of the Mid-Atlantic, USA (Neuendorf and others, 2011).
    WashoverA fan of material deposited from the ocean landward on a mainland beach or barrier island, produced by storm waves breaking over low parts of the mainland beach or barrier and depositing sediment either landward (mainland beaches) or across a barrier island into the bay/sound (barrier islands). A washover typically displays a characteristic fan-like shape (Neuendorf and others, 2011).
    vegtype_2
    Reclassified to agree with the coding used in analysis starting in 2015. The value was reclassified from that selected in iPlover version 1 in 2014, which is recorded in attribute 'vegtype'. Predominant vegetation type within 5x5 m area around point (None, Herbaceous, Shrub, or Forest). Vegetation type may not always agree with vegetation density due to confusion of user. (Source: Sara L. Zeigler)
    ValueDefinition
    ForestAreas containing trees and tall (greater than 5 m) shrubs (Tree growth habit; U.S. Department of Agriculture 2015). In this study, the Forest vegetation type typically described vegetation cover found in Godfrey’s (1976) “woodlands/forests” ecological zone found in barrier island interiors and dominated by deciduous (e.g., Quercus velutina), pine (e.g., Pinus rigida), and juniper (e.g., Juniperus virginiana) species.
    HerbaceousAreas containing primarily herbaceous vegetation and lacking shrubs, trees, or any other vegetation with woody stems (Forb/herb growth habit; U.S. Department of Agriculture 2015). In this study, the Herbaceous vegetation type typically described the vegetation cover found in Godfrey’s (1976) (i) “grassland” ecological zone along the backshore and dunes, dominated by beach grasses (e.g., Ammophila breviligulata) or (ii) “intertidal marsh” ecological zone dominated by cordgrass (e.g., Spartina patens).
    NoneAreas lacking vegetation of any type. Such areas were common on beaches, backshores, and washovers that frequently or recently experienced wave-action.
    ShrubAreas containing low (less than 5m), multi-stemmed woody plants (Subshrub and Shrub growth habits; U.S. Department of Agriculture 2015). In this study, the Shrub vegetation type typically described vegetation cover found in Godfrey’s (1976) heath-like “shrublands” ecological zone in stable dune systems.
    vegdens_2
    Reclassified to agree with the coding used in analysis starting in 2015. The value was reclassified from that selected in iPlover version 1 in 2014, which is recorded in attribute 'vegdens'. Predominant vegetation density within 5x5 m area around point (None, Sparse, Moderate, or Dense) as estimated by the user and selected from one of four radio button choices within the iPlover application. Vegdens may not always agree with vegtype due to confusion of user. In some cases, users selected vegtype none and vegdens or vegdens none, but categorized vegtype. (Source: Sara L. Zeigler)
    ValueDefinition
    DenseVegetation covered more than 90% of the 5x5 m area surrounding an iPlover data point or map cell.
    ModerateVegetation covered 20-90% of the 5x5 m area surrounding an iPlover data point or map cell.
    NoneNo vegetation observed in the 5x5 m area surrounding an iPlover data point or map cell.
    SparseVegetation was apparent and covered less than 20% of the 5x5 m area surrounding an iPlover data point or map cell.
    substrate_2
    Reclassified to agree with the coding used in analysis starting in 2015. The value was reclassified from that selected in iPlover version 1 in 2014, which is recorded in attribute 'substrate'. Predominant substrate type within 5x5 m area around point (Sand, Shell/Gravel/Cobble, Mud/Peat, Water, or *). (Source: Sara L. Zeigler)
    ValueDefinition
    MudPeatA sticky, fine-grained, predominantly clay- or silt-sized marine detrital sediment (Neuendorf and others, 2011).
    SandRock or mineral grains with diameters between 0.074 and 4.76 mm (Neuendorf and others, 2011). In this study, a predominantly “sandy” substrate consisted of finer grains with no discernible shells fragments or large rock fragments.
    ShellGravelCobbleIn this study, Shell/Gravel/Cobble described substrate containing a mixture of sand, shell or rock fragments, or large rocks.
    WaterWater is the substrate type for any iPlover data point or location that (i) is always submerged (e.g., points several meters into the ocean, bay, or inland water body) or (ii) was submerged at the time of iPlover point collection (i.e., intertidal regions of beaches). Typically, only random points are classified as water because plovers would not nest there.
    *Substrate type unknown or missing.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview: The first line of the CSV file is a header line.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: U.S. Geological Survey

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Emily J. Sturdivant
    • E. Robert Thieler
    • Sara L. Zeigler
    • Luke A. Winslow
    • Megan K. Hines
    • Jordan S. Read
    • Jordan I. Walker
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
    Acknowledgment of the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program as a data source would be appreciated in products developed from these data, and such acknowledgment as is standard for citation and legal practices for data source is expected.
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    E. Robert Thieler
    U.S. Geological Survey
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    (508) 548-8700 x2350 (voice)
    rthieler@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

Data (tabular digital data of field data and JPEG images) were obtained to understand the biogeomorphic characteristics of piping plover (Charadrius melodus) habitat along their U.S. Atlantic coast breeding range.

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: 29-May-2014 (process 1 of 6)
    Data were collected in the field with the iPlover smartphone application. iPlover data were collected during the breeding season (~April-August) in 2014.
    Prior to field collection, all data collectors participated in a training seminar and were given written protocols (https://github.com/usgs/iplover/blob/master/iPloverUserGuide.pdf). Users recorded (i) information on the habitat characteristics at a given location, (ii) images of the habitat, and (iii) spatial coordinates of the location of either a piping plover nest or a random point.
    Users logged two types of sites: nest sites and random points. The nest sites were identified by users in the course of monitoring efforts. Random point locations were randomly generated and sent to data collectors by Sara L. Zeigler. Random point generation was constrained by the boundaries of pre-determined sub-sites. These boundaries usually were defined by the terrestrial extent of a barrier island. Random points were collected to represent unsuitable biogeomorphic characteristics. If the user could not access the location for a random point, the values were determined by USGS project scientist Sara L. Zeigler using available remotely sensed data and subsequently verified in the field. This manual entry occurred outside of the database and thus did not record values for 'id', 'datetime' nor 'accuracy'.
    Once at the site, users logged a data point by selecting ‘New Nest Site’ within iPlover, version 1.2 (Figure 2 in Thieler and others, 2016). This opened a field survey page where they 1) logged the geolocation, date, and time, 3) took a photograph, and 4) categorized the biogeomorphology of the site and included any additional notes. To log the geolocation, date, and time, they held the mobile device directly over the site and selected lock location, at which point the app recorded the geolocation coordinates, date, and time detected by the device’s internal sensors. They next stepped 5 m away from the site to take a photograph using the device’s built-in camera. Next, the user manually completed a simple habitat assessment according to a fixed set of variables and their potential categorical values listed in iPlover. Users were instructed to base their habitat assessment on the area within a 5x5 m area containing the nest site at its center. Users assigned a value for each of the four habitat variables - Geomorphic Setting, Substrate Type, Vegetation Type, and Vegetation Density – by selecting a radio button (Figure 2 in Thieler and others, 2016). Users typed a site identification and notes in free text fields. iPlover records were locally stored on smartphones while users were in the field. Once an Internet connection was available, users uploaded locally-stored records to a central PostgreSQL (version 9.4) database. If a user was unable to access the application in the field, they recorded the data with their own tools and sent the data to an iPlover administrator. The administrator manually entered the records into the database. These records are indicated by the value 'Manual entry' for the 'clientversion' attribute.
    The data first passed through a Java parser on a server at the USGS EROS Data Center that converted the JSON data produced by the iPlover application into insert statements that are used against the PostgreSQL (version 9.4) table. The photos were uploaded to a separate server with greater storage capacity (Amazon Web Services S3 bucket). Most photographs uploaded through the application did not retain EXIF data because of the privacy practices of the individual users or the mobile operating systems.
    Date: Unknown (process 2 of 6)
    At the end of the field collection season, the PostgreSQL (version 9.4) 'entries' table was exported into a comma-separated values (CSV) file. The photos were downloaded from the cloud server. The table was manipulated as a DataFrame object in the Scientific PYthon Development EnviRonment (Spyder, version 2.3.9) and saved as a CSV as follows:
    1) Attributes that were of no further use were removed, i.e. ‘usercertid’, ‘altitude’, ‘altaccuracy’, ‘notes’, and 'imagekey'. Altitude and the associated altitude accuracy had no relationship to the data because they were logged with a highly imprecise mobile device.
    2) The attribute 'imagefile' was created and populated in Microsoft Excel (version 14.6.6) by extracting the last 20 characters of the imagekey text string using the RIGHT function. The image filenames from the 'imagefile' attribute were checked against the existing image files; when an image file listed in 'imagefile' did not exist, the value was replaced with ‘MISSING’. Four photos were removed for privacy concerns. Photos that were removed are indicated with the text ’REMOVED’ in the ‘imagefile’ attribute.
    3) Any rows that did not record a unique piping plover nest site or random point were removed. These included records used for various tests, records of American oystercatcher nest sites, and records of duplicate sites. These points were identified using values in the location and notes attributes and by viewing the photos. For example, all records for which the notes attribute value indicated that the record was logged as a test were eliminated. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Emily Sturdivant
    GIS Specialist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA

    (508) 548-8700 x2230 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    esturdivant@usgs.gov
    Date: Unknown (process 3 of 6)
    Values in the 2014 dataset were based on Gieder and others (2014), but were reclassified to 2015 values to reflect changes in the classification scheme for the 2015 version of the application that provided greater specificity and conformance with biogeomorphic nomenclature.
    When iPlover was updated between 2014 and 2015, choices used for the various biogeomorphic state classifications were reorganized, modified, and added to better reflect characteristics observed in the field. To enable analysis of the combined datasets, values logged in 2014 were reclassified to the choices used in 2015. The reclassified values are included in the last four attribute columns of the table, indicated by attribute names with the suffix “_2.”
    The reclassification was performed manually by USGS project scientist Sara L. Zeigler using the following reclassification table. The first column records the 2014 classification values and columns 2–5 indicate the reclassification to 2015 values for each biogeomorphic variable. Cells with an asterisk indicate that multiple reclassification values were possible and the scientist would use the site photo to determine the appropriate classification.
    The reclassification of values for substrate type varied based on the vegetation type values. For example, a substrate value of 'sandy' would be reclassified as 'ShellGravelCobble' if the vegetation type was 'shellbed'. The 'wetland' substrate was reclassified to MudPeat except in one instance where 'vegtype' was classified as 'water' instead of 'herbaceous'. At some points, multiple reclassification values were possible. There, researchers examined the site photographs to determine the classification intended by the iPlover user. For example, a substrate value of 'sandy' was reclassified as 'Water' at two points where site photograph suggested that it would be submerged at mean high water levels. 
    
Geomorphic Setting ('setting' --> 'setting_2')
(blank) --> *
barrierinterior --> BarrierInterior
beach --> Beach
blowout --> Dune
dune --> Dune
lowduneforedune --> Dune
ridgeswale --> RidgeSwale
upperbeach --> Backshore
washover --> Washover

Substrate Type ('substrate' --> 'substrate_2')
forestshrub --> Sand
sandy --> Sand or ShellGravelCobble or Water; based on vegetation type classification and site photograph
unknown --> * or ShellGravelCobble; based on vegetation type classification
wetland --> MudPeat or Water; based on vegetation type classification

Vegetation Density ('vegdens' --> 'vegdens_2')
dense --> Dense
moderate --> Moderate
none --> None
sparse --> Sparse

Vegetation Type ('vegtype' --> 'vegtype_2')
herbaceous --> Herbaceous
shellbed --> None
water --> None
woodyshrub --> Shrub
    Reference: Gieder, K.D., Karpanty, S.M., Fraser, J.D., Catlin, D.H., Gutierrez, B.T., Plant, N.G., Turecek, A.M., and Thieler, E.R., 2014, A Bayesian network approach to predicting nest presence of the federally-threatened piping plover (Charadrius melodus) using barrier island features: Ecological Modelling, v. 276, p. 38-50, doi: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2014.01.005. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Sara L. Zeigler
    Project Scientist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA

    (508) 548-8700 x2350 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    szeigler@usgs.gov
    Date: 18-Jul-2016 (process 4 of 6)
    EXIF data for the photographs were populated using the ASCII table of field collection data. This was necessary because most photographs uploaded through the application did not include EXIF data. The lack of EXIF data was caused by privacy practices of the users or the mobile operating systems.
    Attribute formatting was modified in Microsoft Excel for Mac OS (version 14.6.6) to match the requirements for EXIF data: The ‘datetime’ attribute was split into two attributes: ‘date’ and ‘time’ with all formatting removed. The attributes and final formatting was as follows: id = unique-id-string.jpg; lat = DD.dddddd; lon = -DD.dddddd; time = hhmmss; date = YYYYMMDD. A Python (version 2.7.3) script (write_exif_ejs.py) was then run that incorporated this information, along with additional information, into the appropriate locations in the EXIF header of each full-resolution JPEG image. The PYTHON script uses ExifTool (version 9.4.6.0) to write the information to the image headers of the full-resolution images. The following tags were populated in the JPEG image headers. Information is duplicated in some tags. This was done because different software packages access different tags. GPS tags: The values populated are unique for each image and based on the information exported from the iplover_fieldpts_2014.csv file. These positions and time actually represent when the data was recorded in the iPlover app, which should be 5 m and a few seconds offset from the location and time at which the photograph was actually taken according to standard iPlover data collection. 
    GPSLatitudeRef
GPSLatitude
GPSLongitudeRef
GPSLongitude
GPSTimeStamp
GPSDateStamp
    JPEG tags: The tag is listed along with the information used to populate it - which is the same for every image taken. comment: Photo collected in iPlover citizen science application in conjunction with characterizing the biogeomorphology of shorebird nesting sites. Released as a US Geological Survey - ScienceBase data release by E. Robert Thieler with tabular dataset of biogeomorphic classifications. EXIF tags: The tag is listed along with the information used to populate it - which is the same for every image. ImageDescription: Photograph collected in iPlover, 2014 
    Artist: Anonymous iPlover user
Copyright: Public Domain - please credit U.S. Geological Survey
    IPTC tags: The tag is listed along with the information used to populate it - which is the same for every image. 
    Credit: US Geological Survey
Contact: WHSC_data_contact@usgs.gov
Keywords: Shorebird habitat, US Atlantic coast, USGS
CopyrightNotice: Public Domain - please credit U.S. Geological Survey
Caption-Abstract: Photograph collected in iPlover, 2014
    XMP tags: The tag is listed along with the information used to populate it - which is the same for every image. 
    Caption: Photograph collected in iPlover, 2014
    To extract the information from the image headers using ExifTool, the following command can be used (tested with ExifTool version 9.4.6.0): exiftool.exe -csv -f -filename -GPSTimeStamp -GPSLongitude -GPSLatitude -n -Artist -Credit -comment –Contact -keywords -Caption -Copyright -CopyrightNotice -Caption-Abstract -ImageDescription *.jpg > out.csv The -csv flag writes the information out in a comma-delimited format. The -n option formats the latitude and longitude as signed decimal degrees. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Emily Sturdivant
    GIS Specialist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA

    (508) 548-8700 x2230 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    esturdivant@usgs.gov
    Date: 20-Jul-2018 (process 5 of 6)
    USGS Thesaurus keywords added to the keyword section. 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
    Date: 07-Aug-2020 (process 6 of 6)
    Added keywords section with USGS persistent identifier as theme keyword. 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?
    Neuendorf, Klaus K.E., Mhel, James P. Jr., and Jackson, Julia A., 2011, Glossary of Geology: The American Geosciences Institute, Alexandria, VA.

    U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2016, The PLANTS Database: National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC.

    Online Links:

    • www.plants.usda.gov

    Godfrey, Paul J., 1976, Comparative ecology of East Coast barrier islands: hydrology, soil, vegetation.: The Conservation Foundation, Annapolis, MD.

    Other_Citation_Details: pages 5-31
    Thieler, E. Robert, Zeigler, Sara L., Winslow, Luke A., Hines, Megan K., Read, Jordan S., and Walker, Jordan I., 2016, Smartphone-based distributed data collection enables rapid assessment of shorebird habitat suitability: PLoS ONE, San Francisco, CA.

    Online Links:

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

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    iPlover users selected attributes for Geomorphic Setting, Substrate Type, Vegetation Type, and Vegetation Density that best characterized each nest or random point location. As such, there may be some variation in the assessment of a category between individual users. The reliability of the user-chosen classification was estimated as described below.
    The accuracy of the classifications of Geomorphic Setting, Substrate Type, Vegetation Type, and Vegetation Density was evaluated using the classification of four subject-matter experts as validation (Thieler and others, 2016). The expert validation was performed on a 10 percent random sample of points collected using iPlover in both 2014 and 2015 (k = 181, n = 1799). Values in the 2014 dataset were reclassified to 2015 values to reflect changes in the classification scheme for the 2015 version of the application that provided greater specificity and conformance with biogeomorphic nomenclature. The reclassification process is described in the Process Steps and the reclassified values are included in the last four attribute columns of the table.
    Subject-matter experts used the photograph and geolocation of each sample point to assign the biogeomorphic classification (across all four variables) using 2015 classification values. Experts were selected based on their experience and history of relevant publications on the geology and geomorphology of coastal environments in the study domain, as well as demonstrated expertise in the interpretation of remotely sensed data. Truth values for each sample point were selected according to expert consensus.
    The following percentages indicate the agreement between expert consensus and field user classification for all test points for which expert consensus could be determined: 58% for geomorphic setting (90 agreeing points out of 156 truth), 80% for substrate type (121 out of 151), 84% for vegetation type (141 out of 167), and 77% for vegetation density (118 out of 153) (see Table 2 and Supplemental Table 2 in Thieler and others, 2016). Of the 181 locations, an expert consensus could be reach in 151, 167, and 153 cases for substrate type, vegetation type, and vegetation density respectively. Systematic errors were more common for the substrate and vegetation variables compared to Geomorphic Setting (Table 3 in Thieler and others, 2016). What experts classified as Sand was frequently classified as Shell/Gravel/Cobble by iPlover field users and vice versa, accounting for 86% of the differences in this variable. Vegetation Type was frequently classified as Herbaceous by experts and as None by iPlover users and vice versa, accounting for 81% of the differences for this habitat variable. Finally, the most frequent differences in Vegetation Density were between None and Sparse (51% of differences) and between Sparse and Moderate (23%; Table 3 in Thieler and others, 2016). The most common differences between the classifications of iPlover field users and experts occurred at the "boundaries" of categorical habitat characteristics. For example, what some experts classified as Backshore, other experts and the field user classified as Beach. If an obvious wrackline or geomorphic feature such as a berm was not visible to separate these two geomorphic settings, points that fell between the ocean and the dune toe could be reasonably characterized as either Beach or Backshore. Experts and iPlover field users also disagreed frequently over whether a point fell in no vegetation or sparse vegetation or whether a point fell within sparse or moderate vegetation cover. Experts and iPlover field users were instructed to visually estimate vegetation density and did not use field-based techniques such as quadrat sampling to quantify density. Therefore, differences in classifications between experts and iPlover field users would be expected in places where vegetation density was close to 20%, separating Sparse from Moderate vegetation, or close to 90%, separating Moderate from Dense vegetation.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    Positional accuracy was estimated by comparing the smartphone geolocation data to that collected by a SpectraPrecision SP80 GNSS receiver at 44 piping plover nest points in Virginia and Massachusetts. We determined the horizontal difference between the geolocation data obtained from iPlover (i.e., the smartphone’s built-in geolocation functionality; Table 1 in Thieler and others, 2016) with high-resolution nest location data collected with the GNSS receiver. Smartphones from 2008 to present (2016) (beginning with the 3G iPhone) use a hybrid positioning system that combines A-GPS, Wi-Fi, and cellular positioning methods that are generally accurate within 3-8 m (Zandbergen 2009; Boccardo et al. 2015). GNSS data consist of a combination of real-time kinematic and post-processed positions that are accurate within 3±2 cm in the horizontal. GNSS data are thus two orders of magnitude more accurate than average smartphone GPS data, so we were able to evaluate smartphone accuracy easily. The differences in x (0.3 +/- 4.4 m) and y (0.08 +/- 5.7 m) UTM coordinates of the smartphone and GNSS locations are nearly distributed around zero. The average difference between the GNSS points and the smartphones was 5.8 +/- 4.2 m. We did not find spatial variability in accuracy from site to site. For one site where we had repeated measurements at different times on the same day, the difference in geolocation was well within the error reported here. The ‘accuracy’ attribute indicates the location accuracy reported by geolocation application program interface (API). These values tend to be imprecise.
    References: Boccardo P, Chiabrando F, Dutto F, Tonolo F, Lingua A. UAV Deployment Exercise for Mapping Purposes: Evaluation of Emergency Response Applications. Sensors. 2015;15(7):15717. doi:10.3390/s150715717. Zandbergen PA. Accuracy of iPhone Locations: A Comparison of Assisted GPS, WiFi and Cellular Positioning. Transactions in GIS. 2009;13:5-25. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9671.2009.01152.x.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    This dataset contains all of the points in the iPlover application in 2014 logged at piping plover nest sites and generated random locations except 108 records logged for testing purposes. Seventy-nine data records are missing photographs and four data records had images removed for privacy concerns.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    No additional checks for topological 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:
Public domain data from the U.S. Government are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. The U.S. Geological Survey requests to be acknowledged as originator of these data in future products or derivative research.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase
    Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Mail Stop 302
    Denver, CO
    USA

    1-888-275-8747 (voice)
    sciencebase@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? The USGS data release contains the biogeomorphic classification and accompanying photographs of points recorded in the citizen science application iPlover. The data release includes a zip file of a comma-separated values file (iplover_fieldpts_2014.csv) and a folder with corresponding site photographs (JPEG) collected by the users on their mobile devices (iplover_fieldpts_2014_photos.zip). The CSV file is also available as a separate file for download.
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    Neither the U.S. Government, the Department of the Interior, nor the U.S. Geological Survey, 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 U.S. Geological Survey 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?
    The user must have software capable of uncompressing archived zip files, such as WinZip or Pkware. These data are available as a generic ASCII formatted data file. The user must have a software program capable of reading the comma-delimited data file. An image viewer can be used to see the JPEG images.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 19-Nov-2021
Metadata author:
Emily Sturdivant
U.S. Geological Survey
GIS Specialist
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA
USA

(508) 548-8700 x2230 (voice)
(508) 457-2310 (FAX)
whsc_data_contact@usgs.gov
Contact_Instructions:
The metadata contact email address is a generic address in the event the metadata contact is no longer with the USGS or the email is otherwise invalid.
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/whcmsc/SB_data_release/DR_F70V89X3/iplover_fieldpts_2014_metadata.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.50 on Fri Nov 19 13:02:54 2021