Baseline for the islands of Vieques and Culebra, Puerto Rico, generated to calculate shoreline change rates using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System version 5.1

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Baseline for the islands of Vieques and Culebra, Puerto Rico, generated to calculate shoreline change rates using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System version 5.1
Abstract:
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maintains shoreline positions for the United States coasts from both older sources, such as aerial photographs or topographic surveys, and contemporary sources, such as lidar-point clouds and digital elevation models. These shorelines are compiled and analyzed in the USGS Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS), version 5.1 software to calculate rates of change. Keeping a record of historical shoreline positions is an effective method to monitor change over time, enabling scientists to identify areas most susceptible to erosion or accretion. These data can help coastal managers understand which areas of the coast are vulnerable to change. This data release, and other associated products, represent an expansion of the USGS national-scale shoreline database to include Puerto Rico and its islands, Vieques and Culebra. The USGS, in cooperation with the Coastal Research and Planning Institute of Puerto Rico—part of the Graduate School of Planning at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus—has derived and compiled a database of historical shoreline positions using a variety of methods. These historical shoreline data are then used to measure the rate of shoreline change over time. Rate calculations are computed within a geographic information system (GIS) using the DSAS version 5.1 software. Starting from a user defined baseline, measurement transects are created by DSAS that intersect the shoreline vectors. The resulting intersections provide the location and time information necessary to calculate rates of shoreline change. The overall project contains shorelines, baselines, shoreline change rates (long-term and short-term), and shoreline intersects (long-term and short-term), for Puerto Rico, and the adjacent islands of Vieques and Culebra.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Henderson, Rachel E., Heslin, Julia L., and Himmelstoss, Emily A., 20211119, Baseline for the islands of Vieques and Culebra, Puerto Rico, generated to calculate shoreline change rates using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System version 5.1: data release DOI:10.5066/P9FNRRN0, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Henderson, Rachel E., Heslin, Julia L., and Himmelstoss, Emily A., 2021, Puerto Rico shoreline change — A GIS compilation of shorelines, baselines, intersects, and change rates calculated using the Digital Shoreline Analysis system version 5.1: data release DOI:10.5066/P9FNRRN0, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    suggested citation: Henderson, R.E., Heslin, J.L., and Himmelstoss, E.A., 2021, Puerto Rico shoreline change — A GIS compilation of shorelines, baselines, intersects, and change rates calculated using the Digital Shoreline Analysis system version 5.1: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9FNRRN0.
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -67.272143
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -65.5886
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 18.5171
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 17.9257
  3. What does it look like?
    https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/6149fa46d34e0df5fb96fc24?name=VC_Baselines.jpg (JPEG)
    Map of DSAS baselines for the islands Vieques and Culebra of Puerto Rico.
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Calendar_Date: 2021
    Currentness_Reference:
    publication date
  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 (22)
    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 0.0000001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.0000001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees. The horizontal datum used is 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?
    VC_Baseline.shp
    Table containing attribute information associated with the data set for the islands Vieques and Culebra of Puerto Rico. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    FID
    Internal feature number used as a unique identifier of an object within a table primarily used in shapefiles. (Source: Esri) Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
    Shape
    Feature geometry. (Source: Esri) Coordinates defining the features.
    ID
    Field required by the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) software. This field is manually edited to ensure baseline segment numbers occur in sequential order alongshore. DSAS uses this value to determine the ordering sequence of transects when the baseline feature contains multiple segments. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:8
    DSAS_group
    This optional field is a way to aggregate baseline segments on the basis of physical variations alongshore (for example, tidal inlets, change in coastal type, or hard stabilization features). Baseline segments are assigned an ID value and statistics are repored by group in the DSAS summary text file once rates are calculated. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:3
    SHAPE_Leng
    Length of feature in meter units. (Source: Esri)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:unlimited
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    The entity and attribute information provided here describes the tabular data associated with the dataset. Please review the individual attribute descriptions for detailed information.
    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)
    • Rachel E. Henderson
    • Julia L. Heslin
    • Emily A. Himmelstoss
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Rachel E. Henderson
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-548-8700 (voice)
    rehenderson@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

This dataset includes a reference baseline used by the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) to calculate rate-of-change statistics for the islands Vieques and Culebra, of Puerto Rico. The baseline layer serves as the starting point for orthogonally-oriented transects generated by the DSAS application. The transects intersect each shoreline and establish measurement points used to calculate shoreline 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: 2021 (process 1 of 6)
    An onshore baseline was constructed roughly parallel with respect to the time series of shoreline positions using standard editing tools in Esri's ArcMap v10.6. This was done so that the transects, which are generated by the Digital Shoreline Analysis System from the baseline, would intersect roughly perpendicular to the general trend of the shorelines.
    This process step and all subsequent process steps were performed by the same person - Rachel E. Henderson Person who carried out this activity:
    Rachel E. Henderson
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Researcher VII
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA

    508-548-8700 (voice)
    rehenderson@usgs.gov
    Date: 2021 (process 2 of 6)
    The baseline shapefile was imported into a personal geodatabase in ArcCatalog v10.6 (right-clicking on the geodatabase and selecting Import) for use with the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) software to perform rate calculations.
    Date: 2021 (process 3 of 6)
    Required fields for DSAS were added using the DSAS Attribute Automator tool. These fields include ID, and DSAS_group. The baseline feature class was used as the input within the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) software to generate transects and perform rate calculations.
    Date: 2021 (process 4 of 6)
    The baseline feature class was exported from a personal geodatabase to a shapefile in ArcCatalog v10.6 by performing a right-mouse click on the data layer > export > to shapefile (single).
    Date: 2021 (process 5 of 6)
    The baseline shapefile was projected in ArcToolbox v10.6 > Data Management Tools > Projections and Transformations > Project. parameters: input projection - NAD_1983_NSRS2007_StatePlane_Puerto_Rico_Virgin_Isls_FIPS_5200v; output projection - geographic coordinates (WGS84); transformation = none.
    Date: 2024 (process 6 of 6)
    The metadata was modified to add the Data Report cross-reference and the distribution liability was updated to the current standards (20240513).
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
    Himmelstoss, Emily A., Farris, Amy S., Henderson, Rachel E., Kratzmann, Meredith G., Ergul, Ayhan, Zhang, Ouya, and Zichichi, Jessica L., 2021, Digital Shoreline Analysis System (version 5.1): U.S. Geological Survey Software: software release version 5.1, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: Current version of software at time of use was 5.1
    Henderson, Rachel E., Heslin, Julia L., Himmelstoss, Emily A., and Barreto-Orta, Maritza, 2024, National Shoreline Change—Summary Statistics for Vector Shorelines from the Early 1900s to the 2010s for Puerto Rico: Data Report 1191, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Henderson, R.E., Heslin, J.L., Himmelstoss, E.A., and Barreto-Orta, M., 2024, National shoreline change—Summary statistics for vector shorelines from the early 1900s to the 2010s for Puerto Rico: U.S. Geological Survey Data Report 1191, 41 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/dr1191.
    Himmelstoss, Emily A., Henderson, Rachel E., Kratzmann, Meredith G., and Farris, Amy S., 2021, Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) Version 5.1 User Guide: Open-File Report 2021-1091, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

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

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    The attributes in this layer are based on the requirements for use within the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) software.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    The baseline serves as a reference point for transects cast by the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) software. It does not correspond to any real-world feature.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    This baseline file is complete and contains the baseline segment(s) used to cast transects along sections of the coastal region where shoreline position data were available to calculate either a short- or long-term rate.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    Each polyline has a unique identification attribute (ID). This field is used by the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) to designate the alongshore order of baselines, if more than one baseline exists.

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. Please recognize the U.S. Geological Survey as the originator of the dataset. These data are not to be used for navigation.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    U.S. Geological Survey - GS ScienceBase
    Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Mail Stop 302
    Denver, CO
    United States

    1-888-275-8747 (voice)
    sciencebase@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? The dataset contains the polyline baselines used for the analysis of shoreline data (SHP and other shapefile components), browse graphic, and the FGDC CSDGM 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 for other purposes, nor on all computer systems, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data for other purposes, nor on all computer systems, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. The USGS or the U.S. Government shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein.
  4. How can I download or order the data?
  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    These data are available in a polyline shapefile format. The user must have software to read and process the data components of a shapefile.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 13-May-2024
Metadata author:
Rachel E. Henderson
U.S. Geological Survey
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA
USA

508-548-8700 (voice)
whsc_data_contact@usgs.gov
Contact_Instructions:
The metadata contact email address is a generic address in the event the person is no longer with USGS.
Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/whcmsc/SB_data_release/DR_P9FNRRN0/VC_Baselines_metadata.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.51 on Wed May 15 09:56:03 2024