Low-altitude aerial imagery collected from a Helikite at Head of the Meadow Beach, Truro on March 10, 2022

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Low-altitude aerial imagery collected from a Helikite at Head of the Meadow Beach, Truro on March 10, 2022
Abstract:
These data map the beach and nearshore environment at Head of the Meadow Beach in Truro, MA, providing updated regional context for the 2019 CoastCam installation. CoastCam CACO-01 are two video cameras aimed at the beach that view the coast shared by beachgoers, shorebirds, seals, and sharks. These data were collected as part of field activity 2022-015-FA and a collaboration with the National Park Service at Cape Cod National Seashore to monitor the region. In March 2022, U.S. Geological Survey and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) scientists conducted field surveys to re-map the field of view of the CoastCam. Aerial images of the beach for use in structure from motion were taken with a camera (Sony a6000) and a post-processed kinematic (PPK) system attached to a helium filled balloon-kite (Helikite). High-precision GPS targets (AeroPoints) and numbered black and white tarps were used as ground control points. Bathymetry was collected in the nearshore using a single-beam echosounder mounted on a surf capable self-righting electric autonomous surface vehicle. Agisoft Metashape (v. 1.8.1) was used to create a digital surface model with the collected imagery, which was merged with the bathymetry in MATLAB (v. 2020b) to create a continuous topobathy product.
Supplemental_Information:
Bounding coordinates are based on image positions and may not reflect the full extent of the final product. For more information about the WHCMSC Field Activity, see https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2022-015-FA.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    U.S. Geological Survey, 20220919, Low-altitude aerial imagery collected from a Helikite at Head of the Meadow Beach, Truro on March 10, 2022: data release DOI:10.5066/P9GEVWG1, 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.

    Over, Jin-Si R., Sherwood, Chris R., and Traykovski, Peter A., 2022, Topographic and bathymetric data, structure from motion imagery, and ground control data collected at Head of the Meadow Beach, Truro, MA in March 2022, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2022-015-FA: data release DOI:10.5066/P9GEVWG1, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Over, J.R., Sherwood, C.R., and Traykovski, P.A., 2022, Topographic and bathymetric data, structure from motion imagery, and ground control data collected at Head of the Meadow Beach, Truro, MA in March 2022, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2022-015-FA: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9GEVWG1.
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.07932595
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.07457069
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.05276130
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.04972995
  3. What does it look like?
    https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/62dfef6ad34e952be90980bb?name=2022015FA_Truro_HelikiteCameraAttachment_browse.JPG&allowOpen=true (JPEG)
    Photograph showing how the camera, GNSS, and antenna configuration attaches to the Helikite.
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Calendar_Date: 10-Mar-2022
    Currentness_Reference:
    ground condition; single survey day: aerial imagery was collected on March 10, 2022.
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: raster and tabular digital data
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      Indirect_Spatial_Reference: embedded in EXIF
    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 0.000001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.000001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees. The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983 (National Spatial Reference System 2011).
      The ellipsoid used is GRS_1980.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.0.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222101.
      Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:
      Altitude_System_Definition:
      Altitude_Datum_Name: North American Vertical Datum of 1988, using geoid 12B
      Altitude_Resolution: 0.001
      Altitude_Distance_Units: meters
      Altitude_Encoding_Method:
      Explicit elevation coordinate included with horizontal coordinates
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    2022015FA_Truro_photolocations.csv contains 1,616 data records.
    The CSV file contains the post-processed Helikite navigation GNSS data (approximate position of the camera at the moment of each image capture). (Source: USGS)
    ImageName
    File names of individual images, see the Data_Quality_Information and Process_Description for file naming convention. (Source: USGS) Character string.
    Time_EST
    Time in HH:MM:SS of each corrected camera position in Eastern Standard Time (EST). (Source: Processor defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:12:00:13
    Maximum:12:53:55
    Units:HH:MM:SS EST
    Latitude
    Post-processed interpolated latitude of kite GNSS antenna position based on time of each image capture, in decimal degrees (NAD83[2011]). (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:42.04972995
    Maximum:42.05276130
    Units:decimal degrees
    Longtitude
    Post-processed interpolated longitude of kite GNSS antenna position based on time of each image capture, in decimal degrees (NAD83[2011]). Negative values represent W. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-70.07932595
    Maximum:-70.07457069
    Units:decimal degrees
    Ellipsoid_NAD83_2011
    Post-processed height in meters of kite GNSS antenna position based on time of each image capture using the NAD83(2011) reference ellipsoid. (Source: None)
    Range of values
    Minimum:8.481
    Maximum:30.668
    Units:meters
    Northing
    Post-processed interpolated X-coordinate of kite GNSS antenna position based on time of each image capture, in NAD83(2011)/UTM Zone 19N. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:4655856.906
    Maximum:4656197.204
    Units:meters
    Easting
    Post-processed interpolated Y-coordinate of kite GNSS antenna position based on time of each image capture, in NAD83(2011)/UTM Zone 19N. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:410684.699
    Maximum:411076.312
    Units:meters
    Altitude_NAVD88_m
    Post-processed interpolated Z-coordinate of kite GNSS antenna position based on time of each image using NAVD88 with Geoid 12B. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:36.065
    Maximum:58.252
    Units:meters
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    The attributes Latitude, Longitude, and Altitude_NAVD88_m are included in the image headers as GPSLatitude, GPSLongitude, and GPSAltitude, respectively. A GPSMapDatum header is also included in the images specifying that the latitude and longitude are in NAD83(2011) and altitude is in NAVD88 Geoid12B. Positions are derived from an Emlid Reach PPK GNSS receiver.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: USGS Field Activity 2022-015-FA

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?
    Jin-Si R. Over
    U.S. Geological Survey
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA

    508-548-8700 x2297 (voice)
    jover@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

Images and positions are used in structure from motion to produce the derivative surface model and orthomosaic.

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: 10-Mar-2022 (process 1 of 3)
    These JPEG images were collected with a camera (Sony a6000) wired to the GNSS receiver 15 cm vertically offset from the focal point and hung from the Helikite (2022015FA_Truro_HelikiteCameraAttachment_browse.JPG) so that the camera faced downward. The Helikite was on a 60 m string and kitesurfing harness; together the Helikite and gear were walked up and down the beach to achieve overlapping images. The horizontal positions and elevations of each image (2022015FA_Truro_photolocations.csv) were recorded from the GNSS receiver (EMLID Reach M2) and processed in PPK mode using the MASS CORS network. The navigation data was added to the image EXIF information after the flight as described in the process steps. It is recommended when using the imagery for photogrammetric purposes to also use the ground control point locations (see larger work citation Navigation: 2022015FA_Truro_nav_GCPs.csv). Photos were downloaded and adjusted in Adobe Lightroom Classic for brightness due to the changing cloud conditions. Person who carried out this activity:
    Peter Traykovski
    Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
    Associate Scientist
    226 Woods Hole Rd, MS #12
    Woods Hole, MA

    508-289-2638 (voice)
    ptraykovski@whoi.edu
    Date: Mar-2022 (process 2 of 3)
    The GNSS navigation data was processed in Inertial Explorer (https://novatel.com/products/waypoint-software/inertial-explorer, version 8.70.8722). The positions were processed in the NAD83(2011) datum, which provided the Latitude, Longitude, and Ellipsoid attributes. Then Geoid 12B was applied using NAVD88 as the vertical datum and UTM Zone 19N for the horizontal coordinate reference system to produce the Northing, Easting, and Altitude attributes. The GPS offset was not accounted for in this step, so the offset should be accounted for when deriving other products. All of the attributes here are provided in the 2022015FA_Truro_f1_photolocations.csv but only the latitude, longitude, and altitude (NAVD88) were embedded in the image header. Person who carried out this activity:
    Peter Traykovski
    Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
    Associate Scientist
    226 Woods Hole Rd, MS #12
    Woods Hole, MA

    508-289-2638 (voice)
    ptraykovski@whoi.edu
    Date: Apr-2022 (process 3 of 3)
    The images acquired with the camera were geotagged and processed to add additional information required by the USGS to the EXIF headers using ExifTools (https://exiftool.org/, version: 12.06), and the files were renamed to a unique identifier using Namexif (http://www.digicamsoft.com/softnamexif.html, version 2.1) to avoid any possibility of duplicate names. These steps are described here. 1. Using the GNSS navigation from the previous step, ExifTools was used to tag each photo with the following tags: Credit, Copyright, UsageTerms, ImageDescription, Artist, GPSAreaInfo, GPSMapDatum, GPSLatitude, GPSLongitude, and GPSAltitude stored in a csv file with the command:' -exiftool -csv="C:\directory\name\Geotags_EXIF.csv" C:\directory\name\of\photos *.jpg The first row of the CSV are the tag names; the first column is SourceName (unique image names). Keywords were added with the following command in the directory with all the photographs: exiftool -keywords="aerial imagery" -keywords="Head of the Meadow Beach" -keywords=Massachusetts -keywords="2022-015-FA" -keywords=USGS -overwrite_original *.jpg To read out the photo information to a csv when in the directory with the photos, the command is: exiftool -csv *.JPG > directory/name/allheaders_out.csv 2. All the JPEG images were renamed with Namexif (https://us.digicamsoft.com/softnamexif.html v 2.2 accessed April 2020) to ensure unique filenames and compliance with the USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program's best practices for image naming convention. Images were renamed with the field survey ID prefix; flight number, and ID that distinguishes USGS cameras by make/camera number, the image acquisition date, coordinated universal time (UTC) in ISO8601 format, and a suffix with the original image name. For example, image name '2022015FA_f01s6000_20220310T165822Z_image####.jpg', 2022015FA is the survey ID, f01 is the flight number, s6000 is the camera make (SONY) and model (6000), and 20220310 is the UTC date in the format YYYYMMDD. A 'T' is used to separate UTC date from UTC time in format HHMMSS followed by a Z, and image####.jpg is the original raw photo name appended to the end of the new filename. Because the camera time was collected in EST the time in Namexif was shifted +4:00:00 to be in UTC. Person who carried out this activity:
    Jin-Si R. Over
    U.S. Geological Survey, Northeast Region
    Geographer
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Woods Hole, MA

    508-548-8700 x2297 (voice)
    jover@usgs.gov
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
    Over, Jin-Si R., Sherwood, Chris R., Traykovski, Peter A., Brosnahan, Sandra M., Martini, Marinna A., and Marsjanik, Eric, 2021, Topographic and bathymetric data, sediment samples, and imagery collected at Head of the Meadow Beach, Truro in March 2020, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2020-015-FA: U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    This publication is the original/first survey data of Head of the Meadow beach from 2020.
    Over, Jin-Si R., Sherwood, Christopher R., and Traykovski, Peter A., 2022, Topographic and bathymetric data, structure from motion imagery, and ground control data collected at Head of the Meadow, Truro in February 2021, U.S Geological Survey Field Activity 2021-014-FA: data release DOI:10.5066/P9D94NZ3, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    This publication is the 2021 field data at Head of the Meadow Beach.

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

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    The camera (Sony a6000) used on the Helikite acquires 24 megapixel photos, with file sizes generally between 1 and 3 MB on disc, depending on image complexity. Some images are blurry due to movement and changing low light conditions. Images were corrected in Adobe Lightroom to improve color balance.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    Though the images do not represent spatial data, the latitude and longitude is embedded in the photos and available in the EXIF header of each image, which is derived from the provided Helikite navigation file (2022015FA_Truro_photolocations.csv). The location information was acquired from a GNSS receiver (EMLID Reach M2) in PPK mode with a Multi-band GNSS antenna and hot shoe adapter to the camera with an estimated horizontal accuracy of 10 cm.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
    Though the images do not represent spatial data, the altitude is embedded in the EXIF header of each image, which is provided in the Helikite navigation file (2022015FA_Truro_f1_photolocations.csv). The location information was acquired from a GNSS receiver (EMLID Reach M2) in PPK mode with a multi-band GNSS antenna and hot shoe adapter to the camera with an estimated vertical accuracy of 5 cm.
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    Photographs were captured every 2 seconds for a total of 1,646 images, but only 1,616 are provided; images taken while the Helikite was launched and recovered were removed. All photos included have location information.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    One flight was flown at a target elevation of 40-50 m to map the Head of the Meadow Beach shoreline and bluff face in Truro, MA, on March 10, 2022.

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. 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. Not for navigational use. Please recognize the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as the source of this information.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    Jin-Si R. Over
    U.S. Geological Survey, Northeast Region
    Geographer
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Woods Hole, MA

    508-548-8700 x2297 (voice)
    jover@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? The Windows 10 zip folder 2022015FA_Truro_f1.zip contains 1,616 JPEG images and 2022015FA_Truro_f1_photolocations.csv contains the PPK GNSS navigation data for each image.
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    Neither the U.S. Government, the Department of the Interior, nor the USGS, 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?
    Use of these files requires software capable of opening JPEG images and, if desired, capable of reading the associated EXIF information. Additionally, the location information is provided in a CSV file.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 19-Sep-2022
Metadata author:
Jin-Si R. Over
U.S. Geological Survey, Northeast Region
Geographer
U.S. Geological Survey
Woods Hole, MA

508-548-8700 x2297 (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:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/whcmsc/SB_data_release/DR_P9GEVWG1/2022015FA_Truro_imagery_metadata.faq.html>
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