Digital Shoreline Analysis System version 4.3 shoreline intersection points used to calculate short-term (End Point Rate)shoreline change statistics for the South Shore coastal region from Hewitts Cove in Hingham to the Cape Cod Canal in Sandwich (SouthShore_intersects_STepr.shp)

Frequently anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How might this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
• How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
  1. How well have the observations been checked?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
• Who wrote the metadata?

What does this data set describe?

1. How might this data set be cited?
   U.S. Geological Survey, 2013, Digital Shoreline Analysis System version 4.3 shoreline intersection points used to calculate short-term (End Point Rate)shoreline change statistics for the South Shore coastal region from Hewitts Cove in Hingham to the Cape Cod Canal in Sandwich (SouthShore_intersects_STepr.shp): Open-File Report 2012-1183, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20121183
   • https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1183/
   • https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1183/data/SouthShore/SouthShore_intersects_STepr.zip

   This is part of the following larger work.
   Smith, Theresa L., Himmelstoss, Emily A., and Thieler, E. Robert, 2013, Massachusetts Shoreline Change Project: A GIS Compilation of Vector Shorelines and Associated Shoreline Change Data for the 2013 update: Open-File Report 2012-1183, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

   Online Links:

   • https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1183/

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.925786
   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.599260
   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.307017
   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.000006
   

3. What does it look like?
4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

   Calendar_Date: 2013

   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):
      • Entity point (1641)
   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.
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222.
      
7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   SouthShore_intersects_STepr

   Measurement points used to calculate short-term shoreline change statistics (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   FID

   Internal feature number. (Source: Esri) Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

   Shape

   Feature geometry. (Source: Esri) Coordinates defining the features.

   OBJECTID

   Internal feature number used within geodatabase. (Source: Esri) Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

   TransectId

   Used as a permanent and unique identification number (same as ObjectID field in Transect attribute table) for each transect calculated by DSAS. This attribute was used as the common field when joining the intersects table (.dbf) to the transect feature class in a geodatabase. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.

   BaselineId

   Unique identification number of the baseline segment. If BaselineID=0 no transects were generated. Used by DSAS to determine transect ordering alongshore if multiple baseline segments exist. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	unlimited

   ShorelineI

   Date of shoreline position; date of survey as indicated on source material in the formal mm/dd/yyyy. A default date of 07/01 was assigned to shorelines where only the year was known (month and day unknown). Using July, the mid-point month of the calendar year, minimizes the potential offset to the actual shoreline date by a maximum of six months. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	01/07/1978
   Maximum:	04/16/2008

   Distance

   The along-transect distance from the baseline to the shoreline point measured in meters (MA State Plane, NAD 83). Positive values are used when the reference baseline is landward (onshore) of the shorelines. Negative values are used when the reference baseline is seaward (offshore) of the shorelines. The positive/negative values provide appropriate directionality for calculating erosional or accretional trends in shoreline movement. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-238.468075
   Maximum:	-2.44344

   IntersectX

   Assigned by DSAS automatically to record the X coordinate of the shoreline measurement point at each transect in meter units (MA State Plane, NAD 83). (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Values based on data set extent.

   IntersectY

   Assigned by DSAS automatically to record the Y coordinate of the shoreline measurement point at each transect in meter units (MA State Plane, NAD 83). (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Values based on data set extent.

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: Theresa Smith

   Contract Geologist

   384 Woods Hole Road

   Woods Hole, MA
   

   USA

   508-548-8700 (voice)

   508-457-2310 (FAX)

   theresasmith@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

This dataset contains the measurement locations used by the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) software to compute short-term end point rate (EPR) of change statistics for the Outer Cape Cod region of Massachusetts where there was not enough historic data to compute a linear regression rate (LRR). The points represent the individual shoreline locations along each measurement transect generated by DSAS. The data can be used to identify the number of shorelines used to compute rates at a given location as well as the specific shoreline dates. Short-term end point rate statistics were calculated for approximately the last three decades using historical shoreline data that begins with the 1970-1982 time period and ends with the 2008-2009 shorelines compiled for the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management Shoreline Change Project.

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: 25-Sep-2012 (process 1 of 9)

   Rate Calculations Performed using DSAS v.4.3 for ArcMap v.10 on selected shorelines only (shoreline years 1970-2008). Parameters Used: shoreline layer=SouthShore_shorelines, shoreline date field=Date_, shoreline uncertainty field name=Uncy, the default accuracy=10.8 meters, shoreline intersection parameters=nearest, stats calculations=[Shoreline Change Envelope (SCE), Net Shoreline Movement (NSM), End Point Rate (EPR)], shoreline threshold=2, confidence interval=90%, Output rate table name=SouthShore_transects_rates_20120925_153933.dbf Output intersects table name= SouthShore_transects_intersect_20120925_153933.dbf.
   This process step and all subsequent process steps were performed by Theresa Smith. Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Theresa Smith

   U.S. Geological Survey

   Contract Geologist

   384 Woods Hole Road

   Woods Hole, MA
   

   USA

   508-548-8700 (voice)

   508-457-2310 (FAX)

   theresasmith@usgs.gov

   Date: 25-Sep-2012 (process 2 of 9)

   The shoreline intersects output table contains X- and Y-coordinate information for each shoreline measurement on DSAS transects. This table (SouthShore_transects_intersect_20120925_153933.dbf) was used to create a temporary event theme to preview the transect/shoreline measurement locations in ArcMap. The intersects file was right-clicked in the ArcMap (v.10) table of contents. "Display XY data..." was chosen from the pop-up menu. A new Display XY Data window opens and the following parameters were entered: X Field: IntersectX; Y Field; Intersect Y; Z Field: <None>; Coordinate System of Input Coordinates: NAD_1983_Massachusetts_Mainland_FIPS_2001.

   Date: 25-Sep-2012 (process 3 of 9)

   The temporary event theme is saved to a shapefile by right-clicking the SouthShore_transects_intersect_20120925_153933 Events layer in the table of contents (ArcMap 10) and choosing Data > Export Data from the pop-up menu. This opens an Export Data window where the following parameters were entered: Export: All features; Select "Use the same coordinate system as this layer's source data"; Output feature class: SouthShore_intersects_STepr.shp.

   Date: 27-Nov-2012 (process 4 of 9)

   For the MA Shoreline Change Update, linear regression was the preferred method for calculating short-term shoreline change rates. However, not all transects intersected three shorelines, which is required for the calculation of linear regression rates. For sections in which linear regression rates were not calculated, end point rates (calculated using two shorelines) were reported. The end point intersects output feature class was clipped to the linear regression rates output feature class during an edit session in ArcMap v. 10 by (1) the end point intersects output table was joined to the transect feature class by right-clicking on the transect layer > joins and relates > join > join attributes from a table, (2) transects in which both end point rates and linear regression rates were calculated were selected from the joined attribute table by choosing from the drop down menu Select By Attributes. Parameters: Create a new selection; select from joined table: SouthShore_intersects_STepr.TransectID>=0 AND SouthShore_rates_transects_STlr.TransectID >=0 and (3) the selected attributes were deleted from the end point rates output table.

   Date: 27-Nov-2012 (process 5 of 9)

   The exported transect shapefile was projected in Esri's ArcToolbox (v.10) > Data Management Tools > Projections and Transformations > Feature > Project. Parameters: input projection - NAD_1983_StatePlane_Massachusetts_Mainland_FIPS_2001; output projection - geographic coordinates (NAD83); transformation - none.

   Date: 13-Oct-2017 (process 6 of 9)

   Edits to the metadata were made to fix any errors that MP v 2.9.36 flagged. This is necessary to enable the metadata to be successfully harvested for various data catalogs. In some cases, this meant adding text "Information unavailable" or "Information unavailable from original metadata" for those required fields that were left blank. Other minor edits were probably performed (title, publisher, publication place, etc.). Attempted to modify http to https where appropriate. Added a landing page link as the first link in the identification section. Fixed online link to DSAS cross-reference. The distribution format name was modified in an attempt to be more consistent with other metadata files of the same data format. The metadata date (but not the metadata creator) was edited to reflect the date of these changes. The metadata available from a harvester may supersede metadata bundled within a download file. Compare the metadata dates to determine which metadata file is most recent. 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: 20-Jul-2018 (process 7 of 9)

   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: 18-Nov-2019 (process 8 of 9)

   Crossref DOI link was added as the first link in the metadata. 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: 08-Sep-2020 (process 9 of 9)

   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?
   Thieler, E.R., Smith, T.L., Knisel, Julia, and Sampson, D.W., 2013, Massachusetts Shoreline Change Mapping and Analysis Project, 2013 Update: Open-File Report 2012-1189, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

   Online Links:

   • https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1189/

   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, Reston, VA.

   Online Links:

   • https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/ofr20081278

   Other_Citation_Details: Current version is 4.3
   

   Thieler, E. Robert, O'Connell, James F., and Schupp, Courtney A., 20010904, The Massachusetts Shoreline Change Project: 1800s to 1994 Technical Report: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

   Online Links:

   • http://www.mass.gov/czm/hazards/pdf/sc_technical_report.pdf
   • http://www.mass.gov/czm/hazards/shoreline_change/shorelinechangeproject.htm

   Other_Citation_Details: Administrative Report
   

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 calculation of shoreline change rates performed by the software.
2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
   
3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
   
4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
   This dataset contains the measurement locations automatically established by the DSAS software application and were used to calculate short-term end point rate shoreline change rates for the region where there was not enough historic data to compute a linear regression rate (LRR). Historical shoreline data older than 1970 were excluded from the rate calculations as the short-term period is defined as 1970-2009. These data are part of a state-wide assessment of shoreline change that includes over 26,500 individual transect locations that were used to compute both short- and long-term rates of change, based on almost 9200 linear kilometers of historical shoreline position data. It is very likely that some gross errors or blunders were introduced during compilation and analysis of this large amount of information. Such errors have been described in the context of shoreline change mapping as coarse errors (Fenster and others, 2001) and can generally be considered to affect only a very small percentage of the overall dataset.
   Fenster, M.S., Dolan, R., and Morton, R.A., 2001, Coastal storms and shoreline change: signal or noise?: Journal of Coastal Research, v. 17, no. 3, p. 714-720.
5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
   These data were generated using DSAS v.4.3, an automated software program which does not perform checks for fidelity of the input features. The measurement locations are generated during the rate calculation process, after editing of the transects is complete.

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:

These data were automatically generated using the DSAS version 4.3 software application and should only be used for purposes explicitly stated by the originating organization. Please recognize the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management as the originators of this dataset.

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

   384 Woods Hole Road

   Woods Hole, MA
   

   USA

   508-548-8700 (voice)

   508-457-2310 (FAX)
2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Downloadable data.
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 USGS 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?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	This WinZip (version 16.5) file contains a shapefile of measurement locations (intersects) generated by the Digital Shoreline Analysis System used to calculate short-term rates for the South Shore region of Massachusetts. Metadata is also included. in format Shapefile (version ArcGIS 10) Esri point shapefile Size: 1
     Network links:	https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1183/data/SouthShore/SouthShore_intersects_STepr.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: 16-Nov-2021

Metadata author:

U.S. Geological Survey

Attn: Theresa Smith

Contract Geologist

384 Woods Hole Road

Woods Hole, MA

USA

508-548-8700 (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:

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