Gulf-Wide Information System, Environmental Sensitivity Index Polygons, Geographic NAD83, LDWF (2001) [esip_LDWF_2001]

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Frequently-anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

Title:
Gulf-Wide Information System, Environmental Sensitivity Index Polygons, Geographic NAD83, LDWF (2001) [esip_LDWF_2001]
Abstract:
This data set contains polygons representing the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) classification of coastal Louisiana. The ESI is a classification and ranking system, which characterizes the relative sensitivity and ease of cleanup of shoreline habitats exposed to spilled oil. This data set comprises a portion of the Gulf-Wide Information System (G-WIS) database for the entire coastal zone of Louisiana. The G-WIS data include three main components: shoreline habitats, sensitive biological resources, and human-use resources.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Minerals Management Service (MM, MS-5220, New Orleans, LA 70123-2394; Lou, 200109, Gulf-Wide Information System, Environmental Sensitivity Index Polygons, Geographic NAD83, LDWF (2001) [esip_LDWF_2001]: None Louisiana, Minerals Management Service (MMS) 1201 Elmwood Park Blvd., MS-5220, New Orleans, LA 70123-2394, New Orleans, LA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Prepared by Research Planning, Inc. (RPI), Columbia, South Carolina and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) for Louisiana State University (LSU), Center for Coastal, Energy and Environmental Resources (CCEER) and the Department of Geography and Anthropology, 302 Howe-Russell, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 and Minerals Management Service (MMS) 1201 Elmwood Park Blvd., MS-5220, New Orleans, LA 70123-2394

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -93.927996
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -87.763321
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 30.500202
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 28.510770

  3. What does it look like?

    <URL:esip_LDWF_2001.gif> (GIF)

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Beginning_Date: 1988
    Ending_Date: 2001
    Currentness_Reference:
    Hydrography was developed from 2000 to 2001. The currentness date for the data set used to produce this data layer is 1988, and is documented in the Source_Information.

  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):

      • G-polygon (87070)
      • Label Point (87070)
      • GT-polygon Composed of Chains (87070)
      • Point (27)

    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 0.000000. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.000000. 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?

    esip_LDWF_2001
    The spatial data layer ESI contains the vector polygons representing the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) classification of coastal Louisiana. (Source: Research Planning, Inc.)

    FID
    Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

    Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

    Shape
    Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    AREA

    PERIMETER

    ESIP_

    ESIP_ID

    ESI
    The item ESI contains values representing the ESI habitat type. (Source: Research Planning, Inc.)

    ValueDefinition
    10ASalt- and brackish-water marshes (including intermediate marshes)
    10BFreshwater marshes
    10CSwamps (forested wetlands)
    10DScrub-shrub wetlands (including mangroves)
    UUnranked

    WATER_CODE
    Type of polygon (Source: Research Planning, Inc.)

    ValueDefinition
    LLand
    WWater


Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

    This project was supported by the Minerals Management Service (MMS) 1201 Elmwood Park Blvd., MS-5220, New Orleans, LA 70123-2394. Norman Froomer with MMS coordinated the larger G-WIS project and was particularly supportive during the Louisiana portion of the project. This project was coordinated by Louisiana State University (LSU), Center for Coastal, Energy and Environmental Resources (CCEER) and the Department of Geography and Anthropology, 302 Howe-Russell, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. DeWitt Braud, Dina Sa, Hampton Peele, and Lynda Wayne were key contributors to the project. The majority of natural resources data used to develop the larger LA G-WIS data set were provided by the LDWF. Jim Hanifen coordinated the LDWF effort. The following LDWF personnel (listed alphabetically) were major contributors to the LA G-WIS project: Jan Bowman, Heather Warner Finley, Robert Helm, Noel Kinler, Gary Lester, Greg Linscombe, Mike Olinde, Gary Tilyou, and Bill Vermillion. At Research Planning, Inc. (RPI), Scott Zengel was the Project Manager. Colin Plank and Miles Hayes performed the shoreline classification. Zach Nixon was the GIS Coordinator, Jon Whitlock, and Jennifer Rainman performed data processing, and Kristi Suggs prepared the final metadata. Joanne Halls and William Holton contributed to the conceptual design of the project and participated in the LA G-WIS pilot project, which preceded this final data set.

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?


Why was the data set created?

The G-WIS data are created to support environmental assessments associated with oil and gas exploration, production, and transportation activities in the Gulf of Mexico. The G-WIS data structure is closely related to the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) data structure used by NOAA, USCG, and other agencies for oil spill planning and response purposes. These data therefore support the requirements of the Clean Water Act, with amendments by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, in the development of response plans for immediate and effective protection of sensitive resources. G-WIS and ESI data are also appropriate for other natural resource management and environmental assessment purposes. See also the HABITAT and ESI data layers, part of the larger Louisiana G-WIS database, for additional habitat and ESI information.


How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

    None (source 1 of 2)
    NWRC, USGS, Unpublished material, Gulf of Mexico Coastal Louisiana Habitat Data.

    Type_of_Source_Media: Disk
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 24000
    Source_Contribution: Coastal habitat data

    None (source 2 of 2)
    USGS, LDWF and NWRC, 1997, Louisiana Coastal Marsh Vegetative Type Map: LDWF and USGS NWRC, Lafayette, LA.

    Type_of_Source_Media: Disk
    Source_Scale_Denominator: Unknown
    Source_Contribution: Coastal marsh type data

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: Jun-2001 (process 1 of 1)
    Two primary sources of data were used to create the habitat data layer: 1) the 1988 USGS Coastal Louisiana Habitat data; and 2) the 1997 LDWF Louisiana Coastal Marsh Vegetative Type data. The 1988 USGS Coastal Habitat data represent the actual wetland polygons used to create this data layer. Integration of the 1988 USGS Coastal Habitat and 1997 LDWF Marsh Type data was performed using a GIS overlay operation to reattribute the more spatially explicit USGS marsh polygons with marsh type values from the more recent 1997 LDWF Marsh Type data. There were several problems with this approach. The LDWF vegetative type data layer was hand digitized as a set of statewide contours derived from transect data. The data set excluded small hydrographic features and used a generalized shoreline derived from satellite imagery. The functional scale and level of generalization of these two data sets differed substantially. Simple overlay of the data resulted in multiple slivers and split polygons primarily along shorelines and upland area borders. A twofold approach was undertaken to alleviate this problem. First, the LDWF vegetative type data layer was modified to interpolate zone boundary contours across water bodies before the overlay was performed. Effectively, all water polygons were removed from the LDWF data layer. This eliminated most slivers in the overlaid data set that were initially due to shoreline discrepancies. Secondly, a computer program was written in the Arc Macro Language (AML), a macro language designed for scripting within the Arc/INFO software environment, which recursively examined all marsh polygons in the integrated data set that were not updated by the overlay operation. These were marsh polygons in the USGS data layer that, when overlaid, were located in upland or other polygons in the LDWF data layer. Each such polygon was examined for immediately adjacent, updated marsh polygons. If an adjacent updated polygon was present, the non-updated polygon was updated with the value contained in that adjacent polygon. Marsh polygons in the integrated data set that were not updated by the overlay operation and were isolated in upland or other polygons with no contiguous updated marsh polygons were not updated and retained their original marsh type classification. Finally all polygons were ranked according to the ESI classification system as specified in the Environmental Sensitivity Index Guidelines, Version 2.0 (Halls, J., J. Michel, S. Zengel, J. Dahlin, and J. Petersen, 1997, Hazardous Materials Response and Assessment Division, NOAA), and the MMS Gulf-Wide Information System (G-WIS) Database Specifications Manual (1996). In some areas, small additional shoreline arcs were digitized to fix topological errors in the original data.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Research Planning, Inc.
    c/o Scott Zengel - Senior Ecologist and Project Manager; Zach Nixon - Project GIS Coordinator
    Senior Ecologist, or Project GIS Coordinator
    1121 Park Street
    Columbia, SC 29201

    (803) 256-7322 (voice)
    (803) 254-6445 (FAX)
    szengel@researchplanning.com; znixon@researchplanning.com

  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?

    A multi-stage error checking process is used to verify both attribute accuracy and logical consistency throughout data production. The process includes a standardized data entry methodology, hardcopy data review by in-house and external resource experts, and a final Quality Assurance/ Quality Control (QA/QC) process, as well as multiple automated logical consistency checks.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    The polygonal ESI data set was developed from a pre-existing digital source and reflects the positional accuracy of these original data. See the lineage and process description sections for more infomation on the original source data and how these data were integrated or manipulated to create the final data set. Note that there were some topological inconsistencies in the source data used to create this data set, including edgematching errors, and sliver polygons. In the majority of cases, these inconsistencies were not corrected and are still present in the data.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    These data represent coastal habitat polygons classified according to the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) classification system.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    A multi-stage error checking process, described in the above attribute accuracy report is used to verify both attribute accuracy and logical consistency throughout data production. This process includes multiple automated logical consistency checks, which test the files for missing or duplicate data, rules for proper coding, and GIS topological consistencies (such as unnecessary nodes, etc.). Note that there were some topological inconsistencies in the source data used to create this data set, including edgematching errors, and sliver polygons. In the majority of cases, these inconsistencies were not corrected and are still present in the 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:
The G-WIS database was developed to provide summary information on sensitive natural and human-use resources for the purposes of oil spill planning, environmental assessment, and natural resource management. Although the G-WIS database should be a valuable planning and resource management tool, it should not be used to the exclusion of other pertinent data or information held by state or federal agencies or other organizations. Likewise, information contained in the database cannot be used in place of consultations with environmental, natural resource, and cultural resource agencies, or in place of field surveys. Also, this database and related map products should not be used for navigation. Recognize that the information contained in the G-WIS database represents known concentration areas or occurrences of natural, cultural, and human-use resources, but does not necessarily represent the full distribution or range of each species or resource. This is particularly important to recognize when considering potential impacts to protected resources, such as endangered species, wetlands, etc. For more information or guidance on proper and improper uses of these data, please contact the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and Research Planning, Inc. Acknowledgement of the originators, publishers, contributors, and sources listed in this document would be appreciated in products derived from or utilizing these data.

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 2)

    Research Planning, Inc.
    1121 Park Street
    Columbia, South Carolina 29201
    USA

    (803) 256-7322 (voice)
    (803) 254-6445 (FAX)

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    G-WIS for Coastal Louisiana

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    Although this data has been processed successfully on a computer system at Research Planning, Inc. (RPI), no warranty, expressed of implied, is made by RPI regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Research Planning, Inc. warrants the delivery of this product in computer-readable format, and will offer a replacement copy of the product when the product is determined unreadable by computer input peripherals, or when the physical medium is delivered in damaged condition.

  4. How can I download or order the data?


  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 2 of 2)

    David Gisclair
    Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office
    Technical Assistance Program (TAP) Director
    Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office
    Baton Rouge, LA 70804
    USA

    (225) 219-5800 (voice)
    (225) 219-5802 (FAX)
    dgisclair@losco.state.la.us

    Hours_of_Service: 0800-1700 CST
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    The data herein, including but not limited to geographic data, tabular data, analytical data, electronic data structures or files, are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, or statutory, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties or merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The entire risk as to the quality and performance of the data is assumed by the user. No guarantee of accuracy is granted, nor is any responsibility for reliance thereon assumed. In no event shall the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office (LOSCO) be liable for direct, indirect, incidental, consequential or special damages of any kind, including, but not limited to, loss of anticipated profits or benefits arising out of use of or reliance on the data. The LOSCO does not accept liability for any damages or misrepresentation caused by inaccuracies in the data or as a result of changes to the data caused by system transfers or other transformations or conversions, nor is there responsibility assumed to maintain the data in any manner or form. These data have been developed from the best available sources. Although efforts have been made to ensure that the data are accurate and reliable, errors and variable conditions originating from physical sources used to develop the data may be reflected in the data supplied. Users must be aware of these conditions and bear responsibility for the appropriate use of the information with respect to possible errors, scale, resolution, rectification, positional accuracy, development methodology, time period, environmental and climatic conditions and other circumstances specific to these data. The user is responsible for understanding the accuracy limitations of the data provided herein. The burden for determining fitness for use lies entirely with the user. The user should refer to the accompanying metadata notes for a description of the data and data development procedures.

    Although these data have been processed successfully on computers at the LOSCO, no guarantee, expressed or implied, is made by LOSCO regarding the use of these data on any other system, nor does the act of distribution constitute or imply any such warranty. Distribution of these data is intended for information purposes and should not be considered authoritative for navigational, engineering, legal and other site-specific uses.

  4. How can I download or order the data?


Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: Jun-2001
Metadata author:
Research Planning, Inc.
1121 Park Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

(803) 256-7322 (voice)
(803) 254-6445 (FAX)

Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
Metadata extensions used:


This page is <http://lagic.lsu.edu/metadata/data/esip_ldwf_2001_faq.html>
LA Geographic Information Center (LAGIC)
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