• What does this data set describe?
  1. How should 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. Where did the data come from?
  2. What changes have been made?
• 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?

Title:

Archive of Sidescan-Sonar Data and DGPS Navigation Data Collected During USGS Cruise SEAX 96004 New York Bight, 1 May - 9 June 1996

Abstract:

This DVD-ROM contains digital high resolution sidescan-sonar data collected during USGS cruise SEAX 96004 aboard the R/V Seaward Explorer. The coverage lies along New York Bight. This DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc-Read Only Memory) has been produced in accordance with the UDF DVD- ROM Standard and is therefore capable of being read on any computing platform that has appropriate DVD-ROM driver software installed. Access to the data and information contained on this DVD-ROM was developed using the HyperText Markup Language (HTML) utilized by the World Wide Web (WWW) project. Development of the DVD-ROM documentation and user interface in HTML allows a user to access the information by using a variety of WWW information browsers (i.e. NCSA Mosaic, Netscape) to facilitate browsing and locating information and data. To access the information contained on this disc with a WWW client browser, open the file 'index.htm' at the top level directory of this DVD-ROM with your selected browser. The HTML documentation is written utilizing some HTML 4.0 enhancements. The disc should be viewable by all WWW browsers but may not properly format on some older WWW browsers. Also, some links to USGS collaborators are available on this DVD-ROM. These links are only accessible if access to the Internet is available during browsing of the DVD-ROM. Software is available on this DVD-ROM for viewing and processing the individual swaths using computer systems running the UNIX operating system.

1. How should this data set be cited?

   Hill, Jenna C. , Schwab, William C. , and Danforth, William W. , 2001, Archive of Sidescan-Sonar Data and DGPS Navigation Data Collected During USGS Cruise SEAX 96004 New York Bight, 1 May - 9 June 1996: U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole, MA.

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -73.84

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -73.03

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 40.67

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 40.35

3. What does it look like?

   images/fullext.jpg (JPEG)

   Map of SEAX 96004 Sidescan Survey Area

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

   Beginning_Date: 01-May-1996

   Beginning_Time: 0000000

   Ending_Date: 09-Jun-1996

   Ending_Time: 0000000

   Currentness_Reference: publication date

5. What is the general form of this data set?

6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator

      Universal_Transverse_Mercator:

      UTM_Zone_Number: 18

      Transverse_Mercator:

      Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: .9996

      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -75

      Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0

      False_Easting: 500000

      False_Northing: 0

      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 5
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 5
      Planar coordinates are specified in meters 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.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298257.
      

      Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:

      Altitude_System_Definition:

      Altitude_Datum_Name: assumed sea level

      Altitude_Resolution: 1

      Altitude_Distance_Units: two-way travel time

      Altitude_Encoding_Method: Attribute values

      Depth_System_Definition:

      Depth_Datum_Name: local surface (sea level)

      Depth_Resolution: 1

      Depth_Distance_Units: meters

      Depth_Encoding_Method: Attribute values

7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   The data were collected using a Datasonics SIS-1000 sidescan-sonar towfish. The system emits a CHIRP (swept FM) signal from 100-113 kHz. The return signal is correlated with the calibrated outgoing signal and matched filtered to extract the signal amplitude for each data sample. The signal is digitized at the towfish and sent up the cable where it is collected and merged with bathymetry, navigation and towfish telemetry (pitch, roll) using Triton Elics International ISIS system. The collected sidescan-sonar data are stored as 16 bit values representing a 0-10 volt range.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: 0

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • Jenna C. Hill
   • William C. Schwab
   • William W. Danforth
2. Who also contributed to the data set?

   Hill, Jenna C., Schwab, William C., Danforth, William W.

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

   Schwab, Bill
   U.S. Geological Survey
   Seafloor Mapping Project
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
   USA
   (508) 548-8700 (voice)
   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
   bschwab@usgs.gov
   

Beginning in 1995, the USGS, in cooperation with the U.S Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), New York District, began a program to generate reconnaissance maps of the sea-floor offshore of the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area, one of the most populated coastal regions of the United States. The goal of this mapping program is to provide a regional synthesis of the sea-floor environment, including a description of sedimentary environments, sediment texture, seafloor morphology, and geologic history to aid in understanding the impacts of anthropogenic activities, such as ocean dumping. This mapping effort differs from previous studies of this area by obtaining digital, sidescan sonar images that cover 100 percent of the sea floor. This investigation was motivated by the need to develop an environmentally acceptable solution for the disposal of dredged material from the New York - New Jersey Port, by the need to identify potential sources of sand for renourishment of the southern shore of Long Island, and by the opportunity to develop a better understanding of the transport and long-term fate of contaminants by investigations of the present distribution of materials discharged into the New York Bight over the last 100+ years (Schwab and others, 1997). Data collected in 1996, USGS cruise SEAX 96004, augments data collected in 1995 with sidescan sonar and seismic reflection data collected within the New York Bight Apex region. This report is an archive of the sidescan-sonar data and DGPS navigation data collected in 1996.

1. Where did the data come from?
2. What changes have been made?

   (change 1 of 1)

   No processing steps or corrections have been applied to these data. The files contain "raw" field data. Person responsible for change:
   

   Denny, Jane
   U.S. Geological Survey
   Seafloor Mapping Project
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
   USA
   (508) 548-8700 (voice)
   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
   jdenny@usgs.gov
   

1. How well have the observations been checked?
2. How accurate are the geographic locations? The ship was navigated with differential GPS
3. How accurate are the heights or depths? The vertical position was local sea level and there was no correction to a datum or tides.
4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing? The following files do not exist: l2f1, l3f1, l4f1, l5f1, l6f1, l10f1, l11f1, l12f3, l94f1, l183f1
5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology? This data set is from a single cruise and collection platform, therefore internally consistent.

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints:

The U.S. Geological Survey must be referenced as the originator of the dataset in any future products or research derived from these data.

Use_Constraints: None

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

   Soderberg, Nancy
   U.S. Geological Survey
   Data Library
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
   USA
   (508) 548-8700 (voice)
   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
   nsoderberg@usgs.gov
   

2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? U.S. Geological Suvey Open-File Report 01-95 DVD-ROM
3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   This Digital Versatile Disc-Read Only Memory (DVD-ROM) publication was prepared by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, make any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed in this report, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference therein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. Any views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Although all data published on this DVD-ROM have been used by the USGS, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to the accuracy of the data and related materials and/or the functioning of the software. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in the use of this data, software, or related materials.

4. How can I download or order the data?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	Q-MIPS format contains a 2048 byte file header followed by the sidescan sonar data stream which consists of at least two channels of sidescan-sonar information and a 256 byte trailer. in format Q-MIPS (version 6.69) Size: 4.2 Gb
     Media you can order:	DVD-ROM (format UDF) Note: UNIX, DOS, MAC

   • Cost to order the data: available from the Denver Open-File Sales department, price varies.

Dates:

Last modified: 14-Feb-2001

Metadata author:

Denny, Jane
U.S. Geological Survey
Seafloor Mapping Group
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
USA
(508) 548-8700 (voice)
(508) 457-2310 (FAX)
jdenny@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:

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