Data Management Plan

DMP Template v2.0.1 (2015-01-01)

Please provide the following information, and submit to the NOAA DM Plan Repository.

Reference to Master DM Plan (if applicable)

As stated in Section IV, Requirement 1.3, DM Plans may be hierarchical. If this DM Plan inherits provisions from a higher-level DM Plan already submitted to the Repository, then this more-specific Plan only needs to provide information that differs from what was provided in the Master DM Plan.

URL of higher-level DM Plan (if any) as submitted to DM Plan Repository:

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1. General Description of Data to be Managed

1.1. Name of the Data, data collection Project, or data-producing Program:

National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected from Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across American Samoa since 2015

Taken From: Item Identification | Title

1.2. Summary description of the data:

The data described here are benthic habitat imagery that result from benthic photo-quadrat surveys conducted along transects at stratified random sites across American Samoa since 2014 as a part of Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys for corals and fish.

A stratified random sampling (StRS) design was employed to survey the coral reef ecosystems across the region. The survey domain encompassed the majority of the mapped area of reef and hard bottom habitats in the 0-30 m depth range. The stratification scheme included island, reef zone, and depth. Sampling effort was allocated based on strata area and sites were randomly located within strata. Sites were surveyed using photo-quadrats along transects to collect benthic imagery to ultimately produce estimates of relative abundance (benthic cover), frequency of occurrence, benthic community taxonomic composition and relative generic richness.

The StRS design effectively reduces estimate variance through stratification using environmental covariates and by sampling more sites rather than sampling more transects at a site. Therefore, site-level estimates and site to site comparisons should be used with caution.

Taken From: Item Identification | Abstract
Notes: Only a maximum of 4000 characters will be included.

1.3. Is this a one-time data collection, or an ongoing series of measurements?

One-time data collection

Taken From: Extents / Time Frames | Time Frame Type
Notes: Data collection is considered ongoing if a time frame of type "Continuous" exists.

1.4. Actual or planned temporal coverage of the data:

2015-02-15 to 2015-03-26, 2018-06-19 to 2018-07-18, 2023-03-30 to 2023-08-09

Taken From: Extents | Time Frame - Start, Time Frame - End
Notes: All time frames from all extent groups are included.

1.5. Actual or planned geographic coverage of the data:

W: -171.0925737, E: -168.13797, N: -11.04525081, S: -14.56050273

Taken From: Extents | Geographic Area Bounds, Geographic Area Description
Notes: All geographic areas from all extent groups are included.

1.6. Type(s) of data:
(e.g., digital numeric data, imagery, photographs, video, audio, database, tabular data, etc.)

Image (digital)

Taken From: Data Set Information | Data Presentation Form

1.7. Data collection method(s):
(e.g., satellite, airplane, unmanned aerial system, radar, weather station, moored buoy, research vessel, autonomous underwater vehicle, animal tagging, manual surveys, enforcement activities, numerical model, etc.)

No information found

Taken From: Acquisition Information | Instruments, Platforms

1.8. If data are from a NOAA Observing System of Record, indicate name of system:

Always left blank due to field exemption

1.8.1. If data are from another observing system, please specify:

Always left blank due to field exemption

2. Point of Contact for this Data Management Plan (author or maintainer)

2.1. Name:

Lori H Luers

Taken From: Support Roles (Metadata Contact) | Person
Notes: The name of the Person of the most recent Support Role of type "Metadata Contact" is used. The support role must be in effect.

2.2. Title:

Metadata Contact

Always listed as "Metadata Contact"

2.3. Affiliation or facility:

Taken From: Support Roles (Metadata Contact) | Organization
Notes: The name of the Organization of the most recent Support Role of type "Metadata Contact" is used. This field is required if applicable.

2.4. E-mail address:

lori.luers@noaa.gov

Notes: The email address is taken from the address listed for the Person assigned as the Metadata Contact in Support Roles.

2.5. Phone number:

No information found

Notes: The phone number is taken from the number listed for the Person assigned as the Metadata Contact in Support Roles. If the phone number is missing or incorrect, please contact your Librarian to update the Person record.

3. Responsible Party for Data Management

Program Managers, or their designee, shall be responsible for assuring the proper management of the data produced by their Program. Please indicate the responsible party below.

3.1. Name:

Thomas Oliver

Taken From: Support Roles (Data Steward) | Person
Notes: The name of the Person of the most recent Support Role of type "Data Steward" is used. The support role must be in effect.

3.2. Position Title:

Data Steward

Always listed as "Data Steward"

4. Resources

Programs must identify resources within their own budget for managing the data they produce.

4.1. Have resources for management of these data been identified?

Yes

Taken From: Data Management | Have resources for management of these data been identified?

4.2. Approximate percentage of the budget for these data devoted to data management (specify percentage or "unknown"):

Unknown

Taken From: Data Management | Approximate percentage of budget for these data devoted to data management

5. Data Lineage and Quality

NOAA has issued Information Quality Guidelines for ensuring and maximizing the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information which it disseminates.

5.1. Processing workflow of the data from collection or acquisition to making it publicly accessible
(describe or provide URL of description):

Lineage Statement:
The stratified random sampling (StRS) design and benthic photoquadrat survey methodology, employed by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division since 2013. Benthic imagery is collected at stratified random sites. These photos are color-corrected (if necessary) prior to analysis. The data management team also uses a optical validation script to re-name photos and enforce several validation checks.

Process Steps:

A stratified random sampling (StRS) design was employed to survey the coral reef ecosystems through the U.S. Pacific regions. The survey domain encompassed the majority of the mapped area of reef and hard bottom habitats. The stratification scheme included island, reef zone, and depth. The habitat structure types included simple, complex, and coral-rich. Depth categories of shallow (0-6 m), mid (> 6-18m) and deep (>18-30 m) were also incorporated into the stratification scheme. Allocation of sampling effort was proportional to strata area. Sites were randomly selected within each stratum. A geographic information system (GIS) and digital spatial databases of benthic habitats (NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science NCCOS), reef zones (IKONOS satellite imagery, NDGC 1998) bathymetry (NDGC 1998, CREP benthic mapping data), and marine reserve boundaries (NOAA) were used to facilitate spatial delineation of the sampling survey domain, strata, and sample units. Map resolution was such that the survey domain could be overlain by a grid using a GIS with individual cells of size 50 m by 50 m in area. A two-stage sampling scheme following Cochran (1977) was employed to control for spatial variation in population parameters at scales smaller than the grid cell minimum mapping unit (2,500 m2). Grid cells containing hard-bottom reef habitats were designated as primary sample units (referred to as sites). (Citation: Swanson D, Bailey H, Schumacher B, Ferguson M, Vargas-Angel B. 2018. Ecosystem Sciences Division standard operating procedures: data collection for rapid ecological assessment benthic surveys. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-PIFSC-71, 63 p.)
Photoquadrat surveys were conducted by both the fish and benthic teams. Still photographs were collected to record the benthic community composition at predetermined points along the transect lines with a high-resolution digital camera mounted on a pole. Overall, ~30 photoquadrat images are collected at each site. The fish team conducts these surveys along one 30-meter transect that spans the length of two stationary point count (SPC) cylinders used to assess fish abundance (30 images total, Transect A). Benthic substrate photos are taken at one-meter intervals along the right hand side of the 30-m transect line. The benthic team conducts the photoquadrat surveys along two, independent 18-meter transects. Photos of the benthic substrate are taken at one-meter intervals starting at meter 1, along the left hand side of each 18-meter transect (15 images/transect; 30 images total; Transect A and B).
Raw data include ~30 benthic photographs per survey site. Included in the archive package is a list of survey sites, including site, date, latitude (dd), and longitude (dd) where photoquads were collected. The file naming convention for each photo/image is [SITE]_[YEAR]_[TRANSECT]_[PHOTO_NUMBER].JPG (e.g., TUT-903_2012_A_01.JPG).

Taken From: Lineage | Lineage Statement, Process Steps (Process Date/Time, Source Citation Title, Description)

5.1.1. If data at different stages of the workflow, or products derived from these data, are subject to a separate data management plan, provide reference to other plan:

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5.2. Quality control procedures employed
(describe or provide URL of description):

The photos are reviewed by the diver for accuracy and usability. The data management team also uses a optical validation script to re-name photos and enforce several validation checks.

Taken From: Data Quality | Quality Control Procedures Employed

6. Data Documentation

The EDMC Data Documentation Procedural Directive requires that NOAA data be well documented, specifies the use of ISO 19115 and related standards for documentation of new data, and provides links to resources and tools for metadata creation and validation.

6.1. Does metadata comply with EDMC Data Documentation directive?

No

Notes: All required DMP fields must be populated and valid to comply with the directive.

6.1.1. If metadata are non-existent or non-compliant, please explain:

Missing/invalid information:

1.7. Data collection method(s)

Notes: Required DMP fields that are not populated or invalid are listed here.

6.2. Name of organization or facility providing metadata hosting:

NMFS Office of Science and Technology

Always listed as "NMFS Office of Science and Technology"

6.2.1. If service is needed for metadata hosting, please indicate:

Always left blank

6.3. URL of metadata folder or data catalog, if known:

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/25247

Always listed as the URL to the InPort Data Set record

6.4. Process for producing and maintaining metadata
(describe or provide URL of description):

Metadata produced and maintained in accordance with the NOAA Data Documentation Procedural Directive: https://nosc.noaa.gov/EDMC/DAARWG/docs/EDMC_PD-Data_Documentation_v1.pdf

Always listed with the above statement

7. Data Access

NAO 212-15 states that access to environmental data may only be restricted when distribution is explicitly limited by law, regulation, policy (such as those applicable to personally identifiable information or protected critical infrastructure information or proprietary trade information) or by security requirements. The EDMC Data Access Procedural Directive contains specific guidance, recommends the use of open-standard, interoperable, non-proprietary web services, provides information about resources and tools to enable data access, and includes a Waiver to be submitted to justify any approach other than full, unrestricted public access.

7.1. Do these data comply with the Data Access directive?

Yes

Taken From: Data Management | Do these data comply with the Data Access directive?

7.1.1. If the data are not to be made available to the public at all, or with limitations, has a Waiver (Appendix A of Data Access directive) been filed?

No

Taken From: Data Management | Is access to the data limited based on an approved waiver?

7.1.2. If there are limitations to public data access, describe how data are protected from unauthorized access or disclosure:

None

Taken From: Access Info | Data Access Constraints

7.2. Name of organization of facility providing data access:

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Taken From: Support Roles (Distributor) | Organization
Notes: The name of the Organization of the most recent Support Role of type "Distributor" is used. The support role must be in effect. This information is not required if an approved access waiver exists for this data.

7.2.1. If data hosting service is needed, please indicate:

Taken From: Data Management | If data hosting service is needed, please indicate
Notes: This field is required if a Distributor has not been specified.

7.2.2. URL of data access service, if known:

https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0157633
https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0159168
https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0159168
https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0187563
https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0187563
http://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0289905
http://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0289905

Taken From: Distribution Info | Download URL
Notes: All URLs listed in the Distribution Info section will be included. This field is required if applicable.

7.3. Data access methods or services offered:

Data can be accessed online via the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Ocean Archive.

Taken From: Access Info | Data Access Procedure

7.4. Approximate delay between data collection and dissemination:

Unknown

Taken From: Data Management | Approximate delay between data collection and dissemination

7.4.1. If delay is longer than latency of automated processing, indicate under what authority data access is delayed:

Taken From: Data Management | If delay is longer than latency of automated processing, indicate under what authority data access is delayed
Notes: This field is required if applicable.

8. Data Preservation and Protection

The NOAA Procedure for Scientific Records Appraisal and Archive Approval describes how to identify, appraise and decide what scientific records are to be preserved in a NOAA archive.

8.1. Actual or planned long-term data archive location:
(Specify NCEI-MD, NCEI-CO, NCEI-NC, NCEI-MS, World Data Center (WDC) facility, Other, To Be Determined, Unable to Archive, or No Archiving Intended)

NCEI_MD

Taken From: Data Management | Actual or planned long-term data archive location

8.1.1. If World Data Center or Other, specify:

Taken From: Data Management | Actual or planned long-term data archive location
Notes: This field is required if archive location is World Data Center or Other.

8.1.2. If To Be Determined, Unable to Archive or No Archiving Intended, explain:

Taken From: Data Management | If To Be Determined, Unable to Archive or No Archiving Intended, explain
Notes: This field is required if archive location is To Be Determined, Unable to Archive, or No Archiving Intended.

8.2. Data storage facility prior to being sent to an archive facility (if any):

Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center - Honolulu, HI

Taken From: Physical Location | Organization, City, State, Location Description
Notes: Physical Location Organization, City and State are required, or a Location Description is required.

8.3. Approximate delay between data collection and submission to an archive facility:

Unknown

Taken From: Data Management | Approximate delay between data collection and submission to an archive facility

8.4. How will the data be protected from accidental or malicious modification or deletion prior to receipt by the archive?
Discuss data back-up, disaster recovery/contingency planning, and off-site data storage relevant to the data collection

The images reside on a file server maintained and regularly backed up by PIFSC ITS.

Taken From: Data Management | How will the data be protected from accidental or malicious modification or deletion prior to receipt by the archive?

9. Additional Line Office or Staff Office Questions

Line and Staff Offices may extend this template by inserting additional questions in this section.

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