Habitat classification from multibeam. SEFIS Survey Areas in the South Atlantic Bight, 2012

This dataset contains a vector shapefile describing the geomorphology of 21 areas along the shelf edge off the South Atlantic Bight where NOAA South East Fisheries Independent Survey (SEFIS) conducts research on reef fish species of interest. Areas surveyed in 2012 from the NOAA ship Pisces were mapped and classified. Backscatter and bathymetric data were acquired using the SIMRAD ME70 multibeam fisheries sonar system.

This effort utilizes ME70 data to develop a habitat classification scheme relevant to SEFIS monitoring and research efforts.

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Bottom type classification based on backscatter intensity and depth range.

Custom classification as described in internal report Classification of hard bottom habitats for SouthEast Fisheries Independent Surveys. Laura Kracker October 2014

These data were 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 for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any 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 have been used by NOAA, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by NOAA as to the accuracy of the data and/or related materials. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by NOAA in the use of these data or related materials.

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Note: NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION. These data were 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 for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any 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 have been used by NOAA, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by NOAA as to the accuracy of the data and/or related materials. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by NOAA in the use of these data or related materials.

Microsoft Windows 7; ESRI ArcGIS 10.0

This vector shapefile is sourced from a raw multibeam dataset. The original full-resolution multibeam data was used to create a bathymetry surface using a matlab exectuable developed by Tom Weber for bottom detection. The backscatter component from the raw multibeam was used to create an acoustic intensity surface in Fledermaus.

As the survey was not conducted to meet IHO standards, all users should independently analyze the dataset according to their own needs and standards to determine data usability.