Sensitivity of Coastal Environments and Wildlife to Spilled Oil: North Carolina: SOCECON (Socioeconomic Resource Points and Lines)

This data set contains human-use resource data for abandoned vessels, access points, airports, archaeological sites, artifical reefs, beaches, boat ramps, campgrounds, coast guard stations, commercial fishing sites, ferries, heliports, historical sites, marinas, recreational fishing, surfing, and water intakes in North Carolina. Vector points and lines in this data set represent human-use site locations. Location-specific type and source information are stored in relational data tables (described below) designed to be used in conjunction with this spatial data layer. This data set comprises a portion of the ESI data for North Carolina. ESI data characterize the marine and coastal environments and wildlife by their sensitivity to spilled oil. The ESI data include information for three main components: shoreline habitats, sensitive biological resources, and human-use resources. See also the MGT data layer, part of the larger North Carolina ESI database, for additional human-use information.

The ESI data were collected, mapped, and digitized to provide environmental data for oil spill planning and response. The Clean Water Act with amendments by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 requires response plans for immediate and effective protection of sensitive resources.

2011

Prepared by Research Planning, Inc., Columbia, South Carolina for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration, Emergency Response Division, Seattle, Washington.

Two relational attribute or data tables, SOC_DAT, and SOURCES, are used to store the complex socioeconomic data in the ESI data structure. The geographic data layer containing socioeconomic data resource information (in this case, SOCECON) is linked to the Socioeconomic Resources table (SOC_DAT) using the unique ID and the lookup table SOC_LUT, or it can be linked directly using HUNUM. HUNUM is a unique reference number concatenated with the atlas number (for North Carolina, the number is 235). ID is a unique combination of the atlas number (235), an element specific number (SOCECON = 10), and a unique record number. SOC_DAT and the other relational data tables are described in the Detailed_Description sections. See the Browse_Graphic section for a link to the entity-relationship diagram, which describes the way these tables relate to the geographic data layers and other attribute tables in the ESI data structure.

A complete description of entity types, attributes, and attribute values for ESI atlases can be found in the NOAA ESI Guidelines (http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/esi_guidelines).

Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by NOAA regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. NOAA 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.

Contact NOAA for distribution options (see Distributor). ESI data are processed into multiple formats to make them useful to the widest community of GIS/mapping users. Distribution formats include Geodatabase; ARC export, MOSS, and Shape files; and MARPLOT map folders. An ArcMap .mxd file, an ArcView 3.x ESI project, and an ESI_Viewer product for use with the MARPLOT data are also included on the distribution CDs/DVDs for ease of use of the ESI data. The database files are distributed both in the NOAA standard relational database format (see NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS ORCA 115) and in a simplified desktop flat file format. This metadata document includes information on both of these database formats.;

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DO NOT USE MAPS FOR NAVIGATIONAL PURPOSES. Besides the above warning, there are no use constraints on these data. Note that the ESI database 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. Recognize that the information contained in the ESI 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. Acknowledgment of the originators, publishers, contributors, and sources listed would be appreciated in products derived from these data.

The software packages used to develop the atlas are Environmental Systems Research Institute's ARC/INFO(R) (version 9.3) and SQL SERVER(R) (version 2000). The hardware configuration is PC's with Windows Operating System (2000/XP/2003). The Spatial_Data_Organization Information section refers only to the source files in the ARC export format. The following files are included in the data set: birds.e00, esi.e00, fish.e00, habitats.e00, hydro.e00, index.e00, invert.e00, m_mammal.e00, mgt.e00, nests.e00, reptiles.e00, socecon.e00, t_mammal.e00, and wetlands.e00. Associated relational and desktop data tables provided in Arc export and text format are bio_lut.e00, biofile.e00, biores.e00, breed.e00, breed_dt.e00, seasonal.e00, soc_dat.e00, soc_lut.e00, sources.e00, species.e00, and status.e00.

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, a final Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) process, and multiple automated logical consistency checks. Quantitative data (such as densities, counts, abundances, or concentrations) provided by resource experts for inclusion in the data set may vary widely in attribute accuracy, depending upon the methodology used to collect and compile such data. For a more detailed evaluation of source data attribute accuracy, contact the sources listed in the Lineage section.

Spatial components for the human-use data layers can come from expert interviews, hardcopy, or digital sources. Most of the spatial components of the human-use data layers are developed from pre-existing digital or hardcopy sources and reflect the positional accuracy of these original data. Some of the spatial components of the human-use data layers are compiled on hardcopy base maps with a scale of 1:24,000. See the Lineage and Process_Description sections for more information on the original source data and how these data were integrated or manipulated to create the final data set.

These data represent a synthesis of expert knowledge, hardcopy reports, tabular, and digital data on socioeconomic resources. See also the MGT data layer, part of the larger North Carolina ESI database, for additional human-use information. These data do not necessarily represent all human-use sites in North Carolina.

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 that test the files for missing or duplicate data, rules for proper coding, GIS topological consistencies (such as dangles, unnecessary nodes, etc.), and SQL SERVER(R) to ARC/INFO(R) consistencies. A final review is made by the GIS manager, where the data are written to CD/DVD and the metadata are written. After the data are delivered to NOAA, they are again subjected to a number of quality and consistency checks. In the process of checking for topological and database consistencies, new ID's and RARNUM's or HUNUM's are also generated. The new ID's are a combination of atlas number, element number, and record number. In addition, the value used to represent the element is modified to reflect the type of feature being mapped. In the case of an element that is normally represented by a point or polygon, a value of 20 is added to the standard element value for mapping of linear features. In the case where an element usually mapped as a polygon is represented by a point, a value of 30 is added to the regular element value. The RARNUM's are also modified to include the atlas number, so multiple atlases can be combined and RARNUM's remain unique. RARNUM's are redefined on an element basis, so "resource at risk" groupings will contain only a single element. HUNUM's are also modified to include the atlas number.