Download - Web Page ReadMe:
The data available on this website are NOT to be used for navigation.
The digital data provided on this web page were created with ArcView GIS software. In order to use these data, you must have a licensed copy of a GIS application, such as ArcView or MapInfo.
Downloading all of the available digital data requires approximately 140 Mb of disk space.
The DATA sub-folder contains attributed geographic data in ArcView shapefile (.SHP, .SHX, and .DBF) format and additional database files in .DBF format that are accessed by ArcView.
A set of Legends are available for displaying the thematic data layers in ArcView. The Aids to Navigation Legend requires that a customized font be loaded into your font library. This font is used automatically (only if installed properly) to correctly portray the 'aids to navigation' shapefile.
The font must be installed prior to using the data. Failure to load this font properly will cause errors in the execution of an ArcView 3.0 project.
Please follow the instructions below for your system configuration to install the font into your font library before launching either the map viewer (AVDP) application or opening the ArcView project.
Window 95, 98 or Windows NT 4.0:
1.) From the Start menu, choose Settings - Control Panel - Fonts
2.) From the File menu, choose Install New Font
3.) Navigate to the Data folder (CD-ROM or local drive),
choose "ESRI DNC Sample (Truetype)"
4.) Click "Ok"
Windows NT 3.51:
1.) From the Main program group, choose Control Panel - Fonts
2.) From the Fonts dialog window, choose Add button
3.) Navigate to the Data folder (CD-ROM or local drive),
choose "ESRI DNC Sample (Truetype)"
4.) Click "Ok"
ArcView legend files are used to set legend colors and patterns. These files
are loaded automatically for each mapped attribute within the Data Publisher
application. If you desire to use these legends (i.e., manually load and
match ArcView legend files with shapefile data attributes) outside of this
application, refer to the following list;
BANKS.AVL used with any "BH_BANKS" shapefile;
classify by the field
MODIFIER
BATHY.AVL used with each "BATHY" shapefile;
classify by the field
ZONE.ORDER
BEN_HAB_DESC.AVL used with any "BEN_HAB" shapefile;
classify by
the field HAB_DESC
BEN_HAB_GROUP.AVL used with any "BEN_HAB" shapefile;
classify by
the field HAB_GROUP
DREDGE.AVL used with any "BH_DREDGE" shapefile;
classify by the
field MODIFIER
FKNMS.AVL used with any "FKNMS" shapefile;
classify by the field
ID
LAND.AVL used with any "LAND" shapefile;
Not Classified
NAV_AIDS.AVL used with any "NAV_AIDS" shapefile;
classify by the
field SYM
RESTORATION.AVL used with any "BH_RESTORE" shapefile;
classify
by the field MODIFIER
ROADS.AVL used with any "ROADS" shapefile;
classify by the field
LEGEND
SPA.AVL used with any "PROT_AREAS" shapefile;
Not Classified
The data are organized by individual map tile, group of protected areas and the entire region within the DATA section of this website.
The aerial photographs used to generate these digital data were taken between December 1991 and April of 1992. These maps represent the distribution of benthic habitat over that time period. The horizontal accuracy of well-defined points is within two meters. Well-defined points, such as the legs of radio towers or the corners of wharves, are clearly identifiable and immobile objects. The horizontal accuracy of continuous data (i.e., benthic habitats) ranges from 5 to 10 m, depending on the habitat class. Certain benthic features, such as patch reefs and spur-and-groove reefs, have a horizontal accuracy of 5m. These habitats are composed of massive rock and coral formations that are stable in position over time and are resistant to all but the most powerful physical forces. The shorelines of the Keys and islands are accurate to within 5 m. Because of temporary changes, other benthic features such as bare substrate, seagrasses, and hardbottom communities are accurate to within 10 m.
When considering map accuracy, it is important to keep in mind that the ocean floor is a dynamic environment. Physical factors such as water currents and hurricanes and biological factors such as seasonal growth and die-off, affect the distribution and stability of benthic habitats in this environment. Some habitats, once established, are stable and tend to remain for decades or even hundreds of years, for example, coral reefs. Other habitats, such as seagrass beds and hardbottom communities, are less stable. Plant densities within seagrass communities may increase or decrease over a period of months or years. Hardbottom habitats may become covered with sediment and then by seagrasses.
All digital geographies provided on this web page are in geographic coordinates, decimal degrees, NAD83, GRS1980.
If you desire to combine your own digital geographies with those found on this site, you must do so using ArcView shapefiles or other geographies projected to the specifications listed above.
A Metadata document (Metadata.txt) describing the attributed digital geographic files for benthic habitats, land, bathymetry, roads, aids to navigation, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary boundary, geographic place names and special protected areas is located within the DATA section of this website. This file should be used as a technical reference for all shapefile .DBFs and data table DBFs.
(top)
