Maine Purpose of the Procedure Flood insurance studies search for geospatial data during prescoping and scoping tasks. If needed data are not available, studies might fund the collection of new data and would like to know about other organizations that might share in these costs. Detailed information about the role geospatial data coordination in studies is in the Geospatial Data Coordination Implementation Guide, which is available at https://hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/docs/GeoDataImplem.pdf, and in Scoping Guidelines: Pre-scoping and the Scoping Meeting, which is available through the Regional Management Center (RMC). Resources developed through FEMA’s geospatial data coordination activities provide information about data and contacts for organizations that have geospatial data that cover large areas (like states) in which many studies are interested. Studies can avoid wasting time with dead-end searches and cold calls by starting with these proven sources of information. One resource is this Geospatial Data Coordination Procedure. It outlines sources of geospatial data and contact information, preferences for base map data and state geospatial participation in studies, and other useful information for the State. If you have questions about this procedure or other geospatial data coordination resources, contact the geospatial data coordination lead in your Regional Management Center: Jeff Burm, Geospatial Data Coordination Lead Regional Management Center 1 (617) 482-4930 x4752 Jeff.Burm@mapmodteam.com We appreciate the help of those who reviewed this document, in particular Dan Walters GIS Administrator Maine Office of GIS 145 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333-0145 Phone: 207-624-9435 Fax: 207-287-3842 Email: dan.walters@maine.gov Date Procedure discussed: March 2 2007 Default Flood Hazard Base Map for the State The default base map for flood hazard maps for the State is an image (orthophoto) base map. Geospatial Data Coverage Find below information about and links to statewide (and Federal agencies’ national) geospatial datasets. The list is provided to save time during pre-scoping and scoping activities when building a list of candidate geospatial datasets available for the study; it is not a prescription of datasets that must be used in a flood insurance study. Major State Holdings Orthophotos Dataset name: Ortho_2f; Ortho_1f; Ortho_HF Data currentness: ground condition 20041201; ground condition 20041201; flight date 04/2001 Accuracy/Scale: Ortho_2f Horizontal Positional Accuracy Report: Technical standards for ORTHO_2F were consistent with standards established by USGS Cartographic Services Contract CSC2 for high resolution orthophoto production. The 2 foot GSD orthophotographs meet the accuracy standard that 90% of all well-defined features will fall within 13.3 feet of true position on the ground at a mapping scale of 1:4800. Ortho_1f Horizontal Positional Accuracy Report: Technical standards for ORTHO_1F were consistent with standards established by USGS Cartographic Services Contract CSC2 for high resolution orthophoto production. The 1 foot GSD orthophotographs meet the accuracy standard that 90% of all well-defined features will fall within 6.7 feet of true position on the ground at a mapping scale of 1:2400. Ortho_HF Horizontal Positional Accuracy Report: The accuracy and quality of the CITIPIX ODIs in ORTHOS_HF meet National Map Accuracy Standards 1:1,200 scale, plus/minus 1 meter or 3.33 feet, and is accurate for mapping applications at 1" = 100'. Ground sample resolution: Ortho_2F is an image mosaic of true color (24-bit), 2 foot ground sample distance (GSD) , high resolution digital orthophotographs produced from aerial photos collected over southwest Maine in Spring 2003; Ortho_1F is an image mosaic of true color (24-bit), 1 foot ground sample distance (GSD) , high resolution digital orthophotographs produced from aerial photos collected over southwest Maine in Spring 2003. Each pixel represents a planimetric square 1 foot on a side on the ground. Ortho_HF: 1:1200 (MEGIS) ORTHO_HF consists of 906 tiles of high resolution, 24-bit color aerial photography. These GLOBEXPLORER CITIPIX digital images have a pixel resolution (or ground sample distance) of 1/2 foot, are precision geo-referenced and ortho-rectified, and accurate for 1"=100' mapping applications. Flown in April 2001, from Portland to Auburn ME the ortho-rectified digital imagery covers all of Cumberland County and part of Androscoggin County, Maine. Horizontal datum: NAD 83 Fee associated? No Available for redistribution? Yes. Dataset source: (MEGIS) Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems Dataset contact: (207) 287-6144 Transportation (roads, railroads, and airports) Dataset name: e911rds Data currentness: 2006616 Accuracy/Scale: 1:24,000 Horizontal datum: NAD 83 Fee associated? No Available for redistribution? Yes Are road names part of the dataset? Yes Dataset source: (MEGIS) Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems Dataset contact: (207) 624-8882 Notes: E911RDS contains updated road centerline and road name data for Maine at 1:24,000 scale. E911RDS digital roads were developed, and are maintained, to serve the Enhanced 911 project in Maine. In 1988, Maine voters approved the statewide deployment of Enhanced 9-1-1 service. Enhanced 9-1-1 has many public safety benefits, the two most important features are: the public's ability to dial 9-1-1 for all emergencies and automatic caller location information, critical to speeding up the dispatch of emergency services. The Maine Office of GIS (MEGIS) is working with the Public Utilities Commission (MEPUC), Emergency Services Communication Bureau (ESCB) to support a statewide implementation of Enhanced 9-1-1 service. MEGIS' role in this implementation is to provide technical assistance to towns that need to establish physical addresses. Physical addresses for participating towns are developed based on community defined address intervals, and road names, applied to an updated set of digital roads. E911RDS data contains up-to-date road names and address ranges for participating Maine towns. Data is statewide and divided by minor civil divisions. The data set was developed from USGS 1:24,000 digital roads data and is in ArcInfo coverage format. The project used GPS collection and worked with each municipality to verify road and road name data. Other data sources include MEDOQs (appended, compressed USGS Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quadrangles), 10 meter panchromatic sharpened SPOT imagery from the USA Select Statewide Program and US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census TIGER/LineFiles. A related table Standard Geocodes for Maine Minor Civil Divisions, 1971 is available at http://megis.maine.gov/catalog/ "Tables". The coverage includes the ARC items E911, RDNAME, RANGE. Ongoing maintenance of the final data includes the addition and/or correction of roads, road names and address ranges at the request of each municipalities Addressing Officer. Dataset name: merail24 Data currentness: 200361001 Accuracy/Scale: 1:24,000 Horizontal datum: NAD 83 Fee associated? No Available for redistribution? Yes Are road names part of the dataset? Yes Dataset source: (MEGIS) Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems Dataset contact: (207) 624-8882 Notes: MERAIL24 is a statewide railroad coverage for Maine at 1:24000 scale. The data was extracted from USGS 1:24000 DLG files by MEGIS staff in 1997, built the attribute tables and edgematched the coverage across quadrangle boundaries. Arc attributes include railroad name, operator, track type (maineline, branch, siding, yard), status (active, inactive, abandoned) and remarks. Most edgematching errors were within 10 meters, and were corrected by node snapping. When errors were greater than 10 meters, a closure line was added, and an arc moved if necessary. Attribute and linework accuracy were verified using USGS and Maine Department of Transportation resources, and some local knowledge. Status of sidings and yards is difficult to determine, and has not been fully checked. In yards, exact line accuracy may be lacking. Accuracy of maineline and branch linework expected to be very good. The attribution of the dataset was updated in September 2003 with information provided by MEDOT. Dataset name: meair Data currentness: 19970101 Accuracy/Scale: 1:100,000 Horizontal datum: NAD 83 Fee associated? No Available for redistribution? Yes Are road names part of the dataset? Yes Dataset source: (MEGIS) Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems Dataset contact: 207) 624-7700 Notes: MEAIR includes point locations of airports in Maine from USGS 1:100,000 scale DLG files. Data for this coverage were compiled by MEGIS staff in 1999. Seaplane base locations were generated from lat-long coordinates. The coverage was updated in August 1995 by MEGIS staff using the latest NOAA Airport/Facility Directory and NOAA Sectional Aeronautical Charts, and has been renamed from MEAIR100 to MEAIR. Codes were added at this time for a number of attributes including length of longest runway, runway surface, and fuel available. This coverage is for general reference only and should not to be used for air navigation. No quality control has been attempted and current ground condition is not known. Hydrography (rivers, streams, lakes, and shorelines) Dataset name: Hyd24 Data currentness: 2004 Accuracy/Scale: 1:24,000 Horizontal Positional Accuracy Report: Approximate horizontal accuracy is 12 meters, assuming source data meets National Map Accuracy Standards (NMAS). Horizontal datum: NAD 83 Fee associated? No Available for redistribution? Yes Are hydrography names part of the dataset? Yes Dataset source: (MEGIS) Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems Dataset contact: (207) 624-7700 Notes: HYD24 depicts Maine's hydrography data, coast, ponds, rivers, streams and hydrography network at 1:24,000 scale. The dataset represents preliminary data from the Maine GIS/USGS National Hydrography Data (NHD) project. Initial stages of the project generated three improved hydrography datasets HYD24L, HYD24P, and HYD24N. HYD24L contains arcs that represent the boundaries of all polygon and double line features. These arcs represent shoreline, coastline, rivermouth, associated closure arcs, the state boundary relative to hydrography features, and an offshore limit line. HYD24P consists of polygon and double line features representing the ponds, rivers, coast, inland and coastal islands. HYD24N represents a network of hydrography features made up of single line streams both intermittent and perennial, as well as connectors, and artificial paths used to create a network. The Maine GIS ArcInfo library data tiled by 1:24,000 scale quadrangle was used as a compilation source for the Maine NHD hydrography data. 1:24000 For distribution through the Maine GIS Internet Data Catalog this dataset is distributed by HUC8 watershed map extent. A list of all twenty-one (21) HUC8 names and numbers is available in a table "HUCLUT", at the Data Catalog "Tables" link. Corresponding 12 digit HUC names and numbers are also included in the table. Three methods of selection are available from the Internet Data Catalog to suit your needs: Political boundaries (county, municipal) Dataset name: CNTY24 Data currentness: 20050506 Accuracy/Scale: 1:24,000 Approximate horizontal accuracy is 51 meters Horizontal datum: NAD 83 Fee associated? No Available for redistribution? Yes Dataset source: (MEGIS) Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems Dataset contact: (207) 624-7700 Notes: CNTY24 contains state and county boundaries for Maine, mapped at 1:24,000 scale. The coverage has polygon topology and was created in Arc/Info from METWP24 by a select on arcs coded TYPE = state, county, and coastline. Polygons in the coverage are labeled with COUNTY, CNTYCODE, TAG, LAND, ISLAND. Arcs in the coverage are coded for TYPE and LAND. Please note recommended feature level metadata items FMSRC, FMSRCORG, FMSRCDAT, FMPROCSS, FMUPDORG, FMUPDDAT have been added to the arc coding of this coverage. These items are intended for use in providing specific information about the source of changes to the location of arc features in the coverage and contain codes that cross reference the elements Source Citation Abbreviation, Source Publication Date, Process Step, Process Contact and Process Date in Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) compliant metadata for the coverage. For more information and tables related to feature level metadata see http://megis.maine.gov/standards/flmeta/fmbrief.htm. Dataset name: METWP24 Data currentness: 20050922 Accuracy/Scale: 1:24,000 Horizontal datum: NAD 83 Fee associated? No Available for redistribution? Yes Dataset source: (MEGIS) Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems Dataset contact: (207) 624-7700 Notes: METWP24 depicts political boundaries, common town names, and geocodes for Maine at 1:24,000 scale. The coverage was created from USGS, 7.5 minute map series, town boundaries. The Maine GIS base layer COAST, which contains Maine's coastal Mean High Water (MHW) mark and Maine islands, was used in the development of METWP24. To correct mapping errors and reflect recent changes to Minor Civil Division (MCD) boundaries, arcs and polygons have been added to or updated in METWP24 from: photorevised USGS data; Maine GIS base layer coincident features; legal descriptions; GPS data; and Maine Department of Transportation (MEDOT) engineering plans. METWP24 contains USGS 1:100,000 scale data and U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census, TIGER Line Files 1990 and 2000 where these provide a more correct or best available representation of a coverage feature. Polygons in the coverage are attributed with the items TOWN, COUNTY, GEOCODE, and CNTYCODE as found in "Standard Geographic Codes for Maine Minor Civil Divisions", 1971. Like COAST, METWP24 contains the item CIREG for island identification numbers based on Maine Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands, Coastal Island Registry (CIREG) data. Publicly owned lands (national, state, and local parks, forests, etc) Dataset name: Mecnslnd Data currentness: 20060526 Accuracy/Scale: 1:24,000 Approximate horizontal accuracy is 12 meters Horizontal datum: NAD 83 Fee associated? No Available for redistribution? Yes. Dataset source: (MEGIS) Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems Dataset contact: (207) 624-7700 Notes: MECNSLND contains conservation lands ownership boundaries at 1:24,000 scale for Maine land in federal, state, and non-profit ownership with easements. State, county, town, and coast boundary data were obtained from MEGIS town boundary dataset METWP24. 1:24,000 US Geological Survey (USGS) digital line graph data was used for hydrography and transportation features. Where state, county, and town boundaries were coincident with property boundaries, the coincident features were taken from METWP24. Where hydrography, roads, railroads and power-lines were coincident with property boundaries, the coincident features were taken from 1:24,000 digital line graph data. The ownership lines do not represent legal boundaries nor are the ownership lines a survey. MECNSLND is an inventory. Original mapping and text on this theme, produced in 1989 and updated in 1993 by R.D. Kelly Jr., Maine State Planning Office (MESPO). MESPO contacted agencies and organizations to obtain locations of conservation and public lands, and prepared hard copy maps. Mapping was based on USGS 1:250,000 quadrangles and was originally published in digital form by the Maine Office of GIS as MEPUB250. The Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Maine at Orono, digitized the maps, built the attribute database and subsequently, compiled the data at 1:100,000 scale with standard USGS quadrangles as a base to produce MEPUB100. MEPUB100 was used as a basemap for the development of MECNSLND. MECNSLND was created to provide GIS coverage for the conservation lands database. The ownership lines do not represent legal boundaries nor are the ownership lines a survey. The data contained in MECNSLND is an inventory only. Users must assume responsibility in determining the usability of this data for their purposes. Data at this scale is suitable for local and regional planning. Cadastral (parcels) Dataset name: Parcels Data currentness: 20060413 Accuracy/Scale: The horizontal positional accuracy of PARCELS varies across the statewide layer, according to the level of accuracy established by grant requirements. There are four levels of accuracy specified in the MLGI "Standards for Digital Parcel Files" under which grants have been made. The level of horizontal positional accuracy of digital parcels data known as LEVEL 1 or STAGE 1 is not known. LEVEL or STAGE 1 data must be a single layer of digital vector data containing a seamless depiction of all town property boundaries and other legal interests shown on physical maps, projection must be defined, and the data must conform to "Data Standards for Maine Geographic Information Systems", June 27, 2002, with regard to spatial topology and edgematching. LEVEL or STAGE 2 data must conform to the minimum specifications of Level 1, all requirements of "Data Standards for Maine Geographic Information Systems", June 27, 2002, and be georeferenced to as many well defined points as possible on an orthorectified photograph or vector base that meets the National Map Accuracy Standards for 1" = 400' or 1:4800 +/-13.33 feet, or better. LEVEL or STAGE 3 data must conform to the minimum specifications of Level 2 and be digitally recompiled to fit all coincident features, property boundaries, roads, adjacent town lines, on an orthophoto or vector base. LEVEL or STAGE 4 data, at survey and engineering accuracy, must conform to the minimum specifications of Level 3, with errors in parcels data corrected and parcels closed geometrically, with digital parcels data located relative to cadastral markers, geodetic control points of the National Geodetic Survey, the Maine Department of Transportation or other parties using geodetic grade surveying equipment and methods. Horizontal datum: NAD 83 Fee associated? No Available for redistribution? Yes Dataset source: (MEGIS) Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems Dataset contact: (207) 624-7700 Notes: The purpose of the municipal grant program was to create and upgrade digital tax parcels data for the creation and publication of a standardized statewide parcels geospatial data layer for Maine. Property maps are a fundamental base for many municipal activities. Although GIS parcels data cannot replace detailed ground surveys, the data can assist municipal officials with functions such as accurate property tax assessment, planning and zoning. Towns can link maps to an assessor's database and display local information. Officials can show tax-payers how proposed development or changes in municipal services and regulations may affect the community. In many towns, parcels data also helps to provide public notices, plan bus routes, and carry out other municipal services. The accuracy of PARCELS varies across the statewide layer, according to the level of accuracy established by grant requirements. There are four LEVELS of accuracy specified in the MLGI "Standards for Digital Parcel Files" under which grants have been made. The accuracy of LEVEL 1 submissions is unknown; LEVELS 2-4 provide data suitable for parcels studies and detailed local planning at a scale of 1:4800 or better. Users will find these levels, specific to each town, indicated in the attribute STAGE. Terrain (elevation) Dataset name: Medem10; Medem30 Data currentness: Source date: USGS 19480101; Source dates: USGS 19790701, U.S.Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey Digital Elevation Models 19790701 Accuracy/Scale: The accuracy of a DEM depends on the level of detail of the source and the grid spacing used to sample that source. The primary limiting factor for the level of detail of the source is the scale. Source materials used for the creation of MEDEM10 meet the National Map Accuracy Standard (NMAS) for 1:24000 scale data, of +/- 40 feet or 12 meters. RMSE of the DEM-Digital elevation models meets horizontal National Map Accuracy Standards (NMAS) requirements for 1:24,000 scale.; Vertical datum: NGVD 29 Fee associated? No Available for redistribution? Yes. Dataset source: (MEGIS) Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems Dataset contact: (207) 624-7700 Notes: Medem10: The digital elevation model is composed of a 6 character integer raster representing a gridded form of a topographic map hypsography overlay. Each raster entity contains a 6 character integer value from -32767 to 32,768. The data does not carry attributes separate from elevation, which are characterized in the Vertical Positional Accuracy Section.; Medem30: MEDEM30s are digital terrain elevation models of Maine, in grid format, based on USGS 7.5 minute DEMs (30- by 30- m data spacing). Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is the terminology adopted by the USGS to describe terrain elevation data sets in a digital raster form. The standard DEM consists of a regular array of elevations cast on a designated coordinate projection system. The DEM data are stored as a series of profiles in which the spacing of the elevations along and between each profile is in regular whole number intervals. The normal orientation of data is by columns and rows. Each column contains a series of elevations ordered from south to north with the order of the columns from west to east. USGS has used four methods to collect DEM data. Of these, only one, interpolation from vectors or digital line graph (DLG) hypsographic and hydrographic data, is currently used for 7.5 minute DEMs and other series. MEDEM30s, produced using 1:24000 cartographic map contour overlays, represent the 30 meter profile of USGS 7.5 minute DEM series. Elevation values are in meters. Dataset name: Contours Data currentness: 2000430 Accuracy/Scale: 1:24,000 Vertical datum: NGVD 29 Fee associated? No Available for redistribution? Yes. Dataset source: (MEGIS) Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems Dataset contact: (207) 624-7700 Notes: CONTOURS contains contour lines for Maine from USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangles; in accordance with the source, units may be in feet or meters and intervals may be at 10 to 20 feet, or 3 meters. Additional supplementary contours exist on some of the quads. Due to the large number of arcs, elevation codes are spot checked from a representative sample. Please report any elevation coding errors to the Maine Office of GIS. The data retains the edgematching discrepancies existing in the source. Data Distribution Process for State Data Electronic on-line Data is available for download at http://megis.maine.gov/ Online Option: Access Instructions: Where file size and Internet access permit, data requests can be made available via File Transfer Protocol (FTP). For hardcopy media MEGIS does some custom mapping, with available Maine GIS data, as time allows. If you have a custom mapping question please call the technical support line at (207) 287-6144 and ask about an estimate for your mapping needs. Turnaround: 15 working days. Federal Nationwide Geospatial Data Holdings Information about nationwide holdings and programs of Federal agencies is available from the Mapping Information Platform web site at https://hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/docs/ProgFacts.pdf. Finding and Accessing Other Existing Geospatial Data Find below information about and links to ways of searching for additional geospatial data available for the State. These capabilities can be useful for finding geospatial data other than the statewide and Federal data listed above, including those of special governments, counties and parishes, municipalities, tribes, universities, and other organizations. Clearinghouses and Inventories for the State MEGIS provides technical support for Maine GIS data, estimates on custom mapping, as well as consultation on data and application development, as time permits. National Digital Orthophoto Program (NDOP) and National Digital Elevation Program (NDEP) Tracking Systems These systems allow the search of orthophoto and elevation project information entered by federal and other organizations. To access the NDOP system, go to the NDOP web site at and follow the link “Project Tracking.” For the NDEP system, go to the NDEP web site at and follow the link “Project Tracking.” TED Query Tool This tool provides access to information about Federal, state, and local government agency and private sector data holdings gathered by the Census Bureau. It is available through the geospatial data coordination lead at the Regional Management Center. Geospatial One-Stop Geospatial One-Stop, available at , provides access to geospatial data from many sources. Two parts of the site that should be investigated are the “data categories” for existing data and the “marketplace” for data that are planned or in-work and for potential partners for new data collection activities. Working with People Useful State and Federal Contacts The main contacts for the State’s geospatial activities and Federal agencies’ representatives in State are available on the Mapping Information Platform web site at Of special interest are: Maine Geographic Information System (ME GIS) – MEGIS provides technical support for Maine GIS data, estimates on custom mapping, as well as consultation on data and application development, as time permits. USGS New England Mapping Partnership Office– The USGS partnership program is the geospatial liason between the USGS and the New England States. The office is responsible for Maine and other New England states. Involving State’s Geospatial Coordinator in Flood Studies In order to participate in the FEMA flood hazard mapping effort, this office prefers to be contacted in all of the following ways: a. MEGIS would like to attend each kickoff/scoping meeting b. MEGIS is a FEMA Cooperating Technical Partner This state already has a working relationship with the office in the state that is responsible for updating the multi-hazard maps, and they have access to their state’s flood map modernization business plan. State Coordination Process for Building Geospatial Partnerships To realize the potential benefits of GIS in Maine state government, the GIS Stakeholders group has been chartered by the Chief Information Officer and is led by the Office of Information Technology GIS Service Manager. The GIS Stakeholder group charge is the promotion and facilitation of collaborative interagency efforts, information exchange, advisement to the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and senior agency management in the use of GIS resources and the development, maintenance and facilitation of the implementation of a strategic plan. The Stakeholders will be composed of appointees of the CIO (in regard to policy-making, MEGIS, the University of Maine System, the GeoLibrary Board or other relevant groups/interests), Agency Information Technology Directors or their designees, designees of agency commissioners to represent agency business needs and users, and representatives of the Legislative and Judicial Branches and Constitutional Officers who use, or anticipate using GIS.   Finding Local Geospatial Contacts Local contacts, including those from special government districts (for example, a regional planning commission); counties, parishes, or equivalent governments; tribes, municipal governments; and other organizations (for example, local universities) also have geospatial data that can help a flood insurance study. Contact information is available from the FEMA archive and web searches at government link portals such as . Some of the regional planning commissions (RPC) in Maine provide GIS services to their member communities. The list of the RPCs in Maine and their websites are listed below. * Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, http://www.avcog.org/muni_gis.php * Eastern Maine Development Corporation, http://www.emdc.org/ * Kennebec Valley Council of Governments, http://www.kvcog.org/GIS.htm * Mid-Coast Regional Planning Commission, http://www.midcoastplanning.org/mapDemoFore.html * Northern Maine Development Commission, http://www.nmdc.org/ed/GIS_mapping.html * Greater Portland Council of Governments, http://www.gpcog.org/info.php?p=MzcxNTguNTk= nallen@gpcog.org * Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission, http://www.smrpc.org/landusepage.htm Provide Feedback on This Procedure When you find information in this Procedure or in other FEMA or State resources that are outdated, please tell the geospatial data coordination lead in the Regional Management Center what was wrong and the correct information (if you know it). Use the contact information for the lead listed in the section Purpose of the Procedure. The lead will use your feedback to update this Procedure.