Data
Benthic Habitat
About the Data
This page contains spatial data for intertidal or subtidal nearshore habitats and biological communities. The data are almost exclusively in vector format (polygon or point), primarily developed using aerial photography or multispectral imagery. Collection technologies include side-scan sonar, single-beam sonar, sediment grabs, and sediment profile imaging, and data collection occurred during environmental conditions needed for accurate mapping.
Data Standards
The data have been attributed according to a variety of classification systems, but all can be translated into either the Florida SCHEME system or the NOAA Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) system. The data have been spatially and thematically validated using accepted standards (National Standard for Spatial Data Accuracy, etc.). Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) metadata are available for both source data and the derived habitat information.
