72703 Data Set Published / External 45869 NCCOS Habitat Mapping Team Project Completed 2024-05-31 2024-05-31 This data package contains georeferenced underwater photomosaics for more than 600 sites in 0 to 50 meter depths around the islands of Guam and Saipan. The photographs used to create these photomosaics were acquired from August 2021 to May 2022 using digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) cameras. Green lasers provided a measurement scale (10 cm). A Trimble GeoXH GPS provided the location of the vessel, and a Blueprint SeaTrac ultra short baseline (USBL) X150 beacon and X010 transponder provided the location and depth (XYZ) of the drop camera. The photographs were georeferenced (i.e., given a latitude and longitude), and mosaicked using a custom Python script (Pierce and Winians, 2023; performed using Agisoft Metashape application programming interface). The field work in Saipan was funded by NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) and the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP). The field work in Guam was funded by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Marianas (NAVFAC Marianas). Both efforts were conducted in partnership with and in consultation with local partners and the territorial governments. The purpose of this field work was to collect underwater photographs of the seafloor to train and validate benthic habitat models and maps. From these photographs, analysts identified five to seven substrate and 12 to 14 biological cover types. Percent cover was estimated to the nearest 1% for each habitat type. The amount of annotated area (four square meters) was standardized in each photograph so that it matched the spatial resolution (i.e., two x two meter pixels) of the environmental predictors. Multiple substrate and cover types were often present at each site. Percent covers were also converted to presences (1) and absences (0). This information was then used to train and validate benthic habitat models and maps for select areas offshore Guam and Saipan in 0 to 50 meter depths. These areas were selected by local management agencies because they include ecologically and economically valuable shallow-water coral reefs. The resulting maps will be used by local management agencies to mitigate impacts to, and restore, these important marine resources. Theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > REEF > CORAL REEF Theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > COASTAL PROCESSES > CORAL REEFS Theme ISO 19115 Topic Category geoscientificInformation Theme ISO 19115 Topic Category oceans Spatial Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Spatial Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN > MICRONESIA > GUAM Spatial Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN > MICRONESIA > NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS Spatial Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords VERTICAL LOCATION > SEA FLOOR Stratum Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Vertical Data Resolution Keywords 1 meter - < 10 meters Instrument Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords ACOUSTIC RECEIVERS Instrument Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords ACOUSTIC SOUNDERS Instrument Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords GPS > Global Positioning System Instrument Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords HRC > High Resolution Camera Theme CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus Geographic Information > Marine Management Areas Theme CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus Numeric Data Sets > Benthic Theme CoRIS Place Ocean/Seas Keywords COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Saipan > Saipan Island (15N145E0002) Theme CoRIS Place Ocean/Seas Keywords COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Guam > Apra Harbour (13N144E0051) Theme CoRIS Place Ocean/Seas Keywords COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Guam > Guam (13N144E0000) Theme CoRIS Place Ocean/Seas Keywords COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Guam > Haputo (13N144E0006) Theme CoRIS Place Ocean/Seas Keywords OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Saipan Island > Chalan Kanoa (15N145E0012) Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > GIS Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Mapping > Habitat Mapping Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Photographic Analysis Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Habitats Theme NCCOS Discovery Keywords NCCOS Research Data Type > Field Observation Theme NCCOS Discovery Keywords NCCOS Research Data Type > Geospatial Theme NCCOS Discovery Keywords NCCOS Research Priority > Marine Spatial Ecology Theme NCCOS Discovery Keywords NCCOS Research Topic > Habitat Mapping Theme NODC Data Types HABITAT - BENTHIC Theme Project NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Theme Project Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Marianas Spatial CoRIS Place Country/Territory Keywords COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Saipan > Chalan Kanoa (15N145E0012) Spatial CoRIS Place Ocean/Seas Keywords OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Saipan Island > Saipan Island (15N145E0002) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Saipan > Saipan Island (15N145E0002) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Guam > Apra Harbour (13N144E0051) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Guam > Guam (13N144E0000) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Guam > Haputo (13N144E0006) Spatial NCCOS Discovery Keywords NCCOS Research Location > Region > International Spatial NCCOS Discovery Keywords NCCOS Research Location > Region > Pacific Ocean Spatial NCCOS Discovery Keywords NCCOS Research Location > U.S. States and Territories > Mariana Islands > Guam Spatial NCCOS Discovery Keywords NCCOS Research Location > U.S. States and Territories > Mariana Islands > Saipan Stratum Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Stratum Keywords VERTICAL LOCATION > SEA FLOOR Instrument ACOUSTIC RECEIVERS Blueprint SeaTrac ultra short baseline (USBL) X150 beacon Instrument ACOUSTIC SOUNDERS Blueprint SeaTrac ultra short baseline (USBL) X010 transponder Instrument GPS > Global Positioning System Trimble GeoXH GPS Instrument HRC > High Resolution Camera Nikon D7500 DSLR camera Instrument HRC > High Resolution Camera Sony alpha7 IV DSLR camera National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Silver Spring MD Data Set GIS Files, photos, CSV, etc As Needed remote-sensing image Funding was provided to acquire these datasets by NOAA NCCOS, NAVFAC Marianas and NOAA CRCP. 72981 Published / External Other No Underwater photomosaics Photograph No No Active Underwater photomosaics around Guam and CNMI Author 2024 Person Costa, Bryan bryan.costa@noaa.gov Data Steward 2024 Position NCCOS Scientific Data Coordinator NCCOS.data@noaa.gov Distributor 2024 Position NCCOS Scientific Data Coordinator NCCOS.data@noaa.gov None Distributor 2021 2022 Organization National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science NCCOS https://ror.org/05ba43f71 1305 East West Highway, Rm 8110 Silver Spring MD 20910 https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/ Metadata Contact 2024 Position NCCOS Scientific Data Coordinator NCCOS.data@noaa.gov Point of Contact 2024 Position NCCOS Scientific Data Coordinator NCCOS.data@noaa.gov Principal Investigator 2020 2024 Person Costa, Bryan bryan.costa@noaa.gov Ground Condition 144.582286 145.837466 15.294146 13.212093 Geographic 2D EPSG:4326 WGS 84 World Geodetic System 1984 WGS 84 6378137 298.257223563 1 Geodetic Lattitude Lat degree north 2 Geodetic Longitude Lon degree east 0 50 Range 2021-08-20 2022-05-12 Time of data collection. No Yes Geographic 2D EPSG:4326 WGS 84 World Geodetic System 1984 WGS 84 6378137 298.257223563 1 Geodetic Lattitude Lat degree north 2 Geodetic Longitude Lon degree east Custom Unclassified Access Constraints: None | Use Constraints: Users should be aware that temporal changes may have occurred since this data set was collected and some parts of this data may no longer represent actual benthic conditions. Users should not use this data for critical applications without a full awareness of its limitations. | Distribution Liability: This dataset is dynamic and may change with time. Any conclusions drawn from the analysis of this information are not the responsibility of NOAA, National Center for Coastal Ocean Science or its partners. Cite As: NOAA NCCOS. [Date of Access]: 2021-2022 Benthic habitat characterization: Guam and Saipan [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/72703. Access Constraints: None | Use Constraints: Users should be aware that temporal changes may have occurred since this data set was collected and some parts of this data may no longer represent actual benthic conditions. Users should not use this data for critical applications without a full awareness of its limitations. | Distribution Liability: This dataset is dynamic and may change with time. Any conclusions drawn from the analysis of this information are not the responsibility of NOAA, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science or its partners. None None https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/7b6c0e7164234182985a89d5b5703475/page/ 2021 2022 Organization National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science https://ror.org/05ba43f71 Guam and CNMI Underwater Photomosaics Custom web map app allowing viewing and query of data offshore Guam and Saipan. This map viewer includes shallow-water (0-50 meter) benthic habitat data collected around Guam and Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Not Applicable Zip https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0291792 Project extent for Saipan Browse Graphic jpg NA https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0292018 Project extent for Guam Browse Graphic jpg NA https://doi.org/10.25921/m0f6-3b26 GIS datasets for Saipan Online Resource Costa, Bryan; Sweeney, Edward; Kraus, Jennifer (2024). NCCOS Mapping: Characterizing Benthic Habitats West of Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), 2018-11-05 to 2022-04-29 (NCEI Accession 0291792). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/m0f6-3b26. This data package contains information and maps showing the geology and biology of select submerged lands (0 to 40 meters deep) offshore of western Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). This information and maps were developed using benthic information from underwater photographs, environmental predictor variables derived from satellite imagery and bathymetry, and machine learning modeling approaches. https://doi.org/10.25921/wg96-cq17 GIS datasets for Guam Online Resource This data package contains information and maps showing the geology and biology of select submerged lands (0 to 50 meters deep) around Navy Base Guam (NBG) and Haputo Ecological Reserve Area (ERA) Guam, Mariana Islands. This information and maps were developed using benthic information from underwater photographs, environmental predictor variables derived from satellite imagery and bathymetry, and machine learning modeling approaches. https://doi.org/10.25923/psjm-h924 https://doi.org/10.25923/psjm-h924 Online Resource NOAA Technical Memorandum Costa, B., Sweeney, E., and Kraus, J. (2024). Characterizing benthic habitats of western Saipan, CNMI. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 328. https://doi.org/10.25923/psjm-h924 https://doi.org/10.25923/zwwa-h562 https://doi.org/10.25923/zwwa-h562 Online Resource NOAA Technical Memorandum Costa, B., and Sweeney, E. (2024). Characterizing submerged lands around Naval Base Guam, Mariana Islands. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 329. https://doi.org/10.25923/zwwa-h562 2024-05-31 Data metadata record was created nccos.data@noaa.gov The horizontal positional accuracy of these sites is less than 5 meters. Completeness Commission: The data is programmatically and visually inspected for completeness. | All formatted data cover the entire area specified for this project and were validated using a combination of commercial processing software and GIS software to ensure proper formatting and loading prior to delivery. Unknown No No This data was collected by NOAA National Centers for Coastal and Ocean Science (NCCOS). The photographs and positioning information were acquired from August 20, 2021 to May 12, 2022. The photographs were acquired using Nikon D7500 camera in 2021 and a Sony alpha7 IV mirrorless camera in 2022). Green lasers provided a measurement scale (10 cm). A Trimble GeoXH GPS recorded the location of the vessel, and a Blueprint SeaTrac ultra short baseline (USBL) X150 beacon and X010 transponder recorded the location and depth (XYZ) of the cameras. The resulting photographs were georeferenced (i.e., given a latitude and longitude), and mosaicked to produce photomosaic and 3D model of the seafloor using a custom Python script (Pierce and Winians, 2023; performed using Agisoft Metashape application programming interface). NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Organization NOAA NCCOS Originator 1 The photographs and positioning information were acquired at approximately 668 sites from August 20, 2021 to May 12, 2022. A minimum of 4 square meters of the seafloor was photographed at each site. The process for collecting these overlapping, underwater photographs was identical at each site. A handheld Garmin GPS 76 unit was used to navigate to each site via a small boat. A drop camera system was then lowered to within 1.5 to 2 meters of the seafloor. This drop camera system included: (1) a downward-looking digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera (i.e., a Nikon D7500 camera in 2021 and a Sony alpha7 IV mirrorless camera in 2022), (2) two green lasers spaced 10 cm apart, and (3) a Blueprint Subsea SeaTrac ultra-short baseline (USBL) X150 beacon and X010 transponder. In 2022, an oblique-looking GoPro HERO10 Black in a Spot X Squid housing was also included, which provided real-time video topside for situational awareness. The downward-looking DSLR cameras collected still photographs of the seafloor every 0.5 to 1 s. The camera settings included: focal lengths = 18 mm, white balance = auto, and shutter speed = 1/200 s. Both jpeg and .RAW files were recorded. The photographs overlapped by 60 to 80%. The lasers provided a measurement scale (10 cm) and were visible in some but not all of the photographs. The USBL transponder provided the location and depth (XYZ) of the drop camera every 5 s, and a Trimble GeoXH GPS provided the location of the vessel every 1 s. The Trimble GPS antenna was positioned directly over the USBL transmitter pole to minimize lever arm offsets. For more information, see: Costa, B., and Sweeney, E. (2024). Characterizing submerged lands around Naval Base Guam, Mariana Islands. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 329. https://doi.org/10.25923/zwwa-h562 Costa, B., Sweeney, E., and Kraus, J. (2024). Characterizing benthic habitats of western Saipan, CNMI. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 328. https://doi.org/10.25923/psjm-h924 Position NCCOS Scientific Data Coordinator NCCOS.data@noaa.gov 2 Underwater photographs were visually reviewed for quality and color corrected (performed using Adobe Lightroom software). The GPS data were differentially corrected using a Continuously Operating Reference Station on Guam and reprojected to the WGS 1984 UTM 55 North coordinate system (performed using GPS Pathfinder Office software). The USBL data were exported from SeaTrac PinPoint software and matched with the corrected GPS locations using timestamps. Underwater photographs were georeferenced using these GPSUSBL locations (ESRI, 2023; performed using ArcGIS Pro, Geotagged Photos To Points function). Not all images were georeferenced because sampling frequencies differed among the USBL (approximately 5 s), GPS (approximately 1 s), and cameras (approximately 0.5 to 1 sec). To georeference the remaining photographs, a custom Python script was created to interpolate positions between the GPS-USBL locations. This script also mosaicked and developed 3D models from the resulting georeferenced photographs (Pierce and Winians, 2023; performed using Agisoft Metashape application programming interface). For more information, see: Costa, B., and Sweeney, E. (2024). Characterizing submerged lands around Naval Base Guam, Mariana Islands. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 329. https://doi.org/10.25923/zwwa-h562 Costa, B., Sweeney, E., and Kraus, J. (2024). Characterizing benthic habitats of western Saipan, CNMI. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 328. https://doi.org/10.25923/psjm-h924 Organization National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science NCCOS https://ror.org/05ba43f71 1305 East West Highway, Rm 8110 Silver Spring MD 20910 https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/ 5 Five to seven substrate and 12 to 14 biological cover types were identified visually in the above georeferenced photographs. The amount of annotated area (four meters squared) was standardized in each photograph so that it matched the spatial resolution (i.e., two x two meter pixels) of the environmental predictors. Multiple substrate and cover types were often present at each site. Percent cover was estimated to the nearest 1% for each habitat type. Percent covers were also converted to presences (1) and absences (0) and used to train or validate the habitat predictions. In Saipan, n =1,109 annotations, where 617 annotations were used for model training and 492 annotations were used for model validation. In Guam, n = 674 annotations, where 346 annotations were used for model training and 328 annotations were used for model validation. For more information, see: Costa, B., and Sweeney, E. (2024). Characterizing submerged lands around Naval Base Guam, Mariana Islands. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 329. https://doi.org/10.25923/zwwa-h562 Costa, B., Sweeney, E., and Kraus, J. (2024). Characterizing benthic habitats of western Saipan, CNMI. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 328. https://doi.org/10.25923/psjm-h924 Organization National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science NCCOS https://ror.org/05ba43f71 1305 East West Highway, Rm 8110 Silver Spring MD 20910 https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/ 72981 Entity gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:72703 Bryan Costa 2024-05-30T22:36:31 SysAdmin InPortAdmin 2026-03-04T19:17:17 2024-06-20 National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science NCCOS 1002 Public No No 2024-06-20 3 Years 2027-06-20