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Beach Profile Data: Oahu, Hawaii

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Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title: Beach Profile Data: Oahu, Hawaii
Abstract:
Biannual beach profiles were collected at 42 Oahu and 36 Maui Locations between August 1994 and August 1999. Surveys were conducted at approximately summer-winter intervals and extend from landward of the active beach to about -4 meters water depth. Profile data on this CDROM are presented in both Microsoft EXCEL 97/98 & 5.0/95 Workbook (.xls) format and comma separated value (.csv) format. Graphical representation of the surveys (x vs. z and x vs. y) are presented in EXCEL format only. Site descriptions, including beach location, directions to site, GPS information, and a description of Reference Points used, are available in both EXCEL and ADOBE ACROBAT .pdf format.
Supplemental_Information:
Cross-shore beach profile data were collected as a component of the Hawaii Coastal Erosion Study, a cooperative effort by U.S. Geological Survey and University of Hawaii to document seasonal and longer-term variations in beach volume and behavior. The overall objectives of the Hawaii Coastal Erosion Study are to document the recent history of shoreline change in Hawaii and to determine the primary factor(s) responsible for coastal erosion in low-latitude environments for the purpose of predicting future changes and to provide quality scientific data that is useful to other scientists, planners, engineers, and coastal managers.

The overall strategy consisted of first quantifying the magnitude and location of serious erosion problems followed by close monitoring of coastal change in critical areas. Bi-annual beach profiles were collected at over 40 critical beach sites on the islands of Oahu and Maui. Once sufficient background information is analyzed and key problems are defined, field sites will be selected for detailed process- oriented studies (both physical and biological) to gain an understanding of the complex relationships between reef carbonate production, sediment dispersal, and the interaction of man-made structures with sediment movement along the shore.

Information derived from this project will be used to develop general guidelines for sediment production, transport, and deposition of low- latitude coasts. Planned major products include a comprehensive atlas of coastal hazards, journal articles and reports presenting results of our studies, and a "living" database of shoreline history and changes based on results of the beach profile monitoring and softcopy photogrammetric analysis.

  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Gibbs, Ann E., 20010906, Beach Profile Data: Oahu, Hawaii: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Menlo Park, CA.

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -158.29727173
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -157.64724731
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 21.7467823
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 21.24683571

  3. What does it look like?

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Beginning_Date:
    Ending_Date:
    Currentness_Reference: ground condition

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: digital data

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      Indirect_Spatial_Reference:
      X, Y, and Z points, registered to a primary reference point along the individual beach profile. Some profiles have been re-referenced to the Local Hawaiian Tidal datum using surveyed and adjusted GPS positions at profile locations.

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.000001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.000001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees.

      Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:
      Altitude_System_Definition:
      Altitude_Datum_Name:
      Local, referenced to profile primary Reference Point (RP) or Local Hawaii Tidal datum (LTD)
      Altitude_Resolution: .001
      Altitude_Distance_Units: meters
      Altitude_Encoding_Method:
      Explicit elevation coordinate included with horizontal coordinates

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

    This Program is jointly funded by the US Geological Survey, Coastal & Marine Geology Program and University of Hawaii.

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    United States Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology
    c/o Bruce M. Richmond
    Geologist
    USGS, MailStop 999, 345 Middlefield Road
    Menlo Park, CA 94025-3561
    USA

    (650) 329-5060 (voice)
    (650) 329-5190 (FAX)
    brichmond@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

This data set is intended for scientific research of beach Morphology and volume changes.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: 1999 (process 1 of 1)
    Cross shore beach profiles were measured using a Geodimeter 464 total station and swimming rodman. The total station was set up at a non-specific position on the beach. Up to five permanent reference points were first surveyed to establish the position of the station relative to the established profile line. Beach profile measurements were then taken from a point landward of the active beach to as far offshore as conditions would allow (typically -4m water depth). Specific morphologic features (high water, berm crest, top of beach toe, etc.) were noted. Data were post-processed as follows Survey data were downloaded from the Total Station memory, automatically creating a RAW file and an associated JOB file. The RAW file was used to generate a PTS file (UTM field coordinates are extracted from the RAW file) Note: no recalculation is performed on the original file). PFCODE.EXE was used on the JOB file to generate an ED file. The ED file was edited to include necessary Program 10 information, Points block listing, and INFO codes. Field procedures were checked and corrected as necessary. PFGD.EXE was used on the ED file to generate a PF file (Cartesian- based, relative XYZ coordinates). Extraneous lines were removed from the PF file to generate a DAT file (relative XYZ coordinates) DAT files were compiled into a SUMMARY file (Excel) format, plotted, and where necessary, corrected relative to a primary reference point. Where GPS positions of the reference points were available, the entire summary file was re-referenced to an absolute vertical elevation (meters above the Local Hawaii Tidal datum).

  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    The data have been thoroughly analyzed for gross inaccuracies.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    +/- ~5 m

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

    +/- ~1 m

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    For an inventory of beach profile sites, approximate locations, and Dates surveyed, please refer to the document "Oahu_Profiles.txt". For a list of morphologic codes used, please refer to the document "prof_codes.pdf".

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    Data that resemble a typical beach profile are considered accurate. Obvious rod-height errors and erroneous points were either corrected or removed from the data set. Notations are included in the data file where these modifications were made.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
Please recognize the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as the source of this information.

Although these data have been collected by the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior, no warranty expressed or implied is made by the U.S. Geological Survey as to the accuracy of the data. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the U.S. Geological Survey in the use of this data, software, or related materials.

This information is not intended for navigational purposes.

Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

    United States Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology
    c/o Ann E. Gibbs
    Geologist
    USGS, MailStop 999, 345 Middlefield Road
    Menlo Park, CA 94025-3561
    USA

    (650) 329-5060 (voice)
    (650) 329-5190 (FAX)
    agibbs@usgs.gov

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    Please recognize the US Geological Survey as the source of this information

    Although these data have been used by the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior, no warranty expressed or implied is made by the U.S. Geological Survey as to the accuracy of the data.

    The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the U.S. Geological Survey in the use of this data, software, or related materials.

    This information is not intended for navigational purposes.

    Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 06-Sep-2001
Metadata author:
United States Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology
c/o Ann E. Gibbs
Geologist
USGS, MailStop 999, 345 Middlefield Road
Menlo Park, CA 94025-3561
USA

(650) 329-5060 (voice)
(650) 329-5190 (FAX)
agibbs@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata ("CSDGM version 2") (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

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