characterizing coastal features and habitats. Their list of incorporated datasets
represents a good summary of the GIS-based data layers that can be useful as sources of
input data for coastal studies. The published and accessible data are included in Table
1. Although the degree of data validation in the different datasets varies from strict to
unknown, together they meet the immediate need for supplemental information in
support of a variety of management analyses. Some elements of the most widely
employed datasets are summarized below
2.1 WORLD VECTOR SHORELINE DATA
The World Vector Shoreline (WVSPlus
® ) is a vector-based digital representation
of shorelines, maritime boundaries, international boundaries, country areas, and
selected depth information produced for the U.S. National Imagery and Mapping
Agency (NIMA 1999, now the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency). The base
data is at 1:250,000 scale, and products are also available at 1:1,000,000 to
1:120,000,000 scales. The coastal shoreline is derived from several NIMA products
including Digital Landmass Blanking data, with information supplemented form
Operational Navigation Charts, Tactical Pilotage Charts, and Joint Operations Graphic
products. Other digital map products produced by NIMA and commonly used as input
data are the Digital Chart of the World (DCW
® ) and its updated version Vector Map
(Vmap) Level 0 at 1:1,000,000, and Digital Nautical Charts (DNC
® ) designed to show
features needed for safe marine navigation (e.g. Figure 1, A). All projections, datums,
and accuracy are documented. Data are distributed commercially by government and
private vendors, and derived products at reduced resolutions are also available as part of
some open source data sets. The PAGE Coastal Ecosystems Study (Burke et al., 2000)
developed new standardized global statistics on extent of coastal ecosystems, such as an
estimate of coastline length by country using World Vector Shoreline data.
2.2 WCMC MAPS OF REEFS, MANGROVES, AND MPAS
The United Nations Environment Programme-World Conservation Monitoring
Centre’s (UNEP-WCMC) marine program has carried out a number of projects to
synthesize cartographic information and produce global maps of marine and coastal
resources. By combining cartographic data (including some maps from remote sensing
studies) from a variety of sources, WCMC succeeded in providing the first global maps
of mangroves (Spalding et al., 1997), coral reefs (most recently in Spalding et al.,
2001), seagrasses (Green and Short, 2003) and MPAs (Kelleher et al., 1993 and online
updates). These represent the first attempts to create global summary data and are very
valuable references. However, because they were compiled from a variety of
cartographic products with different purposes and spatial scales, the maps are uneven in
levels of detail, include positional and other errors, and have undetermined accuracies
(e.g. Green et al., in review). In the past, this dataset was the best available global
compilation, however, higher resolution global products currently being produced (see
0) will soon allow a complete revision with remote sensing data as the source. The
baseline maps are in vector format and maps are viewable using online search tools at
websites associated with UNEP-WCMC (http://www.unep-wcmc.org) and ReefBase
(Figure 1 A; McManus and Noordeloos, 1998; http://www.reefbase.org).
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Data Synthesis for Management
represents a good summary of the GIS-based data layers that can be useful as sources of
input data for coastal studies. The published and accessible data are included in Table
1. Although the degree of data validation in the different datasets varies from strict to
unknown, together they meet the immediate need for supplemental information in
support of a variety of management analyses. Some elements of the most widely
employed datasets are summarized below
2.1 WORLD VECTOR SHORELINE DATA
The World Vector Shoreline (WVSPlus
® ) is a vector-based digital representation
of shorelines, maritime boundaries, international boundaries, country areas, and
selected depth information produced for the U.S. National Imagery and Mapping
Agency (NIMA 1999, now the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency). The base
data is at 1:250,000 scale, and products are also available at 1:1,000,000 to
1:120,000,000 scales. The coastal shoreline is derived from several NIMA products
including Digital Landmass Blanking data, with information supplemented form
Operational Navigation Charts, Tactical Pilotage Charts, and Joint Operations Graphic
products. Other digital map products produced by NIMA and commonly used as input
data are the Digital Chart of the World (DCW
® ) and its updated version Vector Map
(Vmap) Level 0 at 1:1,000,000, and Digital Nautical Charts (DNC
® ) designed to show
features needed for safe marine navigation (e.g. Figure 1, A). All projections, datums,
and accuracy are documented. Data are distributed commercially by government and
private vendors, and derived products at reduced resolutions are also available as part of
some open source data sets. The PAGE Coastal Ecosystems Study (Burke et al., 2000)
developed new standardized global statistics on extent of coastal ecosystems, such as an
estimate of coastline length by country using World Vector Shoreline data.
2.2 WCMC MAPS OF REEFS, MANGROVES, AND MPAS
The United Nations Environment Programme-World Conservation Monitoring
Centre’s (UNEP-WCMC) marine program has carried out a number of projects to
synthesize cartographic information and produce global maps of marine and coastal
resources. By combining cartographic data (including some maps from remote sensing
studies) from a variety of sources, WCMC succeeded in providing the first global maps
of mangroves (Spalding et al., 1997), coral reefs (most recently in Spalding et al.,
2001), seagrasses (Green and Short, 2003) and MPAs (Kelleher et al., 1993 and online
updates). These represent the first attempts to create global summary data and are very
valuable references. However, because they were compiled from a variety of
cartographic products with different purposes and spatial scales, the maps are uneven in
levels of detail, include positional and other errors, and have undetermined accuracies
(e.g. Green et al., in review). In the past, this dataset was the best available global
compilation, however, higher resolution global products currently being produced (see
0) will soon allow a complete revision with remote sensing data as the source. The
baseline maps are in vector format and maps are viewable using online search tools at
websites associated with UNEP-WCMC (http://www.unep-wcmc.org) and ReefBase
(Figure 1 A; McManus and Noordeloos, 1998; http://www.reefbase.org).
285
Data Synthesis for Management