The following examples are intended to illustrate minimal metadata requirements for various map types that might be submitted to the HEAR project by our collaborators. Also please see our discussions of Confidence Levels and Precision.
NOTE: Information similar to that shown below should be provided by our collaborators when submitting information to the HEAR project.
This example illustrates typical metadata requirements for information submitted as a small-scale paper-based "sketch map" of species distribution for an entire island (based on expert knowledge rather than actual field survey).
MAP TITLE: Arthrostema ciliatum, Hawaii MAP NO. 31
FINAL DATA COLLECTION DATE: 31 October 1996
NAME/ADDRESS/CONTACT INFO FOR DATA SOURCE: John Doe, Biology Dept., Surfsup University, Anyplace, Hawaii, 808-111-1111
CONFIDENCE LEVEL OF SOURCE DATA: WEAK - i.e., based on interviews with expert field personnel rather than field data, and plotted by hand on small-scale map of entire island. Locations are therefore mostly approximate. It is expected that these preliminary sketch maps will be updated in the future using methods of greater accuracy.
DATA DESCRIPTION: The source map consists of polygons representing "guess-timated" boundaries of populations of A. ciliatum, hand-sketched by John Doe on a xeroxed copy of a 1:654,445-scale Automobile Association of America road map of Hawaii island. Since the source map is a xeroxed copy, it probably differs slightly from the original AAA road map in terms of actual scale and positional accuracy. The identity, scale, and positional accuracy of the original source(s) for the AAA road map are not known (i.e., to John Doe) but are considered unimportant given the very imprecise nature of the data submitted (estimated to be no better than "Precision 4", or within a radius of 536 meters).
DESCRIPTION OF FEATURES SHOWN: Where shown, small magenta circles represent a radius of 536 meters around the approximate location of at least one individual of this species occupying a small, well-defined area. Other (larger, generally irregular) polygons represent a generalized area in which relatively many individuals have been reported.
This example illustrates typical metadata requirements for information submitted as a digitized computer file based on the same paper map as in Example #1 above (hence the FIRST part of the metadata is the same as in the previous example).
MAP TITLE: Arthrostema ciliatum, Hawaii MAP NO. 31
FINAL DATA COLLECTION DATE: 31 October 1996
NAME/ADDRESS/CONTACT INFO FOR DATA SOURCE: John Doe, Biology Dept., Surfsup University, Anyplace, Hawaii, 808-111-1111
CONFIDENCE LEVEL OF SOURCE DATA: WEAK - i.e., based on interviews with expert field personnel rather than field data, and plotted by hand on small-scale map of entire island. Locations are therefore mostly approximate. It is expected that these preliminary sketch maps will be updated in the future using methods of greater accuracy.
DATA DESCRIPTION: The data submitted is an AutoCAD drawing file with a polygon layer digitized from a paper source map. The source map consists of polygons representing "guess-timated" boundaries of populations of A. ciliatum, hand-sketched by John Doe on a xeroxed copy of a 1:654,445-scale Automobile Association of America road map of Hawaii island. Since the source map is a xeroxed copy, it probably differs slightly from the original AAA road map in terms of actual scale and positional accuracy. The identity, scale, and positional accuracy of the original source(s) for the AAA road map are not known (i.e., to John Doe) but are considered unimportant given the very imprecise nature of the data submitted (estimated to be no better than "Precision 4", or within a radius of 536 meters).
DESCRIPTION OF FEATURES SHOWN: Where shown, small magenta circles represent a radius of 536 meters around the approximate location of at least one individual of this species occupying a small, well-defined area. Other (larger, generally irregular) polygons represent a generalized area in which relatively many individuals have been reported.
DATE DIGITIZED: 3 December 1996
DIGITIZED BY: Susie Que, Dept. of the Environment, Anyplace, Hawaii, 808-123-4567
BASEMAPS: Coastlines and roads are from standard Hawaii Office of State Planning (OSP) coverages, taken from USGS 1:24,000-scale digital quads (Old Hawaiian Datum, Clarke 1866 Spheroid, UTM Coords., Zones 4 and 5). The boundary between UTM Zones 4 and 5 runs through the western extremity of the island, at an X coordinate of approximately 812415.2 m E. Yellow circles of arbitrary radius on the HAWCNTRL layer are simply visual "flags" for the actual control points located at their centers; precise coordinates for each such point were obtained using AutoCAD's IDENTIFY function. Yellow numbers on the HAWCN_ID layer are sequential identifiers for the control points. Coastlines are on the HAWCST layer; major roads (only) are on the HAWMJRDS layer; and all mapped roads are on the HAWMNRDS layer.
REGISTRATION METHOD AND ERROR: Source map was digitized in AutoCAD Release 12 and registered to the OSP digital basemap using the "projective" transformation routine with 8 control points; the Root Mean Square (RMS) Error for this procedure was 180 meters.
This example illustrates typical metadata requirements for information submitted as a computer file of geographical point coordinates, obtained with a global positioning system (GPS) during a field survey for pampas grass (Cortaderia jubata).
MAP TITLE: Cortaderia jubata/C. selloana, Maui Map #12
FINAL DATA COLLECTION DATE: 20 November 1996
NAME/ADDRESS/CONTACT INFO FOR DATA SOURCE: Jane Doe, c/o Biology Dept., Surfsup University, P.O. Box 3, Anyplace, HI 96768; (808) 333-3333 ext. 1234; jadoe@surfsup.edu.
CONFIDENCE LEVEL OF SOURCE DATA: STRONG - i.e., based on actual field survey, with geographic coordinates determined by GPS. Prior testing of the GPS unit using benchmarks located in the same general area is consistent with the assumption that feature coordinates were determined to within a radius of aproximately 10 meters of their correct location. Locations are therefore considered to be at the "Precision 2" level, i.e., "High-Precision Points".
DATA DESCRIPTION: Data is submitted as a post-processed GPS coordinate file; ancillary information logged in the field at each point is also included.
DESCRIPTION OF FEATURES SHOWN: The location of an individual plant of C. jubata/C. selloana (or the center of a clump comprised of several closely spaced individuals) is represented by a single maltese cross symbol. This correct interpretation of this symbol is that at least one individual plant lies within a radius of no more than 20 meters from the indicated geographical coordinates.
SURVEY AREA: Searches for both Cortaderia jubata and Cortaderia selloana took place along Upper Kula major and minor roads, along Olinda road in Makawao, and along Crater Road from Oct. 20 through Nov. 20, 1996. During this time many of the plants were flowering and thus readily spotted. Upper Kula roads were located and systematically searched using those maps displayed in the Maui Register (Maui Chamber of Commerce. 1989. The Maui Register 1989 Directory). All plants were spotted from the road, no foot searches took place. Most plants were located via address lists compiled from previous surveys.
METHODS:
Data Collection
Due to the high incidence of intentional planting of Cortaderia spp. for landscaping, a majority of infestations occured in the yards of private homeowners. Address lists were compiled including present and past locations of pampas grass from the sources listed above. When an infestation was spotted, the following information was recorded:
1) Number of individuals
2) Phenology data (i.e. flowering or sterile)
3) Location (address, mile marker, road, or landmark description)
4) Codes for Genus and species of individual
a. Likely Cortaderia selloana
b. Likely Cortaderia jubata
c. Unknown Cortaderia spp.
5) Codes for Individual or Population Characteristics
a. Likely naturalized
b. Likely planted
c. Unknown
6) History
a. Current infestation
b. Historical infestation (including date
of removal when known)
GPS Data Collection
Where infestations occurred on private property, GPS point positioning took place within viewing distance of the plants, usually on the road. Where infestations occurred on public property or within ranchland, GPS point positioning took place at the site of the infestation.
Using a Trimble ProXL reciever in conjuction with a TDC2 datalogger, 180 GPS points were logged at each site. GPS reciever configuration was as follows:
Max. PDOP = 4.0
Mask Angle = 35°
Data Processing
Data was corrected against base station files acquired from the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park, located in North Kona District Kiluea-Kona, Hawaii using PathFinder Office Software. [also include information about DISTANCE from base station, known accurracy of positioning of base station, etc.]
Since most infestations occurred on private property, we were unable to attain area features. Additionally, with the exception of one large population the infestations occupied areas no larger than 2 or 3 square meters. Both of these reasons prompted us to log point features only.
This page last updated 16 April 1997 by PT.