1113 benthic habitat characterizations were collected via GPS field observations to validate coral reef habitat maps. This accuracy assessment data was produced through a cooperative effort involving NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, the University of Hawaii, BAE Systems, and Analytical Laboratories of Hawaii. The dataset was finalized in 2004.
Use Cases
- Validate thematic accuracy of coral reef habitat maps using GPS field observation points.
- Train classification models to predict benthic habitat types from spectral or geospatial data.
- Assess spatial distribution and frequency of specific benthic characterizations across the archipelago.
Strengths
- Dataset contains 1113 ground-truth benthic characterizations.
- Field data was collected via GPS for precise spatial validation.
Limitations
- Data is from 2004 and may not reflect current reef conditions.
- Sample size of 1113 points may be limited for some statistical analyses across a large archipelago.
- Geographic scope is specific to American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Provenance
- Source
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), originating from NOAA's National Ocean Service and partners.
- Collection Method
- GPS field observations collected to establish thematic accuracy of habitat maps.
- Time Range
- null
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (Mariana Archipelago region).