Antarctic Specially Protected Areas Boundaries and Centroids

March 2016 update provides geospatial data on Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs). It includes two shapefiles: one with point centroids and another with polygon boundaries for each ASPA. The update was created by AU_AADC, incorporating designations and de-designations since a 2011 baseline.

Use Cases

• Analyze the spatial distribution of ASPAs using the point centroids shapefile.
• Calculate the total protected area coverage using the polygon boundary shapefile.
• Track changes in conservation policy by comparing 2016 ASPA designations with the 2011 baseline.
• Map ASPA boundaries for field research planning and logistical support.

Strengths

• Includes both point (centroid) and polygon (boundary) vector data formats.
• Updates a 2011 baseline by removing de-designated and adding newly designated ASPAs.

Limitations

• Dataset metadata indicates a last update date of 2012, which is inconsistent with the described March 2016 update, creating uncertainty about temporal accuracy.
• Specific row counts, file sizes, and detailed column schemas are unknown.

Provenance

Source

AU_AADC (Australian Antarctic Data Centre), building on data originally provided by Environmental Research and Assessment (2011).

Collection Method

New ASPA boundaries were created from coordinates provided in official management plans.

Time Range

Update reflects the status of ASPAs as of March 2016, relative to a 2011 baseline.

Freshness

Described as a March 2016 update, but platform metadata lists last_updated as 2012-02-01.

Geography

Antarctica.