Sidescan Sonar Mosaic Extent for Benthic Study Off New London, CT

A geospatial layer defines the coverage area of a sidescan sonar mosaic used to study benthic communities in Long Island Sound. The data was produced through a cooperative project involving the University of New Haven, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, and the U.S. Geological Survey. It was published as part of USGS Open-File Report 00-304, with a last update recorded in 2000.

Use Cases

• Delineate the exact survey footprint for sidescan sonar imagery analysis using the polygon boundary feature.
• Assess spatial heterogeneity of benthic landscapes by correlating this coverage layer with other biological or sediment data layers.
• Establish a regional framework for environmental management by integrating this layer into a larger Long Island Sound GIS.
• Study the impact of human activity on estuarine ecology by using the layer to define the study area for analysis.

Strengths

• Data originates from a collaborative project between a university, state agency, and the U.S. Geological Survey, providing institutional credibility.
• Specifically focuses on the ecologically significant region of Long Island Sound.

Limitations

• The dataset is temporally stale, with a last update in 2000, limiting analysis of recent ecological changes.
• Specific technical details like spatial resolution, column definitions, and row counts are unavailable.

Provenance

Source

Cooperative project between the University of New Haven, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Collection Method

Derived from sidescan sonar survey data, processed into a GIS mosaic coverage layer.

Time Range

null

Freshness

2000-12-31

Geography

Study area off the coast of New London, Connecticut, within Long Island Sound.