Oculina Banks Habitat GIS with Submersible Imagery

NOAA's Oculina Geographic Information System (OGIS) contains multi-beam bathymetry, sidescan mosaics, sediment analyses, and habitat maps for a protected deep-water coral area off Florida. Data layers also include video, still imagery, and dive narratives from human-occupied and remotely operated submersible transects. This dataset resulted from a cooperative project involving NOAA, USGS, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, and Florida State University.

Use Cases

• Mapping benthic habitat types using interpretative maps derived from sidescan mosaics and sediment analyses.
• Analyzing fish populations and habitat cover from point count data collected during submersible dives.
• Studying seafloor morphology and structure with high-resolution multi-beam and single-beam bathymetry layers.
• Reviewing dive narratives and imagery to contextualize ecological observations within specific transects.

Strengths

• Contains multiple integrated data types, including geospatial layers, imagery, and text narratives.
• Data was collected via direct observation using human-occupied and remotely operated submersible vehicles.
• Represents a cooperative effort across several major U.S. research agencies and institutions.

Limitations

• Core dataset facts like row count, file size, and specific column names are unavailable from all sources.
• There is a significant conflict in the 'last updated' date between platforms (2001 vs. 2026), casting doubt on metadata currency.
• The exact temporal range for data collection is not specified.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce, with contributions from USGS, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, and Florida State University.

Collection Method

Data collected via submersible dive transects, remote sensing, and sediment analysis as part of a cooperative research project.

Time Range

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Freshness

2026-04-01 14:56:00.793986

Geography

Oculina Banks Habitat Area of Particular Concern (OHAPC), off the east coast of Florida at 70 to 120 meters depth.