Massachusetts Historic Shoreline Change

Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
• Spatial_Reference_Information
• Entity_and_Attribute_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM)

Publication_Date: 2008

Title: Massachusetts Historic Shoreline Change

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

Online_Linkage:

<http://www.mass.gov/czm/hazards/shoreline_change/shorelinechangeproject.htm>

Description:

Abstract:

These data show the relative positions of five historic shorelines between 1844 and 1994. Coastal shorelines change constantly in response to wind, waves, tides, sea level fluctuation, seasonal and climatic variation, human alteration, and other factors that influence the movement of sand and material within a shoreline system. The loss (erosion) and gain (accretion) of coastal land is a visible result of the way shorelines are reshaped in the face of these dynamic conditions.
In the previous phase of the Shoreline Change Project, CZM completed a statistical analysis from the mid-1800s to 1978 for Massachusetts ocean-facing coastline and produced 76 maps showing several historic shorelines to demonstrate long-term shoreline change. CZM distributed these maps to coastal conservation commissions in 1997, helping local decision makers identify coastlines that are prone to storm damage and significant erosion and to assess erosion potential. CZM recently completed an update of the Shoreline Change Project, using 1994 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) aerial photographs of the Massachusetts shoreline. CZM established an agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Sea Grant Program, and Cape Cod Cooperative Extension (CCCE) to produce a 1994 shoreline, add it to the previous project, and update the statistics and calculate erosion rates. The work was conducted by Rob Thieler and Courtney Schupp at the USGS and Jim O'Connell at the WHOI Sea Grant Program and CCCE. The new maps and statistical analysis of shoreline change now cover the time period from the mid-1800s to 1994.
Please visit the Massachusetts Historic Shoreline Change Project website (<http://www.mass.gov/czm/hazards/shoreline_change/shorelinechangeproject.htm>) to read the Shoreline Change Fact Sheet, which explains the project and gives directions for using and interpreting the maps and data tables.
Please note: Only one line segment can be downloaded at a time from the Massachusetts Ocean Resource Information System (MORIS).

Purpose:

To help make informed and responsible decisions, coastal managers, shorefront landowners, and potential property buyers need information on both current and historical shoreline trends, including reliable measurements of erosion and accretion rates in non-stable areas. The goal of the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Shoreline Change Project is to develop and distribute scientific data that will help inform local land use decisions.

Supplemental_Information:

To correctly interpret the shoreline change data, long- and short-term data must be analyzed and evaluated in light of current shoreline conditions, recent changes in shoreline uses, and the effects of human-induced alterations to natural shoreline movements. Therefore, please read the Shoreline Change Fact Sheet (<http://www.mass.gov/czm/hazards/shoreline_change/shorelinechangeproject.htm>). The fact sheet explains the process of shoreline change and discusses its impacts, summarizes the CZM Shoreline Change Project, and explains how to interpret information contained in the shoreline change maps and data tables.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 1844

Ending_Date: 1994

Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Status:

Progress: Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: Unknown

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -71.124538

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -69.896822

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.876590

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.236271

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Theme_Keyword: shoreline

Theme_Keyword: shoreline change

Theme_Keyword: historic shoreline change

Theme_Keyword: erosion

Theme_Keyword: accretion

Theme_Keyword: sediment transport

Theme_Keyword: coastal zone

Theme_Keyword: coastal zone management

Theme_Keyword: development

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category

Theme_Keyword: geoscientificInformation, 008

Theme_Keyword: oceans, 014

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Place_Keyword: Massachusetts

Access_Constraints:

None. These data are in the public domain. GIS files are freely available for download.

Use_Constraints:

Public domain data from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), an agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA), are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management as the source of these data. You are not permitted to use CZM's name or to suggest that CZM endorses your project or product, without its express written consent. While efforts have been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the state of the art, CZM cannot assume liability for any damages or misrepresentation caused by any inaccuracies in the data or as a result of changes to the data caused by system transfers. The user must be aware of data conditions and bear responsibility for the appropriate use of these data with respect to possible errors, original map scale, collection methodology, currency of data, and other conditions specific to these data.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: CZM Data Manager

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address

Address: 251 Causeway Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02114-2136

City: Boston

State_or_Province: MA

Postal_Code: 02114-2136

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 617-626-1200

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 617-626-1240

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: czm@state.ma.us

Hours_of_Service: 0900 hrs to 1600 hrs EST

Contact_Instructions: email only

Data_Set_Credit:

These spatial data were created by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA).

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 3; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.3.0.1770

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

Please see the Shoreline Change Project Technical Report (<http://www.mass.gov/czm/hazards/shoreline_change/shorelinechangeproject.htm>).

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Please see the Shoreline Change Project Technical Report (<http://www.mass.gov/czm/hazards/shoreline_change/shorelinechangeproject.htm>).

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

The shoreline positions presented here were compiled using several historical map and near-vertical air photographic data sources and different analytical techniques. As such, there are a number of potential sources of error that affect the accuracy of the shoreline positions shown on the shoreline change maps. Analysis of the various sources of error suggests that the individual shoreline positions are generally accurate to within +/- 8.5 meters (28 feet).

Lineage:

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Please see the Shoreline Change Project Technical Report (<http://www.mass.gov/czm/hazards/shoreline_change/shorelinechangeproject.htm>).

Cloud_Cover: Unknown

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector

Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: String

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 127302

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Planar:

Grid_Coordinate_System:

Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: State Plane Coordinate System 1983

State_Plane_Coordinate_System:

SPCS_Zone_Identifier: 2001

Lambert_Conformal_Conic:

Standard_Parallel: 41.716667

Standard_Parallel: 42.683333

Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -71.500000

Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 41.000000

False_Easting: 200000.000000

False_Northing: 750000.000000

Planar_Coordinate_Information:

Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair

Coordinate_Representation:

Abscissa_Resolution: 0.000000

Ordinate_Resolution: 0.000000

Planar_Distance_Units: meters

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983

Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80

Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.000000

Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: shoreline_change

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: FID

Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number.

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Shape

Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry.

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: LENGTH

Attribute_Definition: Length of line segment (in meters).

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: YEAR

Attribute_Definition: Year of historic shoreline source data.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: ID

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: CZM Data Manager

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing Address

Address: 251 Causeway Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02114-2136

City: Boston

State_or_Province: MA

Postal_Code: 02114-2136

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 617-626-1200

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 617-626-1240

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: czm@state.ma.us

Hours_of_Service: 0900 hrs to 1600 hrs EST

Contact_Instructions: email only

Resource_Description: Downloadable Data

Distribution_Liability:

Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of these data, errors and conditions originating from physical sources used to develop these data may be reflected in the data supplied. The client must be aware of data conditions and bear responsibility for the appropriate use of the information with respect to possible errors, original map scale, collection methodology, currency of data, and other conditions specific to certain data. In no event shall CZM be liable for any damages, whether general, special, incidental or consequential damages, arising out of your use of these data. Your sole remedy for damages is to stop using the data. You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless CZM and its employees against any claim, loss, liability or expense, including attorneys' fees, resulting from loss of or damage to property or the injury to or death of any person arising out of the use of the data.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Transfer_Size: 21.261

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: <http://www.mass.gov/czm/czm.htm>

Fees:

GIS and coordinate files may be downloaded at no charge by following links on the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management website (<http://www.mass.gov/czm/>).

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20081017

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: CZM Data Manager

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing Address

Address: 251 Causeway Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02114-2136

City: Boston

State_or_Province: MA

Postal_Code: 02114-2136

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 617-626-1200

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 617-626-1240

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: czm@state.ma.us

Hours_of_Service: 0900 hrs to 1600 hrs EST

Contact_Instructions: email only

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

Metadata_Time_Convention: local time

Metadata_Extensions:

Online_Linkage: <http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html>

Profile_Name: ESRI Metadata Profile