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Connecticut 20 Meter Contours

Frequently-asked questions:


What does this data set describe?

Title:
Connecticut 20 Meter Contours

Abstract:
This data layer was compiled from 1:100,000 scale DLG hypsography data in order to create topographic contour lines suitable to use as part of a digital base map for the Quaternary Geologic Map of Connecticut and Long Island Sound Basin, USGS I-2784, Stone and others, in press. The vectors (20 meter intervals) were edgematched, edited, and attributed for the purpose of developing a topographic base for the Quaternary Map, but may be useful with other maps of similar scale (1:125,000).

Supplemental information:
The Long Island Sound Resource Center is a partnership between the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection and the University of Connecticut

  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Long Island Sound Resource Center, a partnership between the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection and the University of Connecticut (editor and publisher), U.S. Geological Survey, National Mapping Program (compiler), 2004, Connecticut 20 Meter Contours: Long Island Sound Resource Center, Groton, Connecticut USA.

    Online links:
    Other citation details:
    The U.S Geological Survey is the collector of the data (compiler). The Long Island Sound Resource Center is the creator and maintainer of the data layer (editor) and producer (publisher) of this information for use. Data compiled at 1:100,000 scale.

    This is part of the following larger work:

    Janet Radway Stone, U.S. Geological Survey, John P. Schafer, U.S. Geological Survey, Elizabeth Haley London, U.S. Geological Survey, Mary L. DiGiacomo-Cohen, Long Island Sound Resource Center, Ralph S. Lewis, Connecticut Geological and Natural History Survey, Woodrow B. Thompson, Maine Geological Survey, 2005, Quaternary Geologic Map of Connecticut and Long Island Sound Basin: Scientific Investigations MapSIM-2784, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online links:
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    Bounding coordinates:
    West: -73.740497
    East: -71.781534
    North: 42.052693
    South: 40.999473

  3. What does it look like?

    http://www.cteco.uconn.edu/metadata/dep/browsegraphic/hypsography20metercontours.gif (GIF)
    A pagesize example of the contours from the northwestern portion of the state at 1:100,000 scale.

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Calendar date: 2004
    Currentness reference:
    publication date

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial data presentation form: vector digital data

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • String (20399)

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      The map projection used is Lambert Conformal Conic.

      Projection parameters:
      Lambert Conformal Conic
      Standard parallel: 41.200000
      Standard parallel: 41.866667
      Longitude of central meridian: -72.750000
      Latitude of projection origin: 40.833333
      False easting: 999999.999996
      False northing: 499999.999998

      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair.
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000250.
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000250.
      Planar coordinates are specified in survey feet.

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222.

      Vertical coordinate system definition:
      Altitude system definition:
      Altitude resolution: 1.000000
      Altitude encoding method: Explicit elevation coordinate included with horizontal coordinates

      Depth system definition:
      Depth datum name: Local surface
      Depth resolution: 20
      Depth distance units: meters
      Depth encoding method: Attribute values

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    Connecticut 20 Meter Contours
    20 Meter contour line features (Source: compiler)

    OBJECTID
    Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)
                      

    Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

    Shape
    Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)
                      

    Coordinates defining the features.

    IDENTIF
    Feature Identification (Source: compiler and editor)
                      

    text value

    DESCRIP
    Feature Description (Source: compiler and editor)
                      

    text value

    ELEV_M
    Contour Interval in Meters (Source: compiler and editor)
                      

    In intervals of 20, a numeric value ranging from 20 to 720 meters

    LABEL_FLG
    Label Flag (Source: editor)
                      

    Coordinates defining the features.

    ValueDefinition
    Y
    yes, this contour should be labeled
    N
    no, contour should not be labeled

    SHAPE
    Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)
                      

    Coordinates defining the features.

    INDEX_FLG
    Index Contour Flag - Identifies contours every 100 meters. (Source: editor)
                      

    ValueDefinition
    Y
    yes this is an index contour (100 m interval) to highlight on a map
    N
    20 meter contour

    SHAPE.len
    Entity and attribute overview:
    Lines and their attributes have edited, edgematched, and sometimes simpilfied from DLG source data (for example carrying contours will no longer contain all elevations as items elev__m03, elev__m04 have dropped during append). Items index and label have been added for the purpose of creating graphic fiels for the production a base map for the CT Quaternary Map.  "Index" flags 100 m contours and "label" flags semi-randomly chosen lines for labeling purposes. 

    Entity and attribute detail citation:
    USGS 1:100,000 scale DLG hypsography data
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Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)


  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

    Mary DiGiacomo-Cohen (Long Island Sound Resource Center) for compiling and editing the data; Russell A. Ambroziak (USGS Mapping Division) for assistance in providing the source data.

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    Mary DiGiacomo-Cohen
    Long Island Sound Resource Center
    Long Island Sound Resource Center
    UConn Avery Point
    1080 Shennecossett Rd
    Groton, Connecticut 06340
    USA

    860 405-9015 (voice)
    lisrc@uconn.edu
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Why was the data set created?

Created as part of the publication process for the Quaternary Geologic Map of Connecticut and Long Island Sound Basin (USGS I-2784), in order to provide a topographic base for the display of geologic units. This layer may provide useful topographic information for other data layers and maps of similar scale (1:125,000).

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How was the data set created?

  1. Where did the data come from?

    DLG hypsography in primitive format (source 1 of 4)

    Russell Ambroziac, Unknown, Connecticut Hypsography 1:100,000k DLG in primitive format: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Other citation details:
    Each section contained 4 files with extensions .un, .lfa, .ltx,and .def

    Type of source media: disc
    Source scale denominator: 100,000
    Source contribution:
    ungenerated vectors and attribute information in ASCII format

    CT20MHYP (source 2 of 4)

    Long Island Sound Resource Center, a partnership between the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection and the University of Connecticut (editor and publisher), 2004, Connecticut 20 meter hypsography.

    Online links:
    Type of source media: disc
    Source scale denominator: 100,000
    Source contribution:
    CT20MHYP is in Shapefile format.

    Hypsography_20_Meter.shp (source 3 of 4)

    Long Island Sound Resource Center, a partnership between the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection and the University of Connecticut (editor and publisher), 2004, Connecticut 20 meter hypsography.

    Online links:
    Type of source media: disc
    Source scale denominator: 100,000
    Source contribution:
    Includes all line features from the CT20MHYP ArcInfo Coverage. Hypsography_20_Meter.shp is in Shapefile format.

    Hypsography_20_Meter (source 4 of 4)

    Long Island Sound Resource Center, a partnership between the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection and the University of Connecticut (editor and publisher), 2004, Connecticut 20 meter hypsography.

    Online links:
    Type of source media: disc
    Source scale denominator: 100,000
    Source contribution:
    Includes all line features from the Hypsography_20_Meter.shp Shapefile. Hypsography_20_Meter is in GeoDatabase Feature Class format.

  2. What changes have been made?

    Date: 200204 (change 1 of 4)
    Primitive format DLG-source data (.ltx, .lfa, .un, and .def files, which are ASCII format, similar to ungenerate arc coverages and comma separated data from info tables, in CT state plane NAD 27) was generate into 9 Arc coverages using the Prim2arc.aml program (Jim Reddy, USGS). This includes Arc commands: generate, joinitem, and build).

    Person responsible for change:
    Mary DiGiacomo-Cohen
    Long Island Sound Resource Center
    Long Island Sound Resource Center
    Groton, Connecticut 06340
    USA

    860 405-9015 (voice)
    lisrc@uconnvm.uconn.edu

    Data sources used in this process:
    • DLG hypsography in primitive format

    Data sources produced in this process:
    • prvdc27hp
    • hrtfd27hp
    • brgpt27hp
    • blkis27hp
    • bostn27hp
    • hlyok27hp
    • newhv27hp
    • ptsfd27hp
    • wtrby27hp

    Date: 200301 (change 2 of 4)
    The border sections were clipped to the state boundary. The 20m contours from all sections were edgematched along boundaries and edited where necessary (using the 24,000 scale quad DRGs as backdrop and edited to approximate that geometry and elevation where there were obvious errors). Note - the western most sections had only 20m interval data, so although the majority of the state had 10m interval data, the odd 10 m interval contours (10, 30, 50, etc) were deleted to create a consistent layer. Supplmental, non-matching attribute items were deleted and the sections were appended. Attributes 'index' and 'label' were added and populated for the purpose of creating a graphic layer suitable for the quaternary map. Coverage projected to NAD83

    Person responsible for change:
    Mary DiGiacomo-Cohen
    Long Island Sound Resource Center
    Long Island Sound Resource Center
    UConn Avery Point
    1080 Shennecossett Rd
    Groton, CT 06340
    USA

    860 405-9015 (voice)
    lisrc@uconnvm.uconn.edu

    Data sources used in this process:
    • prvdc27hp
    • hrtfd27hp
    • brgpt27hp
    • blkis27hp
    • bostn27hp
    • hlyok27hp
    • newhv27hp
    • ptsfd27hp
    • wtrby27hp

    Data sources produced in this process:
    • CT20MHYP

    Date: 20070207 (change 3 of 4)
    Converted the data from ArcInfo Coverage to Shapefile format and named the shapefile Hypsography_20_Meter.shp. Deleted the FNODE#, TNODE#, LPOLY#, RPOLY#, LENGTH, CT20MHYP#, CT20MHYP-ID attributes from the Shapefile because their values are only maintained by ArcInfo software with data that is in ArcInfo Coverage format. Also renamed the ELEV__M01, INDEX, and LABEL fields in the ArcInfo Coverage to ELEV_M, INDEX_FLG, and LABEL_FLG. For the INDEX_FLG and LABEL_FLG, converted attribute values from 'y' or 'blank' to 'Y' or 'N' the information more intuitive to user. Deleted the ELEV_MO2 attribute because metadata indicated not to use the field.

    Person responsible for change:
    Howie Sternberg
    State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
    79 Elm Street
    Hartford, Connecticut 06106
    USA

    860-424-3540 (voice)

    Data sources used in this process:
    • CT20MHYP

    Data sources produced in this process:
    • Hypsography_20_Meter.shp

    Date: 20070207 (change 4 of 4)
    Convert to GeoDatabase Feature Class format - Defined new Feature Class named Hypsography_20_Meter; and imported the attribute definitions, loaded features and imported metadata from Hypsography_20_Meter.shp shapefile. 
    
    Spatial Reference Properties for Feature Class:
    
    Coordinate System: NAD_1983_StatePlane_Connecticut_FIPS_0600_Feet
    XY Domain MinX: 100000; MaxX: 2247483.645
    XY Domain MinY: 200000; MaxY: 2347483.645
    Precision: 1000

    Person responsible for change:
    Howie Sternberg
    State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
    79 Elm Street
    Hartford, Connecticut 06106
    USA

    860-424-3540 (voice)

    Data sources used in this process:
    • Hypsography_20_Meter.shp

    Data sources produced in this process:
    • Hypsography_20_Meter

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How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    The horizontal positional accuracy of this data is no better than the United States National Map Accuracy Standards for 1:100,000 scale maps. According to this standard, not more than 10 percent of the locations tested are to be in error by more than 1/50 inch (167 feet) measured on the publication scale of a 1:100,000-scale metic topographic-bathymetric map produced by the U.S. Geological Survey.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    Complete for the state of Connecticut.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    Editing and edgematching was completed for the purpose of creating topographic contours for use as a 1:125,000 scale base map. The numerous errors and inconsistencies in the source material was most obvious at the boundaries of the sections and these areas received the most effort during editing and edgematching; although the entire data layer has been visually checked, errors may still exist particularly in the central areas of each original 100k sheet section. Line features conform to the following topological rules. Lines are single part. There are no duplicate lines. Lines do not self overlap. Lines do not overlap other lines. Lines intersect only at nodes, and nodes anchor the ends of all lines. Lines do not overshoot or undershoot other lines they are supposed to meet and intersect.

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How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access constraints: None. No restrictions or legal prerequisites for accessing the data. The data is in the public domain and may be redistributed.
Use constraints:
None. No restrictions or legal prerequisites for using the data after access is granted. The data is suitable for use at appropriate scale, and is not intended for maps printed at scales greater or more detailed than 1:100,000 scale (1 inch = 1.578 mile). Although this data set has been used by the Long Island Sound Resource Center and the U.S Geological Survey, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the Long Island Sound Resource Center and the U.S Geological Survey as to the accuracy of the data and or related materials.  The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the Long Island Sound Resource Center or the U.S Geological Survey in the use of these data or related materials. The user assumes the entire risk related to the use of these data. Once the data is distributed to the user, modifications made to the data by the user should be noted in the metadata. When printing this data on a map or using it in a software application, analysis, or report, please acknowledge the Long Island Sound Resource Center and the U.S Geological Survey as the source for this information. For example, include the following data source description when printing this layer on a map: Elevation Contours - From the Connecticut 20 Meter Hypsography layer, compiled and published by the LISRC and USGS. Source map scale is 1:100,000.

Distributor 1 of 1

  1. Who distributes the data set?

    State of Connecticut, Department of Enviromental Protection
    79 Elm Street
    Hartford, Connecticut 06106-5127
    USA

    860-424-3540 (voice)
    860-424-4058 (FAX)
    dep.gisdata@ct.gov
    Hours of Service: Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30 Eastern Standard Time

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    Connecticut 20 Meter Contours

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    Although this data set  has been used by the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection as to the accuracy of the data and or related materials.  The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection in the use of these data or related materials. The user assumes the entire risk related to the use of these data. Once the data is distributed to the user, modifications made to the data by the user should be noted in the metadata.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

    • Availability in digital form:


    • Data format:
      in format Shapefile, Feature Class (version ArcGIS)
      Network links:http://www.ct.gov/deep

    • Cost to order the data: An online copy of the data may be accessed without charge.


  5. Is there some other way to get the data?

    The data distributor does not provide custom GIS analysis or mapping services. Data is available in a standard format and may be converted to other formats, projections, coordinate systems, or selected for specific geographic regions by the party receiving the data.

  6. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?

    Geographic information sytem (GIS), computer-aided drawing or other mapping software is necessary to display, view and access the information.

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Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 20111208

Metadata author:
Mary DiGiacomo-Cohen
Long Island Sound Resource Center
Long Island Sound Resource Center
UConn Avery Point
1080 Shennecossett Rd
Groton, CT 06340
USA

860 405-9015 (voice)
lisrc@uconn.edu

Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata(FGDC-STD-001-1998)

Metadata extensions used:
  • http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html

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