Digital Aerial Baseline Survey of Marine Wildlife in Support of Offshore Wind Energy - WEA 2016

NYSERDA, APEM, Normandeau Associates

Dataset credit

NYSERDA, Normandeau Associates Inc., APEM Ltd.

Contacts

RoleNameOrganization 
Primary contact Michelle Vukovich Normandeau Associates, Inc.
Data entry Ei Fujioka Duke University

Citation

Abstract

In support of New York State’s commitment to incorporating offshore wind into its energy portfolio, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) embarked on a multi-year ultra-high resolution aerial digital survey of marine resources in a 43,745.20 km2 (12,754.06 mi2) offshore planning area (OPA) in 2016. During the first year, the New York WEA, including a 4-km buffer, was surveyed in a grid pattern, which covers 850.92 km2 (248.09 mi2). After the lease was awarded, survey effort over this area was reduced to the same pattern as the rest of the OPA. This dataset is for the NY WEA area. OPA survey data are in a separate dataset.

YR1 consists of Survey01 Summer2016, Survey02 Fall2016, Survey03 Winter2016-17, Survey04 Spring2017.

Purpose

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) contracted with Normandeau Associates Inc. (Normandeau) and teaming partner APEM Inc. (APEM) to use high resolution aerial digital imagery to collect data on birds, marine mammals, sea turtles, cartilaginous fish, and other taxa encountered offshore. Surveys are conducted four times a year over three years. The surveys have been designed in light of available historical data and use the latest digital and sensor technology to provide high identification success. Survey results for birds, marine mammals, turtles, and cartilaginous fish are presented in semiannual reports, which will cumulatively provide insight into interseasonal and interannual variation in species composition, densities, and distributions. Reports are available at https://remote.normandeau.com/nys_docs.php.

Supplemental information

[2020-08-06] Data were updated with additional attributes. Species identification was revised.

https://remote.normandeau.com
https://remote.normandeau.com/aer_docs.php?pj=6

References

Attributes

Overview

This section explains attributes included in the original dataset. OBIS-SEAMAP restricts the attributes available to the public to date/time, lat/lon and species names/counts only. Should you need other attributes described here, you are encouraged to contact the data provider.

Attributes described below represent those in the original dataset provided by the provider.
All attributes are included in the downloadable file (CSV or ESRI File Geodatabase) for "Complete Set of Dataset".

Attributes in dataset

Attribute (table column)Description
oidUnique ID number (generated by OBIS-SEAMAP)
snag_idUnique ID for target Each entry is 1 individual (except for Fish Shoals which is one entry per 1 shoal encompassing uncounted number of fish)
datetakenDate image taken, in local time (EST/EDT)
timetakenTime image taken, in local time (EST/EDT)
id_type1st level of identification
id_subtype2nd level of identification Target group type if identified Needs id = Target has not been reviewed for ID Unid. Type = Target has been reviewed and cannot be identified to a subtype
id_species3rd level of identification Common Name if identified Needs id = Target has not been reviewed for ID species unknown = Target has been reviewed and cannot be identified to species
sp_tsnTaxonomic Serial Number added by OBIS-SEAMAP
obs_countNumber of animal. Always 1
id_confidConfidence level of ID: Definite Probable Possible blank = not rated
lengthcmGenerally, head-to-tail length in cm. This is NOT turtle carapace. Ignored for non-animal & fish shoal. NULL = not determined
wingspancmWing span tip to tip in cm. 0 = wings are folded up/bird is sitting on surface. Applies to avian only
altitudemAltitude above sea level in meters of flying birds. 0 = non-flying bird; unk = unable to calculate altitude of flying bird. Applies to avian only
surfaceDepth rating. blank = not rated
headingdegDirection of target (in degrees)
listedYes = Species/Species Group status is listed (as of 2016)
parentimgImage name where target is located
latitudeLatitude in decimal degrees (WGS84)
longitudeLongitude in decimal degrees (WGS84)
areaSurvey area: Always OPA (Offshore Planning Area)
scientificScientific name if species is identified
familyFamily if species is identified
transectidCorresponding transect number in format Area-SurveyDateYYYYMMDD-Transect# (e.g. OPA-20160827-101)
transectnoCorresponding transect number only
geomGeometry field added by OBIS-SEAMAP
OBIS-SEAMAP ID1818
Seabirds199
Marine mammals9
Sea turtles14
Rays and sharks79
Other species559
Non spatial0
Non species27
Total887
Date, Begin2016-07-27
Date, End2017-05-16
Temporal prec.111111
Latitude40.15 - 40.43
Longitude-73.67 - -73.04
Coord. prec.4 decimal digits
PlatformPlane
Data typeAnimal sighting
EffortN/A
Traveled (km)0
0
Contr. through
Registered2018-06-07
Updated2020-08-06
StatusPublished
Sharing policy CC-BY (All)
Shared with OBIS
GBIF (via DOI)
See metadata in static HTML
See metadata in FGDC XML
See download history / statistics