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This Web page provides general operating instructions
for viewing the Web site, using and accessing the associated software,
data, and maps, and obtaining additional information regarding this project.
The information on this Web site is offered in HTML format, so Internet
browsing software is necessary for viewing the Web site text (see Software
Installation and Requirements below for details).
This Web site provides maps in Adobe Portable Document
Format (PDF) and geospatial data in Environmental Systems Research Institute's
(ESRI) Shapefile format for Guam's coastal areas and includes information
about benthic habitat, marine preserve boundaries, and other important
coastal features. The data and maps were developed using ESRI's ArcGIS
8.3 and 9.0 software, while the Web site layout, text, and interactive
images were created using Macromedia Dreamweaver MX and Fireworks MX software.
DISCLAIMER: The Guam Coastal Atlas was
subject to a limited internal review with representatives from the University
of Guam Marine Laboratory and the Guam Coastal Management Program before
publication. Although the benthic habitat data provided with this product
were derived in part from benthic habitat data originally developed by
the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National
Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Biogeography Team, it was not
subject to review by NOAA. The mention of trade names or commercial products
within this product does not constitute endorsement or recommendation
for their use.
IMPORTANT: The maps and digital
spatial data contained in this atlas are not
intended for navigational purposes
To receive the full benefit of this Web site, a number
of different software packages are necessary. The following options are
available for using the information in this Web site:
The content of this Web site is best viewed at a screen resolution of
1024 x 768 or greater.
A connection to the internet is required for viewing
the contents of this Web site. This Web site was tested with Internet
Explorer 6.0, Mozilla Firefox 1.0, and Netscape 8.0. The Web site performs
best with Mozilla Firefox, although only minor superficial discrepancies
occur with the other browsers tested. Most computer operation systems
come with Internet browsing software, but it may be necessary to obtain
the most recent version of the software. Updated versions of several Internet
browsing software applications can be dowloaded for free from the following
Web sites:
Microsoft Internet Explorer Web site located at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.asp.
Netscape Communicator Web site located at
http://www.netscape.com/computing/download.
Mozilla Firefox Web site located at http://www.mozilla.com
The GIS data available on this Web site are in ESRI's
Shapefile format and can be viewed and edited using ESRI's ArcView®
3.x, ArcGIS® 8.x, and ArcGIS® 9.x GIS software. If you do not
have a license for these software applications, a lightweight GIS data
viewer created by ESRI called ArcExplorer can be downloaded for free from
http://www.esri.com/software/arcexplorer. This
software supports the display and querying of spatial data but does not
provide map layout or data editing functions.
Note about Shapefiles, Layer files, and metadata: The
shapefiles are available in .zip format for quicker, easier download.
The zipped shapefiles contain a .dbf, .sbn, .sbx, .shp, .shx., .xml, .prj,
and a .lyr file. All of these files must be extracted to the same folder
in order to maintain the integrity of the shapefile. All shapefiles are
projected into the Universal Transverse Mercator System (Zone 55N) and
use the WGS 84 datum. Please refer to the metadata associated with each
shapefile for more detailed information about the shapefiles. The metadata
file (.xml) inherent in each shapefile can be accessed through ESRI's
ArcCatalog application. A metadata file in HTML format can also be downloaded
separately below. A Layer (.lyr) file for the benthic habitat data is
included with the zipped benthic habitat data shapefile for those who
wish to use the symbology that appears in the maps provided with on this
Web site.
The maps are offered in portable document format (PDF)
and are located on the Interactive Map Selection
and Map List pages. Adobe® Acrobat Reader®
is free software that allows you to view, navigate within, and print PDF
files across major computing platforms. The PDF documents on this Web
site are best viewed using the latest version of Adobe® Acrobat Reader®.
To download the latest version of Adobe® Acrobat Reader®, visit
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.
To allow the convenient download
of ESRI Shapefiles, the data sets have been
compressed using Windows XP's folder compression
features. These files can be extracted using
Windows XP by right-clicking on the compressed
folder and selecting Extract All. If you
do not use Windows XP, evaluation versions of
several software applications are available for
free download (but please note that these will only
work for a limited time).
PKWARE® PKZIP® softwarelocated at
http://www.pkware.com
WinZip® software located at http://www.winzip.com
Several other file
compression/extraction software applications are
available as shareware and do not expire after a
limited time:
CAM UnZip® software located at http://www.camunzip.com
EasyZip® software located at http://www.thefreesite.com/easyzip111.htm
JustZIPit® software located at http://free-backup.info
In addition to the Guam Coastal Atlas Web site, a printed version and
a CD-ROM version are also available. The printed product contains all
the maps available on the Web site, including descriptions of available
spatial data sets. The Guam Coastal Atlas CD-ROM contains the maps and
most of the spatial data available on the Web site.
The Guam Coastal Atlas was developed by
David R. Burdick, the 2004 - 2006 NOAA Pacific
Islands Assistant for Guam, under the
supervision of Dr. Terry Donaldson, the
Principal Investigator, and Barry D. Smith,
Director of the University of Guam Marine
Laboratory. This product was prepared under
award CRI-GU-00 from the U.S. Department of the
Interior, Office of Insular Affairs and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce. A total of $55,000
was awarded to the recipients for the
development of the Guam Coastal Atlas. The
statements, findings, conclusions, and
recommendations are those of the author(s) and
do not necessarily reflect the views of the
Department of Interior, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration or the Department of
Commerce. Further support and contributions for
the Guam Coastal Atlas project were provided by
several agencies/organizations and individuals,
including:
- University of Guam Marine Laboratory
- Guam Coastal Management Program
- Guam Department of Aquatic and Wildlife
Resources, Guam Department of Agriculture
- NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean
Science Biogeography Team
- NOAA Coastal Services Center
- NOAA Pacific Services Center
Photo credits: All photos on the Guam Coastal Atlas
Web site, including those used in the cover montage, were taken by Dave
Burdick unless otherwise stated.
Burdick, David R. 2006. Guam Coastal Atlas Web Site. University of Guam
Marine Laboratory, Multimedia Publication No. 4. URL: http://www.uog.edu/marinelab/coastal.atlas/
NOAA National Centers for
Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS). 2005. Atlas of the
Shallow-Water Benthic Habitats of American Samoa,
Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas
Islands. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 8,
Biogeography Team. Silver Spring, MD. 126 pp.
NOAA Biogeography Program Web
site: http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/about/biogeography/
Randall, R. H. and L.G.
Eldredge. 1976. Atlas of the Reefs and Beaches of
Guam. University of Guam Marine Laboratory,
Mangilao, Guam, 191 pp.
If you have any questions,
comments, or wish to receive technical assistance,
please contact the following
institutions/agencies:
University of Guam Marine Laboratory
UOG Station
Mangilao, GU 96923 USA
Phone: (671) 735-2175/6
Fax: (671) 734-6767
http://www.uog.edu/marinelab
Bureau of Statistics and Plans
P.O. Box 2950
Hagatna, GU 96932 U.S.A.
Phone: (671) 472-4201
Fax: (671) 477-1812
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