TITLE: FLORIDA AIDS TO NAVIGATION

Geodataset Name:       CGATON
Geodataset Type:       SHAPEFILE
Geodataset Feature:    POINT

This dataset contains the Aids to Navigation in the state of Florida. The term "aids to navigation" refers to a device outside of a vessel used to assist mariners in determining their position or safe course, or to warn them of obstructions. Aids to navigation include lighthouses, lights, bouys, sound signals, landmarks, racons, radio beacons, loran, and omaga. This data layer is an update of CGATON that was released with FGDL Version 2003.

DATA SOURCE(S):                    Florida Marine Research Institute (FMRI)
SCALE OF ORIGINAL SOURCE MAPS:     N/A
DATE OF AUTOMATION OF SOURCE:      2000
GEODATASET EXTENT:                 State of FLorida

FEATURE ATTRIBUTE TABLES:

Datafile Name: CGATON.DBF

FEATURE ATTRIBUTE TABLES CODES AND VALUES:

Item	Item Description
FID	Internal feature number.
SHAPE	Data attribute inherent to the ESRI shapefile format, which defines the data as a point, polyline, or polygon.
LGT_LIST_N	Reference number for cross reference with Light List put out by 8th District; unique identifier used by public when reporting problems about a specific navigation aid
AID_NAME	Name assigned by district; also printed in Light List
AID_TYPE	Code identifying the type of aid. Each type of aid has a specific function for navigation and is usually readily identifiable in the field by its unique physical characteristics LT = lighted aid DBN = day beacon (a pile with dayboards on it) ULB = unlit buoys LB = lighted buoys LBB = lighted bell buoy LWB = lighted whistle buoy RFL = range light forward RRL = range light rear LH = lighthouse B = bouy WB = whistle buoy LGB = lighted gong buoy RBN = radio beacon antenna TWR = tower PLATFORM = platform LNB = large navigation buoy
AID_LABEL	Any identification marks displayed on the actual aid. Most often this is a number but port entrance bouys will have the port initials painted on the bouy and some bouys which mark hazardous wrecks will be identified with "WR".
AID_COLOR	Applies only to buoys (Aid_type = ULB or LB)
DAYBOARD	Refers to colors (and occasionally numbers) painted on SG = square green TR = triangle red NW = unknown KGR = unknown KRW = rectangular red dayboard bearing a central white stripe JG = junction at major waterways, dayboard bearing horizontal bands of red & green NBW = diamond shape dayboard divided into colors with black/white border
LT_CHAR	Applies only to lighted aids (Aid_type = LB or LT). Example: "FL Green 4 seconds" means flashing green light with four seconds interval
CLASS	Indicates federal or private aton
DISTRICT	Refers to USCG district aid is placed in
DECI_LAT	Latitude in decimal degrees (NAD 83)
DECI_LON	Longitude in decimal degrees (nad 83)
ODD_EVEN	In most cases aids marking a narrow channel will be located as gated pairs with aids on one side of the channel being assigned an odd number and aids on the other side being assigned an even number. "E" for even, "O" for odd. If the aid has no number then this field is blank. when aids along a narrow channel are displayed on a small scale map, the map can be cluttered with aid symbols. this odd/even designation allows for only aids on one side of a channel to be displayed thereby eliminating clutter.
SOURCE	Source of information if not from USCG
SCALE	Internal value used by SDE (Point Only)
ANGLE	Internal value used by SDE (Point Only)
DESCRIPT	Description of Aid_name
DAYBOARD_Q	Number of aids on a dayboard
DAYBOARD_S	The size of a dayboard in feet

USER NOTES:

Relied on the integrity of the attribute information within the original data layer.

The source information of this data set was collected and maintained solely for the internal uses of the Coast Guard. It has not been verified for accuracy or completeness by the USCG or by FMRI. The Coast Guard makes no representations that this information contains an accurate description of aids to navigation or their actual positions. Many fields in the original ATONS database may contain data that are no longer used; therefore, the data are suspect. Consequently, this information should not be used, published, or relied on for the purpose of navigation. Furthermore, it will be subject to change without notice. The Coast Guard makes no representations that this information contains an accurate description of the wrecks and obstructions or their actual positions. Thus, this information should not be used, published, or relied on for navigation. Typographical errors do exist in this data set. FMRI updates these data annually. For the most current ATON information, please contact the appropriate USCG district. These include aids which are installed and maintained by the coast guard as well as privately installed and maintained aids (permit required). this does not include unofficial aids (illegal)such as stakes, pvc pipes, and such placed without permission. this data set is not certified for navigation and is not intended to be used for navigation purposes. These include aids which are installed and maintained by the coast guard as well as privately installed and maintained aids (permit required). this does not include unofficial aids (illegal)such as stakes, pvc pipes, and such placed without permission. this data set is not certified for navigation and is not intended to be used for navigation purposes.

A note concerning data scale: Scale is an important factor in data usage. Certain scale datasetsare not suitable for some project, analysis, or modelling purposes. Please be sure you are using the best available data. 1:24000 scale datasets are recommended for projects that are at the county level. 1:24000 data should NOT be used for high accuracy base mapping such as property parcel boundaries. 1:100000 scale datasets are recommended for projects that are at the multi-county or regional level. 1:250000 scale datasets are recommended for projects that are at the regional or state level or larger. Vector datasets with no defined scale or accuracy should be considered suspect. Make sure you are familiar with your data before using it for projects or analyses. Every effort has been made to supply the user with data documentation. For additional information, see the References sectionand the Data Source Contact section of this documentation. For more information regarding scale and accuracy, see our web pages at: http://www.geoplan.ufl.edu/education.html

REFERENCES:

FMRI For more information contact the FWC-FMRI (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission-Florida Marine Research Institute) GIS data librarian at gislibrarian@fwc.state.fl.us http://ocean.floridamarine.org/mrgis/viewer.htm

DATA LINEAGE SUMMARY:

Excel spreadsheets from the Seventh and Eighth Districts were formatted to convert coordinates from degrees, minutes, and seconds to decimal degrees. Additional attributes were created based on information contained within the spreadsheets. FMRI formatted all spreadsheets to contain the same attribute items and attribute field lengths. The Excel files were then converted to dbase and converted to shapefiles using the "add X,Y" function in ArcMap 8.2. The shapefiles were MERGEd together to create one ATON map representing both Districts federal ATONs and the Seventh District's private ATONs. Process Date: unkown GeoPlan downloaded this data in shapefile format from the FMRI website: http://www.floridamarine.org/ and projected to FGDL Albers HPGN. When received, the data was in Geographic projection, Datum: NAD 83, Spheroid: GRS1980. -Reprojected data to FGDL Albers HPGN -Deleted OBJECTID and LGT_LIST_N fields from the attribute table -Added a DESCRIPT field to attribute table based on AID_NAME -Renamed shapefile from uscg_atons to CGATON -Upcased AID_NAME, CLASS, SOURCE, and DESCRIPT fields Process Date: 2003

MAP PROJECTION PARAMETERS:

Projection                          ALBERS
Datum                               HPGN
Units                               METERS
Spheroid                            GRS1980
1st Standard Parallel               24  0  0.000
2nd Standard Parallel               31 30  0.000
Central Meridian                   -84 00  0.000
Latitude of Projection's Origin     24  0  0.000
False Easting (meters)              400000.00000
False Northing (meters)             0.00000

DATA SOURCE CONTACT (S):

Name:
Abbr. Name:
Address:


Phone:

Web site:
E-mail:
Contact Person:
         Phone:
        E-mail:

Florida Marine Research Institute (FMRI)
FMRI
100 8th Ave SE
St. Petersburg, FL
33701-5095



http://ocean.fmri.usf.edu/mrgis
gislibrarian@fwc.state.fl.us
GIS Data Librarian

Name:                   FLORIDA GEOGRAPHIC DATA LIBRARY
Abbr. Name:             FGDL
Address:                Florida Geographic Data Library
                        431 Architecture Building
                        PO Box 115706
                        Gainesville, FL  32611-5706
Web site:               http://www.fgdl.org

Contact FGDL: 

      Technical Support:	        http://www.fgdl.org/fgdlfeed.html
      FGDL Frequently Asked Questions:  http://www.fgdl.org/fgdlfaq.html
      FGDL Mailing Lists:		http://www.fgdl.org/fgdl-l.html
      For FGDL Software:                http://www.fgdl.org/software.html