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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

San Juan, Puerto Rico 1/9 arc-second PRVD Coastal Digital Elevation Model

NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) is building high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) for select U.S. coastal regions. These integrated bathymetric-topographic DEMs are used to support individual coastal States as part of the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program's (NTHMP) efforts to improve community preparedness and hazard mitigation. Bathymetric, topographic, and shoreline data used in DEM compilation are obtained from various sources including: NOAA; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (UACE); and other federal, state, and local government agencies, academic institutions, and private companies. DEMs are referenced to the vertical datum of Puerto Rico Vertical Datum (PRVD) and horizontal datum of World Geodetic System 1984 geographic (WGS 84). Grid spacing for the DEM is 1/9 arc-second (~3 meters).
Cite this dataset when used as a source.
  • ID not available.
gov.noaa.ngdc.mgg.dem:11510
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Distribution Formats
  • netCDF (Version: 4 Classic)
Distributor DEM Information
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
dem.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact DEM Information
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
dem.info@noaa.gov
Coverage Description ISO valid extents for San Juan 1/9 sec. DEM
Time Period
Spatial Reference System urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326urn:ogc:def:datum:EPSG::6641
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -66.23
East: -65.91
South: 18.38
North: 18.54
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • NTHMP DEM Project
    • Bathymetric Data Viewer (search)
      The Bathymetric Data Viewer is an interactive map providing discovery, descriptions, and download capability for bathymetric survey data and digital elevation models archived at NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
    • DEM text search (search)
      Text search for locating completed and planned DEMs.
  • Digital Elevation Model of San Juan, Puerto Rico: Procedures, Data Sources, and Analysis
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2015-10-18
Edition First
Data Presentation Form mapDigital
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Data Update Frequency As needed
Purpose Developed for the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program in support of NOAA's tsunami forecasting and warning efforts.
Use Limitations
  • Not to be used for navigation. Although these data are of high quality and useful for planning and modeling purposes, they are not suitable for navigation. For navigation, please refer to the NOS nautical chart series.
  • Produced by the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Not subject to copyright protection within the United States.
Originators
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Collaborators
  • National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP)
Publishers
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science and Services Keywords
  • Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Seafloor Topography
  • Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Bathymetry
  • Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Water Depth
  • Earth Science > Land Surface > Topography > Terrain Elevation > Topographical Relief Maps
  • Earth Science > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coastal Elevation
Uncontrolled
  • Coastal Relief
  • Gridded elevations
  • Integrated bathymetry and topography
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Service Keywords
  • DATA ANALYSIS AND VISUALIZATION > GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS > WEB-BASED GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
  • DATA MANAGEMENT/DATA HANDLING > DATA SEARCH AND RETRIEVAL
  • DATA ANALYSIS AND VISUALIZATION > VISUALIZATION/IMAGE PROCESSING
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Service Keywords
  • DATA ANALYSIS AND VISUALIZATION > GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS > WEB-BASED GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
  • DATA MANAGEMENT/DATA HANDLING > DATA SEARCH AND RETRIEVAL
  • DATA ANALYSIS AND VISUALIZATION > VISUALIZATION/IMAGE PROCESSING
Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Platform keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
  • Models/Analyses > DEM > Digital Elevation Model
Place keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Ocean > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Puerto Rico
  • Vertical Location > Land Surface
  • Vertical Location > Sea Floor
Uncontrolled
  • San Juan
  • Puerto Rico
  • Caribbean
  • Bahia San Juan
  • Laguna San Jose
  • Ensenada de Boca Vieja
  • Laguna de Piñones
Project keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
  • ICSU-WDS > International Council for Science - World Data System
Data Resolution keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Horizontal Data Resolution Keywords
  • 1 meter - < 30 meters
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Vertical Data Resolution Keywords
  • < 1 meter
Use Constraints No constraint information available
Access Constraints
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Fees Fee information not available.
Lineage information for: dataset
Processor
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Processing Steps
  • 2015-09-28T00:00:00 - All datasets obtained by NCEI were transformed to common horizontal and vertical datums of WGS 84 geographic and PRVD, respectively, using VDatum. They were also converted to common file format for visualization and inspection.
  • 2015-09-28T00:00:00 - Datasets were visually inspected with ArcGIS for identification and editing of data anomalies. Datasets were then compared with overlapping datasets to ensure data consistency.
  • 2015-09-30T00:00:00 - xyz files of the bathymetric data were surfaced using GMT's 'surface' tool onto a 1/9 arc-second grid that interpolated to fill empty cells. Points extracted every 5 meters along the coastline were also included to ensure that the bathymetric grid reached zero at the coast. The resulting Arc ASCII grid was clipped to the coastline to remove values over land using GDAL.
  • 2015-10-12T00:00:00 - xyz files for each input dataset were gridded using MB-System's 'mbgrid' tool, which utilizes a high-tension spline interpolation method to fill grid cells with no input elevation values. Preferential weighting was given to more recent, higher-accuracy datasets.
  • 2015-10-14T00:00:00 - The DEM was quantitatively evaluated by comparing with source datasets.
Processing Environment Native Dataset Environment: Linux 4.1.6-200.fc22.x86_64 #1 x86_64 GNU/Linux
Source Datasets
  • NCEI Multibeam Bathymetry Database
    • NCEI Multibeam Bathymetry Database (download)
      Multibeam Swath Sonar Survey Data
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: Swath Sonar Survey Data
    • Temporal extent used: 1996-01-01 to 2014-01-01
  • NOS Hydrographic Surveys
    • NOS Hydrographic Survey Database (download)
      Digital database of NOS hydrographic surveys that date back to the late 19th century.
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: hydrographic surveys
    • Temporal extent used: 1928-01-01 to 2014-01-01
  • 2013 US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) LiDAR: Rio Puerto Nuevo (NAVD88)
    • NOAA OCM Digital Coast (download)
      This centralized, user-friendly, and cost-effective information repository was developed by the NOAA's Office for Coastal Management for the coastal managers, planners, decision-makers, and technical users who are charged to manage the nation’s coastal and ocean resources to sustain vibrant coastal communities and economies.
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: Topographic Lidar LAS
    • Temporal extent used: 2013-10-27 to 2013-11-03
  • 2004 US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) LiDAR: Puerto Rico (NAVD88)
    • NOAA OCM Digital Coast (download)
      This centralized, user-friendly, and cost-effective information repository was developed by the NOAA's Office for Coastal Management for the coastal managers, planners, decision-makers, and technical users who are charged to manage the nation’s coastal and ocean resources to sustain vibrant coastal communities and economies.
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: Topographic Lidar LAS
    • Temporal extent used: 2004-01-10 to 2004-02-08
  • 2000 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) SHOALS bathymetric LiDAR: Puerto Rico (NAVD88)
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: SHOALS Bathymetric Lidar; provided by the University of Puerto Rico
    • Temporal extent used: 2000-01-01 to 2000-01-01
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) SHOALS bathymetric surveys: Puerto Rico (MLLW)
    • Jacksonville District Hydrographic Surveys (download)
      Federally Authorized Channels Maintained By The Corps of Engineers
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: Bathymetric Surveys
    • Temporal extent used: 2012-11-01 to 2014-10-01
  • Hydrographic Bathymetric Surveys of Puerto Rico
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: Hydrographic Bathymetric Surveys
    • Temporal extent used: 1995-01-01 to 2011-01-01
  • VDatum software v. 3.4
    • VDatum (download)
      Vertical Datum Transformation tool
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: vertical datum transformation tool
    • Time Instant: 2014-05-13
Lineage information for: repository
Processing Steps
  • 2015-04-22T00:00:00 - NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
Last Modified: 2022-06-10
For questions about the information on this page, please email: dem.info@noaa.gov