Skip to main content
Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Mobile, Alabama 1/3 MHW Coastal Digital Elevation Model

browse graphicThumbnail of DEM
NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) is building high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) for select U.S. coastal regions in the Gulf of Mexico. These integrated bathymetric-topographic DEMs were developed for NOAA Coast Survey Development Laboratory (CSDL) through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 to evaluate the utility of the Vertical Datum Transformation tool (VDatum), developed jointly by NOAA's Office of Coast Survey (OCS), National Geodetic Survey (NGS), and Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS). Bathymetric, topographic, and shoreline data used in DEM compilation are obtained from various sources, including NGDC, the U.S. Coastal Services Center (CSC), the U.S. Office of Coast Survey (OCS), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and other federal, state, and local government agencies, academic institutions, and private companies. DEMs are referenced to the vertical tidal datum of North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88) or Mean High Water (MHW) and horizontal datum of North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). Cell size ranges from 1/3 arc-second (~10 meters) to 1 arc-second (~30 meters). The NOAA VDatum DEM Project was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 (http://www.recovery.gov/).
  • Cite as: NOAA National Geophysical Data Center. 2009: Mobile, Alabama 1/3 MHW Coastal Digital Elevation Model. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Accessed [date].
  • NCEI Metadata ID: gov.noaa.ngdc.mgg.dem:673
gov.noaa.ngdc.mgg.dem:673
Search Data
  • DEM text search (search)
    Text search for locating completed and planned DEMs.
  • 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).
Download Data
Distribution Formats
  • netCDF (Version: 3.6.2)
    • File Compression: WINZIP
  • netCDF (Version: 4 Classic)
Ordering Instructions Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact DEM Information
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
dem.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 1888-01-01 to 2009-01-01
Spatial Reference System urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4269urn:ogc:def:datum:EPSG::5868
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -88.30
East: -87.65
South: 30.00
North: 31.00
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2009-11-30
Edition First
Data Presentation Form mapDigital
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed
Purpose Developed for the Office of Coast Survey (OCS), NOAA Coast Survey Development Laboratory (CSDL) in support of NOAA's Vertical Datum Transformation tool (VDatum).
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.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: NOAA National Geophysical Data Center. 2009: Mobile, Alabama 1/3 MHW Coastal Digital Elevation Model. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
  • NOAA National Geophysical Data Center
Publishers
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science 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
  • 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
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
  • Continent > North America > United States of America > Alabama
  • Ocean > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Gulf of Mexico
  • Vertical Location > Land Surface
  • Vertical Location > Sea Floor
Uncontrolled
  • Mobile
  • Mobile County
  • Baldwin County
  • Southern Alabama
Project keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
  • ICSU-WDS > International Council for Science - World Data System
  • NOAA OneStop Project
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
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
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.
Other Constraints Cite as: NOAA National Geophysical Data Center. 2009: Mobile, Alabama 1/3 MHW Coastal Digital Elevation Model. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Accessed [date].
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Processor
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Processing Steps
  • 2009-08-28T00:00:00 - All datasets obtained by NGDC were converted to common horizontal and vertical datums of NAD 83 geographic and NAVD 88, respectively, using FME and VDatum transformation tool. They were also converted to common file format, ESRI point shapefiles, for visualization and inspection.
  • 2009-09-10T00:00:00 - Datasets were visually inspected with ArcGIS for identification and editing of data anomalies. Datasets were then compared with overlapping datasets to ensure data consistency.
  • 2009-09-24T00:00:00 - Coastline datasets were merged and adjusted to fit satellite imagery.
  • 2009-10-14T00:00:00 - xyz files of the bathymetric data were surfaced using GMT's 'surface' tool onto a 1 arc-second grid outside Mobile Bay and 1/3 arc-second within the bay that interpolated to fill empty cells. Points extracted every 10 meters along the coastline were also included to ensure that the bathymetric grid reached zero at the coast. The resulting Arc ASCII grid was imported into ArcGIS and clipped to the coastline to remove values over land.
  • 2009-10-23T00:00:00 - 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. Gridding was performed in quadrants, each with a 5% data buffer. The grids were imported in ArcGIS and seamlessly merged to create the final DEM.
  • 2009-11-17T00:00:00 - The NAVD 88 DEM was quantitatively evaluated by comparing with source datasets and with elevation values extracted from NGS geodetic monuments. It was visually evaluated by converting to UTM-zone coordinates (units of meters horizontally and vertically) and then creating a slope grid to identify gridding artifacts in the DEM.
  • 2009-11-23T00:00:00 - A conversion grid that models the relationship between NAVD 88 and MHW was created using data points and the VDatum transformation tool. This conversion grid was added to the NAVD 88 DEM to generate the MHW DEM.
Processing Environment Native Dataset Environment: Microsoft Windows 2000 Version 5.2 (Build 3790) Service Pack 2; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.3.1.3000
Source Datasets
  • NOS Hydrographic Surveys
    • CSDL non-superceded NOS Hydrographic Survey Database (download)
      Digital database of non-superceded NOS hydrographic surveys that date back to the late 19th century.
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: Hydrographic surveys provided to NGDC by CSDL ; Source Type: digital files via FTP
    • Temporal extent used: 1888-01-01 to 2001-01-01
  • USACE Hydrographic Surveys
    • USACE Mobile District Hydrographic Surveys (download)
      Digital database of hydrographic surveys in Mobile District
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: Hydrographic surveys for Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound ; Source Type: online
    • Time Instant: 2009-01-01
  • Little Lagoon Side Scan Sonar Surveys
    • Little Lagoon side scan sonar surveys (download)
      Mosaic of side scan sonar surveys of Little Lagoon
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: Mosaic of side scan sonar surveys of Little Lagoon ; Source Type: digital files via FTP
    • Time Instant: 2008-01-01
  • Composite Shoreline and associated data of Alabama State Composite, AL_COMP
    • Composite Shoreline and associated data of Alabama State Composite, AL_COMP (download)
      The shoreline and associated data are a representation based on an office interpretation of imagery at the time of photographs taken 19780101 to 19860301.
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: composite shoreline downloaded from web site. ; Source Type: online
    • Temporal extent used: 1978-01-01 to 1986-01-01
  • Mobile County topographic lidar
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: topographic lidar ; Source Type: digital files via FTP
    • Time Instant: 2002-01-01
  • Baldwin County topographic lidar
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: topographic lidar ; Source Type: digital files via FTP
    • Time Instant: 2001-01-01
  • Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM)
    • Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (download)
      global topography
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: downloaded from web site. ; Source Type: online
    • Time Instant: 2000-01-01
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.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
    Platform
    • Digital Elevation Model
    Operation
    • NOAA VDatum DEM Project
    Last Modified: 2022-03-25
    For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov