Chapter 6. Data
64
6.2.6 National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency NGA has a variety of datasets currently available to the public in their NGA GEOINT Services Arctic Support
page found at here
. Users can discover and access the following datasets and information in the
Arctic:
• Digital Elevation Data - a Digital Elevation Model DEM is a digital rep-
resentation of ground topography or terrain that can be represented as a raster or as a triangulated irregular network. DEMs of 5-meter and 2-
meter resolution are currently available.
• Reference Graphics - 1 Arctic Maritime Reference Graphic depicting ice
extent, energy resource potential, search and rescue areas, an elevation view of the region, as well as maritime boundaries and IHO World-Wide
Navigational Warning Service WWNWS and 2 The Arctic: A GEOINT Perspective that provides information about the changing landscape of
the Arctic and a depiction of shipping routes, energy resources and the change of ice extent from 1980-2100.
• Nautical Charts - a representation of a portion of marine navigable waters
and adjacent coastal area used by vessels sailing in the Arctic. Twenty- four charts are provided for the Arctic region.
• Sailing Directions publications that describe coastal weather, currents,
ice, dangers, coastal features, port descriptions, as well as a graphic key of navigation products are available. Four publications are provided for
the Arctic region.
• World Port Index a publication that gives the location, characteristics,
known facilities, and available services of most ports and shipping facili- ties and oil terminals throughout the world.
Furthermore, the following are also available as NGA Data Services in several standard protocols to include the OGC developed Web Map Service WMS:
• Arctic Sea Routes • Natural Resources and Industry
• NAVTEX Sites
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65 • Arctic Search and Rescue Zones
• Exclusive Economic Zones • Sea Ice Index
• Energy Resources Potential • Airfields
• Arctic Maritime Boundaries • Natural Earth Features
• Arctic Basic DEMs • Arctic World Port Index
NGA also provides Maritime Safety Information
which contains a wealth of Safety of Navigation information including the following in KMZ and other
formats:
• WWNWS Broadcast Warning Messages specifically HYDROARC Navi- gational Warnings, which contain information about persons in distress,
or objects and events that pose an immediate hazard to navigation within the five Arctic Navigation Warning Areas NAVAREA.
• Anti-shipping Activity Messages ASAM providing the locations and descriptions of specific hostile acts against ships and mariners.
• Mobile Offshore Drilling Units MODU facilities designed or modified to engage in drilling and exploration activities.
In addition to what is currently available, NGA is working to make available the following for the Arctic:
• The first ever publically available, high resolution, satellite-based eleva- tion map of Alaska by this spring and the entire Arctic by summer 2017.
• Human Geography data including languages. • Videos focused on Arctic boundaries.
• Improved gravity measurement and modeling. The data available is provided in a variety of open formats and standards to
support the ultimate users needs in the Arctic. Any of these datasets could
Chapter 6. Data
66 potentially be included in an SDI for the Arctic given the key drivers and com-
munities of interest that develop in the region.
6.2.7 US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Of-
Kategori