National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Structure from motion (SfM) benthic images collected at Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across the US Pacific from 2019

Published by Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Metadata Last Checked: December 19, 2025 | Last Modified: 2020-11-10T00:00:00.000+00:00

The data described here are Structure from Motion (SfM) benthic habitat imagery from benthic transect surveys conducted at stratified random sites by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD)--formerly the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division--as part of the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). The SfM surveys replicates the visual Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) survey methodology for corals conducted during ESD-led NCRMP missions across the Pacific Ocean beginning in 2019. A stratified random sampling (StRS) design was employed to survey the coral reef ecosystems across the U.S. Pacific Regions (Hawaiian Archipelago, Mariana Archipelago, American Samoa, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas). The survey domain encompassed the majority of the mapped area of reef and hard bottom habitats in the 0-30 m depth range. The stratification scheme included island, sub-island sector, reef zone, and depth in all regions, as well as habitat structure type in the Main Hawaiian Islands. Allocation of sampling effort was proportional to strata area and variance in coral density. The StRS design effectively reduces estimate variance by sampling more sites with larger hardbottom area and variance. Therefore, site-level analyses should be employed with caution. Sites were imaged using underwater cameras along 3x20m (3x13m for sites deeper than 18m) transects to extract data for two coral life stages (juveniles, adults) across the U.S. Pacific Island areas beginning in 2019. Adult colony surveys record taxon (genus or species), morphology, colony size, partial mortality in two categories - old dead and recent dead, cause of recent dead partial mortality, and non-lesion forming condition including bleaching and disease. These data are used to calculate density, size distributions, average partial mortality and prevalence and mean severity of coral health conditions. Juvenile colony surveys include taxon (genus or species), morphology and size, and are used to calculate juvenile density and size distributions by taxon.

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@type	dcat:Dataset
accessLevel	non-public
contactPoint	{ "fn": "Couch, Courtney S", "@type": "vcard:Contact", "hasEmail": "mailto:courtney.s.couch@noaa.gov" }
describedByType	application/octet-steam
description	The data described here are Structure from Motion (SfM) benthic habitat imagery from benthic transect surveys conducted at stratified random sites by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD)--formerly the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division--as part of the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). The SfM surveys replicates the visual Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) survey methodology for corals conducted during ESD-led NCRMP missions across the Pacific Ocean beginning in 2019. A stratified random sampling (StRS) design was employed to survey the coral reef ecosystems across the U.S. Pacific Regions (Hawaiian Archipelago, Mariana Archipelago, American Samoa, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas). The survey domain encompassed the majority of the mapped area of reef and hard bottom habitats in the 0-30 m depth range. The stratification scheme included island, sub-island sector, reef zone, and depth in all regions, as well as habitat structure type in the Main Hawaiian Islands. Allocation of sampling effort was proportional to strata area and variance in coral density. The StRS design effectively reduces estimate variance by sampling more sites with larger hardbottom area and variance. Therefore, site-level analyses should be employed with caution. Sites were imaged using underwater cameras along 3x20m (3x13m for sites deeper than 18m) transects to extract data for two coral life stages (juveniles, adults) across the U.S. Pacific Island areas beginning in 2019. Adult colony surveys record taxon (genus or species), morphology, colony size, partial mortality in two categories - old dead and recent dead, cause of recent dead partial mortality, and non-lesion forming condition including bleaching and disease. These data are used to calculate density, size distributions, average partial mortality and prevalence and mean severity of coral health conditions. Juvenile colony surveys include taxon (genus or species), morphology and size, and are used to calculate juvenile density and size distributions by taxon.
distribution	[ { "@type": "dcat:Distribution", "title": "SfM_BenthicImagery_MHI_2019", "mediaType": "placeholder/value", "description": "SfM Benthic imagery collected during REA surveys. Surveys were conducted by the NOAA Fisheries Ecosystem Sciences Division at coral reef sites throughout the main Hawaiian Islands beginning in 2019. Photos are organized by year, region, island, and site. See metadata file for site information. Access via NOAA OER Video Portal -- select 'NCRMP' to see 2019 imagery dataset.", "downloadURL": "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/ocean-exploration/video/", "describedByType": "application/octet-steam" }, { "@type": "dcat:Distribution", "title": "NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP)", "mediaType": "placeholder/value", "description": "NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort.", "downloadURL": "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/dmp/pdf/63095.pdf", "describedByType": "application/octet-steam" }, { "@type": "dcat:Distribution", "title": "GCMD Keyword Forum Page", "mediaType": "placeholder/value", "description": "Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords", "downloadURL": "https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords", "describedByType": "application/octet-steam" }, { "@type": "dcat:Distribution", "title": "Full Metadata Record", "mediaType": "placeholder/value", "description": "View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset.", "downloadURL": "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/63095", "describedByType": "application/octet-steam" } ]
identifier	gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:63095
issued	2020-11-10T00:00:00.000+00:00
keyword	[ "National Coral Reef Monitoring Program", "Visual Images > Habitats", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Guam > Guam (13N144E0000)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Aguihan > Aguihan Island (Aguijan) (14N145E0006)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Asuncion Island > Asuncion Island (19N145E0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Maug > Maug Island (20N145E0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands ( CNMI ) (18N146E0000)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Pagan > Pagan Island (18N145E0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Rota > Rota Island ( Luta ) (14N145E0007)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Saipan > Saipan Island (15N145E0002)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Sarigan Island > Sarigan Island (16N145E0003)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Tinian > Tinian Island (14N145E0005)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Ofu Island (14S169W0013)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Olosega Island (14S169W0014)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Rose Atoll (14S168W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Swains Atoll (11S171W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Ta'u Island (14S169W0012)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Guam > Guam (13N144E0000)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Hawaii (21N160W0000)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Hawaii Island (19N155W0003)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Kauai Island (22N159W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Molokai Island (21N157W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > French Frigate Shoals (24N166W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Kure Atoll (28N178W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Lisianski Island (25N173W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (28N178W0000)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Oahu (21N157W0003)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Pearl and Hermes Reef (27N176W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Kalawao > Kahoolawe Island (20N156W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Kauai > Niihau Island (21N160W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Maui > Lanai Island (20N156W0002)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Maui > Maui Island (20N156W0004)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaiian Islands (21N157W0027)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Baker Island (00N176W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Howland Island (00S176W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Jarvis Island (00S160W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Johnston Atoll (16N169W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Kingman Reef (06N162W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Palmyra Atoll (05N162W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Wake Atoll (19N167E0001)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Rose Atoll (14S168W0001)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Swains Atoll (11S171W0001)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Baker Island > Baker Island (00N176W0001)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands (21N157W0027)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Hawaii > Hawaii (21N160W0000)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Hawaii Island > Hawaii Island (19N155W0003)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Kahoolawe Island > Kahoolawe Island (20N156W0001)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Kauai Island > Kauai Island (22N159W0001)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Lanai Island > Lanai Island (20N156W0002)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Maui Island > Maui Island (20N156W0004)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Molokai Island > Molokai Island (21N157W0001)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Niihau Island > Niihau Island (21N160W0001)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Oahu Island > Oahu (21N157W0003)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Howland Island > Howland Island (00S176W0001", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Johnston Atoll > Johnston Atoll (16N169W0001)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Line Islands > Jarvis Island (00S160W0001)", "OCEAN BASIN > 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(14S169W0014)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Ta'u Island (14S169W0012)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Aguihan Island Reefs > Aguihan Island (Aguijan) (14N145E0006)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Asuncion Island > Asuncion Island (19N145E0001)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Mariana Archipelago > Northern Mariana Islands ( CNMI ) (18N146E0000)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Maug Island > Maug Island (20N145E0001)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Pagan Island > Pagan Island (18N145E0001)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Rota Island > Rota Island ( Luta ) (14N145E0007)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Saipan Island > Saipan Island (15N145E0002)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Sarigan Island > Sarigan Island (16N145E0003)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Tinian Island Reefs > Tinian Island (14N145E0005)", "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Benthic Habitat", "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat", "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals", "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment", "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Transect Monitoring", "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Photographic Analysis", "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Rapid assessment studies", "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Hard Seafloor Substrate", "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs", "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology", "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Benthic biology", "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral", "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral Communities", "images", "in situ", "CORAL REEF STUDIES", "Coral Reef Conservation Program", "National Coral Reef Monitoring Program", "US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division", "Central Pacific Ocean", "Equatorial Pacific Ocean", "Marianas Trench Marine National Monument", "North Pacific Ocean", "Northwest Pacific", "Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument", "Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument", "Rose Atoll Marine National Monument", "South Pacific Ocean", "Coastal Waters of Hawaii", "camera", "OSCAR ELTON SETTE", "RAINIER", "CRED", "CREP", "Coral Reef Ecosystem Division", "Coral Reef Ecosystem Program", "ESD", "Ecosystem Sciences Division", "NCRMP", "National Coral Reef Monitoring Program", "PIFSC", "Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center", "REA", "Rapid Ecological Assessment", "SfM", "Structure from Motion", "Triennial", "American Samoa", "CNMI", "Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands", "MHI", "Main Hawaiian Islands", "Marianas", "NWHI", "Northwestern Hawaiian Islands", "PMNM", "PRIA", "PRIMNM", "Pacific Remote Island Areas", "DOC/NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC > Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce", "Structure From Motion" ]
landingPage	https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/63095
language	[]
license	https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
modified	2020-11-10T00:00:00.000+00:00
publisher	{ "name": "Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center", "@type": "org:Organization" }
references	[ "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/dmp/pdf/63095.pdf" ]
rights	otherRestrictions, unclassified
spatial	-154.806789,-14.373615,144.618287,28.455623
temporal	2019-04-21T00:00:00+00:00/2019-04-21T00:00:00+00:00
title	National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Structure from motion (SfM) benthic images collected at Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across the US Pacific from 2019

Location