firm

Citation:

Citation Information:

Originator: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems (MEGIS, comp.)
Publication Date: 20021101
Publication Time: Unknown
Title: firm
Geospatial Data Presentation Form: vector digital data
Series Information:

Series Name: Maine GIS Data Catalog; Maine GIS SDE Server
Issue Identification: FIRM (FEMA Q3 Flood Data)

Publication Information:

Publication Place: Augusta ME
Publisher: Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems (MEGIS)

Other Citation Details:
24000 Publication dates for the Q3 Flood Data by county: Cumberland County 1996; Hancock County 1997; Kennebec County 1996; Oxford County 1996; Penobscot County 1996; Sagadahoc County 1997; Waldo County 1997; Washington County 1997; York County 1996. Original publication location Washington DC, by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Online Linkage: http://megis.maine.gov/catalog/

Description:

Abstract:
FIRM is Q3 Flood Data derived from the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mapped at 1:24000 scale. The file is georeferenced to the earth's surface using the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) projection and a zonal coordinate system (units in meters). Specifications for the horizontal control of Q3 Flood Data files are consistent with those required for mapping at a scale of 1:24000.
Purpose:
The FIRM is the basis for floodplain management, mitigation, and insurance activities for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Insurance applications include enforcement of the mandatory purchase requirement of the Flood Disaster Protection Act, which "requires the purchase of flood insurance by property owners who are being assisted by Federal programs or by Federally supervised, regulated, or insured agencies or institutions in the acquisition or improvement of land facilities located or to be located in identified areas having special flood hazards" (Section 2 (b) (4) of the 1973 Flood Disaster Protection Act). In addition to the identification of Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), the risk zones shown on the FIRMs are the basis for the establishment of premium rates for flood insurance coverage offered through the NFIP. Q3 Flood Data files convey certain key features from the existing hard copy FIRM. Edge-matching errors, overlaps and deficiencies in coverage, and similar problems are not corrected during digitizing or post-processing. The Q3 Flood Data files are intended to provide users with automated flood risk data that may be used to locate SFHAs. More detailed information may be obtained from the paper FIRM.
Supplemental Information:
For metadata specific to each county and each FIRM hardcopy map source, see related table "firmmeta" available from the MEGIS Data Catalog "Tables" link at http://megis.maine.gov/catalog/ . Printed maps, hardcopy Flood Insurance Rate Maps used as the source of this data, published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency 11/1974-6/1996
Time Period of Content:

Time Period Information:

Range of Dates/Times:

Beginning Date: 11/1974
Ending Date: 6/1996

Currentness Reference: publication date

Status:

Progress: Complete
Maintenance and Update Frequency: Irregular

Spatial Domain:

Bounding Coordinates:

West Bounding Coordinate: -71.3
East Bounding Coordinate: -66.8
North Bounding Coordinate: 47.6
South Bounding Coordinate: 42.9

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme Keyword Thesaurus: ISOThesaurus
Theme Keyword: imageryBaseMapsEarthCover
Theme Keyword: geoscientificInformation
Theme Keyword: health

Theme:

Theme Keyword Thesaurus: Maine GIS Thesaurus-Theme
Theme Keyword: flood insurance rate maps
Theme Keyword: hazard
Theme Keyword: flood
Theme Keyword: special flood hazard areas
Theme Keyword: Q3
Theme Keyword: emergency preparedness

Place:

Place Keyword Thesaurus: Maine GIS Thesaurus-Place
Place Keyword: Maine

Stratum:

Stratum Keyword Thesaurus: Maine GIS Thesaurus-Stratum
Stratum Keyword: human dimensions
Stratum Keyword: hydrosphere

Access Constraints:
Secondary distribution by permission only. Please see Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems (MEGIS) License Agreement at http://megis.maine.gov/ . Any secondary distribution must have this documentation appended.
Use Constraints:
Users must assume responsibility in determining the usability of this data for their purposes. Digital maps retain the accuracy of their source materials. The best use of data mapped at scales of 1:500,000 and 1:250,000 is in statewide planning and studies; at 1:100,000 in regional planning and studies; at 1:62,500 and 1:24,000 in detailed studies and local planning; and at 1:12,000 and 1:5,000 or larger scales in parcel level studies and detailed local planning. In the use of Maine GIS data, please check sources, scale, accuracy, currentness and other available information. Please confirm that you are using the most recent copy of both data and metadata from the Maine GIS Data Catalog. The Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems (MEGIS) provides notice of updates and corrections directly to the Maine GIS Technical Group and Maine GIS Users, through the MEGISTECH and MEGISUSER list servers. To subscribe please contact the MEGIS technical support line at (207) 287-6144. To request data correction in, or provide updates to, Maine GIS data a feedback form is available at http://megis.maine.gov/, or you may contact MEGIS directly. MEGIS is not responsible for local edits to data or metadata. Updates, corrections, and feedback, incorporated in the Maine GIS database are made in accordance with "Data Standards for Maine Geographic Information Systems", 2002, and coordinated by MEGIS in consultation with the Maine GIS Executive Council.
Point of Contact:

Contact Information:

Contact Organization Primary:

Contact Organization: (FEMAMIT) Federal Emergency Management Agency, Mitigation Directorate

Contact Address:

Address Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 500 C Street SW
City: Washington
State or Province: DC
Postal Code: 20472
Country: USA

Contact Voice Telephone: (800) 358-9616

Data Set Credit: Acknowledgment of FEMA would be appreciated in products derived from these data. Credit should always be given to the data source and/or originator when the data is transferred or printed.
Native Data Set Environment:
(FEMA)Original data development environment varied. Additional manipulation, topological structuring, and attribute encoding were undertaken using ARC/INFO software on a UNIX-based workstation. (MEGIS) ArcInfo version 8.1, Solaris 7, pathname = /home11/crypt83/counties/<countyname>/firm, file size ~4 MB (Penobscot sample)

Attribute Accuracy:

Attribute Accuracy Report:
The Q3 Flood Data are countywide vector files derived from FEMA FIRMs. The attribute definitions may be found in the "Q3 Flood Data Specifications". Attribute accuracy was tested by manual comparison of source graphic with hardcopy plots and a symbolized display on an interactive computer graphic system. Selected attributes that could not be visually verified were individually queried. In addition, an ARC/INFO Arc Macro Language (AML) software program was applied to the dataset to test the attributes against a master set of valid attributes for the specific data category and a complete set of valid attribute combinations. (See also Entity Attribute Information.)
Logical Consistency Report:
Polygon and chain-node topology are present. Certain node-area-line relationships are collected or generated to satisfy topological requirements. Some of these requirements include the following: lines must begin and end at nodes, lines must connect to each other at nodes, lines do not extend through nodes, left and right areas are defined for each line segment and are consistent throughout the files, and the lines representing the limits of the file neatlines are free of gaps. Tests of logical consistency were performed by ARC/INFO software modules. Check plots were made to test for leaks in all internal polygons.

Completeness Report:
Data completeness for Q3 Flood Data files reflects the content of the source graphic. Features may have been eliminated or generalized on the source graphic, due to scale and legibility constraints. Flood risk data are developed for communities participating in the NFIP for use in insurance rating and for floodplain management. Flood hazard areas are determined using statistical analysis of records of river flow, storm tides, and rainfall; information obtained through consultation with the communities: floodplain topographic surveys; and hydrologic and hydraulic analysis. Both detailed and approximate analyses are employed. Generally, detailed analyses are used to generate flood risk data only for developed or developing areas of communities. For undeveloped areas where little or no development is expected to occur, FEMA uses approximate analyses to generate flood risk data. Typically, only drainage areas that are greater than one square mile are studied. Q3 Flood Data may be derived from DFIRM-DLGs, from FIRM-DLGs, or from FIRMs digitized previously for emergency applications, or they may be newly created. In Q3 Flood Data derived from older data sets, certain items may not have been captured or may have been captured differently from the current Q3 Flood Data specifications. In some cases, preliminary FIRM data have been included in the Q3 Flood Data files. These data have been provided to the community for review and comment, and may be subject to change before their final publication date. In addition, in some cases, areas designated as Flood Prone Areas on maps prepared by USGS and FIA have been included in the Q3 Flood Data files. These areas were delineated based on available information of past floods and are described by a unique attribute code that distinguishes them from areas of 1% annual chance flooding derived from FIRMs. FIRMs continually undergo revisions and updates. Some of these revisions are effected by letter (Letter of Map Revision [LOMR], Letter of Map Amendment [LOMA]). Q3 Flood Data may not reflect the most current information or information that is not mappable at the publication scale of the FIRM.

Lineage:

Source Information:

Source Citation:

Citation Information:

Originator: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Publication Date: multiple dates
Title: (FIRMHRDCPY) Flood Insurance Rate Maps
Geospatial Data Presentation Form: map
Series Information:

Series Name: Flood Insurance Rate Maps

Publication Information:

Publication Place: Washington DC
Publisher: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Other Citation Details:
The hardcopy FIRM is the basis for floodplain management, mitigation, and insurance activities for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Insurance applications include enforcement of the mandatory purchase requirement of the Flood Disaster Protection Act, which "requires the purchase of flood insurance by property owners who are being assisted by Federal programs or by Federally supervised, regulated, or insured agencies or institutions in the acquisition or improvement of land facilities located or to be located in identified areas having special flood hazards" (Section 2 (b) (4) of the 1973 Flood Disaster Protection Act). In addition to the identification of Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), the risk zones shown on the FIRMs are the basis for the establishment of premium rates for flood insurance coverage offered through the NFIP. The hardcopy FIRM maps for Maine vary in scale from 4800 to 12000.
Type of Source Media: paper
Source Time Period of Content:

Time Period Information:

Range of Dates/Times:

Beginning Date: 11/1974
Beginning Time: Unknown
Ending Date: 6/1996
Ending Time: Unknown

Source Currentness Reference: effective date

Source Citation Abbreviation: firmhrdcpy
Source Contribution:
For metadata specific to each county and each FIRM hardcopy map source, see related table "firmmeta" available from the MEGIS Data Catalog "Tables" link at <http://megis.maine.gov/catalog/>. Q3 FLOOD DATA publication dates by county: Cumberland County 1996, Printed maps, hardcopy FIRMS, published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Source Information:

Source Citation:

Citation Information:

Originator: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Title: (FIRMLOMC)Letters of Map Change
Geospatial Data Presentation Form: document
Series Information:

Series Name: Letters of Map Change

Publication Information:

Publication Place: Washington DC
Publisher: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Other Citation Details:
Letters of Map Change affect the Flood Insurance Rate Maps for the specified towns and include detailed metadata information on the affected Panel:, Case No.:, Type:, Identifier:, Included Q3?, Flooding Source:, as well as Determination: with regard to Map Change.
Source Time Period of Content:

Time Period Information:

Range of Dates/Times:

Beginning Date: 3/1987
Beginning Time: Unknown
Ending Date: 6/1995
Ending Time: Unknown

Source Currentness Reference: determination dates

Source Citation Abbreviation: firmlomc
Source Contribution:
For metadata specific to each county and each LOMR letter of map revision, see related table "firmmeta" available from the MEGIS Data Catalog "Tables" link at <http://megis.maine.gov/catalog/>.
Source Information:

Source Citation:

Citation Information:

Originator: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Title: (FIRMLOMR)Letters of Map Revision
Geospatial Data Presentation Form: document
Series Information:

Series Name: Letters of Map Revision

Publication Information:

Publication Place: Washington DC
Publisher: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Other Citation Details:
Letters of Map Revision affect the Flood Insurance Rate Maps for the spcified towns and include detailed metadata information on the affected Panel:, Case No.:, Type:, Identifier:, Included Q3?, Flooding Source:, as well as Determination: with regard to map revision.
Source Time Period of Content:

Time Period Information:

Range of Dates/Times:

Beginning Date: 4/1995
Beginning Time: Unknown
Ending Date: 9/1996
Ending Time: Unknown

Source Currentness Reference: determination dates

Source Citation Abbreviation: firmlomr
Source Contribution:
For metadata specific to each county and each LOMR letter of map revision, see related table "firmmeta" available from the MEGIS Data Catalog "Tables" link at <http://megis.maine.gov/catalog/>.
Process Step:

Process Description:
Q3 Flood Data were produced by either scanning and vectorizing or manually digitizing a hardcopy version of the graphic materials. The scanning and vectorization process captured the digital data as raster data that were vectorized and attributed on an interactive editing station. The manual digitizing process used a digitizing table to capture the digital data; attribution was performed either as the data were digitized or on an interactive edit station after the digitizing was completed. The determination of the production methodology was based on various criteria, including availability of production systems. Four to nine control points per FIRM panel were used for registration during manual digitizing. A projective transformation was performed on the coordinates used in the data collection and editing systems to register the digital data to the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid coordinates. An ARC/INFO coverage of the Q3 Flood Data was generated and used to create the Q3-DLG file. The Q3 Flood Data were checked for position and attribute accuracy by comparing plots of the digital data to the source graphic and by symbolized display on an interactive computer system. Selected attributes that could not be visually verified were individually queried. In addition, an ARC/INFO Arc Macro Language (AML) software program was applied to the dataset to test the attributes against a master set of valid attributes for the specific data category and a complete set of valid attribute combinations. Source graphics were revised to reflect updates effected by Letters of Map Change (Letter of Map Revision [LOMR], Letter of Map Amendment [LOMA]). These revisions were included in the Q3 Flood Data if they were mappable at the publication scale of the source graphic. Once final, the ARC/INFO coverage is projected into a geographic grid system, using decimal degree latitude and longitude coordinates and then converted into an ARC/INFO Export file.
Process Date: multiple dates
Process Contact:

Contact Information:

Contact Organization Primary:

Contact Organization: (FEMAMIT) Federal Emergency Management Agency, Mitigation Directorate

Contact Address:

Address Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 500 C Street SW
City: Washington
State or Province: DC
Postal Code: 20472
Country: USA

Contact Voice Telephone: (800) 358-9616

Process Step:

Process Description:
The Maine Office of GIS completed the conversion of all final data layers from NAD27 to NAD83 in July 1999. All the data layers were converted using the ArcInfo (version 7.2.1) NADCON conversion and the "project" command. All data was copied to double precision, projected to NAD83, and then copied back to single precision. It was decided to keep the NAD27 quad structure instead of generating new quad boundaries from NAD83 coordinates - all indexes (quads) were projected to NAD83 by using the same process previously described. All MEGIS data libraries in ArcInfo Librarian were repopulated using the NAD83 indexes and data.
Process Date: 19990701
Process Contact:

Contact Information:

Contact Organization Primary:

Contact Organization: (MEGIS) Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems

Contact Address:

Address Type: mailing address
Address: State House Station 145
City: Augusta
State or Province: ME
Postal Code: 04333-0145
Country: USA

Contact Voice Telephone: (207) 287-6144
Contact Facsimile Telephone: (207) 287-4563
Hours of Service: Monday through Friday 0800 - 1700 EST

Cloud Cover: 0

Indirect Spatial Reference: sample Penobscot County
Direct Spatial Reference Method: Vector
Point and Vector Object Information:

SDTS Terms Description:

SDTS Point and Vector Object Type: Area chain
Point and Vector Object Count: 3101

Horizontal Coordinate System Definition:

Planar:

Grid Coordinate System:

Grid Coordinate System Name: Universal Transverse Mercator 1983
Universal Transverse Mercator:

UTM Zone Number: 19
Transverse Mercator:

Scale Factor at Central Meridian: 0.9996
Longitude of Central Meridian: -69
Latitude of Projection Origin: 0
False Easting: 500000
False Northing: 0

Planar Coordinate Information:

Planar Coordinate Encoding Method: Coordinate Pair
Coordinate Representation:

Abscissa Resolution: 1
Ordinate Resolution: 1

Planar Distance Units: m

Geodetic Model:

Horizontal Datum Name: North American Datum of 1983
Ellipsoid Name: Geodetic Reference System 80
Semi-major Axis: 6378137
Denominator of Flattening Ratio: 298.257

Detailed Description:

Entity Type:

Entity Type Label: FIRM.PAT
Entity Type Definition: polygon attribute table
Entity Type Definition Source: Environmental Research Systems Institute, Inc.

Attribute:

Attribute Label: AREA
Attribute Definition: area of feature in square meters (value of zero for point data, not maintained in shapefile format)
Attribute Definition Source: default Arc/Info software computed
Attribute Domain Values:

Enumerated Domain:

Enumerated Domain Value: positive real numbers

Attribute Measurement Frequency: Unknown

Attribute:

Attribute Label: COBRA
Attribute Definition:
Undeveloped Coastal Barrier Area- this item indicates whether the area is inside or outside of a designated Coastal Barrier Area or Otherwise Protected Area. Only the extents of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act area boundaries are portrayed in the Q3 Flood Data files. The boundaries between Coastal Barrier Resources Act areas and Otherwise Protected Areas and between areas with different designation dates are not included in the Q3 Flood Data files. Users should refer to the FIRM for such information.
Attribute Definition Source: FEMA FIRM Multiple Codes refer to "Q3 Flood Data Specifications" available at <http://msc.fema.gov/MSC/q3users.htm>
Attribute Domain Values:

Enumerated Domain:

Enumerated Domain Value: COBRA_IN
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: An area designated as an Undeveloped Coastal Barrier Area or Otherwise Protected Area in which flood insurance is unavailable for structures newly built or substantially improved.
Enumerated Domain Value: COBRA_OUT
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: An area outside a designated Undeveloped Coastal Barrier Area or Otherwise Protected Area in which flood insurance is unavailable for structures newly built or substantially improved.

Attribute Measurement Frequency: Unknown

Attribute:

Attribute Label: COMMUNITY
Attribute Definition: identifies a county, city, or other community responsible for floodplain management (numeric value assigned by FEMA)
Attribute Definition Source: FEMA FIRM
Attribute Domain Values:

Range Domain:

Range Domain Minimum: 0
Range Domain Maximum: 9999

Attribute Measurement Frequency: Unknown

Attribute:

Attribute Label: CO_FIPS
Attribute Definition: county FIPS code
Attribute Definition Source: Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS), National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST)
Attribute Domain Values:

Codeset Domain:

Codeset Name: Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS)
Codeset Source: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Enumerated Domain:

Enumerated Domain Value: 005
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: Cumberland County
Enumerated Domain Value: 009
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: Hancock County
Enumerated Domain Value: 011
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: Kennebec County
Enumerated Domain Value: 017
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: Oxford County
Enumerated Domain Value: 019
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: Penobscot County
Enumerated Domain Value: 023
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: Sagadahoc County
Enumerated Domain Value: 027
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: Waldo County
Enumerated Domain Value: 029
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: Washington County
Enumerated Domain Value: 031
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: York County

Attribute Measurement Frequency: Unknown

Attribute:

Attribute Label: FIPS
Attribute Definition: standard 5-digit state and county FIPS code
Attribute Definition Source: Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS), National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST)
Attribute Domain Values:

Codeset Domain:

Codeset Name: Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS)
Codeset Source: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Attribute:

Attribute Label: FIRM_
Attribute Definition: internal feature number
Attribute Definition Source: default Arc/Info software computed
Attribute Domain Values:

Enumerated Domain:

Enumerated Domain Value: sequential unique positive integer

Attribute Measurement Frequency: Unknown

Attribute:

Attribute Label: FIRM_ID
Attribute Definition: user-assigned feature number
Attribute Definition Source: User-defined
Attribute Domain Values:

Enumerated Domain:

Enumerated Domain Value: integer

Attribute Measurement Frequency: Unknown

Attribute:

Attribute Label: FIRM_PANEL
Attribute Definition: Eleven-digit alpha-numeric code that identifies portion of community covered or not covered by a FIRM panel.
Attribute Definition Source: FEMA FIRM, code comprised of a unique alpha-numeric sequence based on FIPS and FEMA Community and Panel identification numbers
Attribute Measurement Frequency: Unknown

Attribute:

Attribute Label: FLOODWAY
Attribute Definition: channel, river or watercourse reserved for flood discharge
Attribute Definition Source: FEMA FIRM, multiple codes refer to "Q3 Flood Data Specifications" available at <http://msc.fema.gov/MSC/q3users.htm> for additional information
Attribute Domain Values:

Enumerated Domain:

Enumerated Domain Value: FW
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
An area that includes the channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water-surface elevation by more than a designated height. (Note: this area is normally in Zone AE.)
Attribute:

Attribute Label: LAT
Attribute Definition: origin latitude (degrees) of 7.5-minute quadrangle
Attribute Definition Source: USGS quadrangle Index
Attribute Domain Values:

Range Domain:

Range Domain Minimum: +0000
Range Domain Maximum: +0090

Attribute:

Attribute Label: LONG
Attribute Definition: origin longitude (degrees) of 7.5-minute quadrangle
Attribute Definition Source: USGS quadrangle Index
Attribute Domain Values:

Range Domain:

Range Domain Minimum: -0180
Range Domain Maximum: +0180

Attribute:

Attribute Label: PANEL
Attribute Definition: FIRM panel number and suffix
Attribute Definition Source: FEMA FIRM, code comprised of a unique alpha-numeric sequence based on FIPS and FEMA Community and Panel identification numbers

Attribute:

Attribute Label: PANEL_TYP
Attribute Definition: type of FIRM panel represented
Attribute Definition Source: FEMA FIRM, multiple codes refer to "Q3 Flood Data Specifications" available at <http://msc.fema.gov/MSC/q3users.htm> for additional information
Attribute Domain Values:

Enumerated Domain:

Enumerated Domain Value: CBPP
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
The portion of a community covered by a community based map sheet (panel). A community may consist of more than one FIRM panel. The FIRM panel is further identified by its FIRM panel number, and it's suffix.
Enumerated Domain Value: CBNP
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: The portion of a community covered by a community based map sheet (panel) that is not printed. The FIRM panel is further identified by its FIRM panel number, and its suffix.
Enumerated Domain Value: AOPN
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
Any unpanelled areas of a participating county. It should be used to identify any areas that fall within a participating community but outside of the defined panelling scheme. It should not be confused with the Unmapped Community attribute, which should be used for unmapped or non-participating communities.
Enumerated Domain Value: UNMC
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
A jurisdiction that has not been mapped or identified by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). It may be applied to a jurisdiction that has no maps because it has no Special Flood Hazard Area, or it may be applied to a jurisdiction that is not identified by the NFIP or is not participating in the NFIP.
Attribute:

Attribute Label: PCOMM
Attribute Definition: FIRM community/county identifier
Attribute Definition Source: FEMA FIRM, code comprised of a unique alpha-numeric sequence based on FIPS and FEMA Community and Panel identification numbers

Attribute:

Attribute Label: PERIMETER
Attribute Definition: perimeter of feature in meters (value of zero for point data, not maintained in shapefile format)
Attribute Definition Source: default Arc/Info software computed
Attribute Domain Values:

Enumerated Domain:

Enumerated Domain Value: positive real numbers

Attribute:

Attribute Label: QUAD
Attribute Definition: USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle identifier
Attribute Definition Source: USGS quadrangle Index
Attribute Domain Values:

Unrepresentable Domain: Unique sequence based on latitude and longitude

Attribute:

Attribute Label: QUAD_UNIT
Attribute Definition: index number to 7.5 minute quadrangle
Attribute Definition Source: USGS quadrangle Index
Attribute Domain Values:

Unrepresentable Domain: Unique numeric sequence

Attribute:

Attribute Label: SFHA
Attribute Definition: in/out of flood zone designation indicates if the area is a Special Flood Hazard Area and corresponds to ZONE types
Attribute Definition Source: determined from data topology
Attribute Domain Values:

Enumerated Domain:

Enumerated Domain Value: IN
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: area located within Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)
Enumerated Domain Value: OUT
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: area located outside of SFHA

Attribute:

Attribute Label: STATE
Attribute Definition: state FIPS code
Attribute Definition Source: Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS), National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST)
Attribute Domain Values:

Codeset Domain:

Codeset Name: Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS)
Codeset Source: National Institute of Standards & Technology

Attribute:

Attribute Label: ST_FIPS
Attribute Definition: state FIPS code
Attribute Definition Source: Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS), National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST)
Attribute Domain Values:

Codeset Domain:

Codeset Name: Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS)
Codeset Source: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Attribute:

Attribute Label: SYMBOL
Attribute Definition: polygon shade symbols for graphic output based on polygon codes for ZONE, FLOODWAY, and COBRA
Attribute Definition Source: (Users should note that in order to replicate these colors, a Q3 Shadeset must be installed.) <http://msc.fema.gov/MSC/q3users.htm> for additional information

Attribute:

Attribute Label: ZONE
Attribute Definition: flood hazard zone designation
Attribute Definition Source: FEMA FIRM, multiple Codes refer to "Q3 Flood Data Specifications" available at <http://msc.fema.gov/MSC/q3users.htm> for additional information
Attribute Domain Values:

Enumerated Domain:

Enumerated Domain Value: A
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: An area inundated by 100-year flooding, for which no Base Flood Elevations (BFES) have been determined; IN Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
Enumerated Domain Value: AE
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: An area inundated by 100-year flooding, for which Base Flood Elevations (BFES) have been determined; IN Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
Enumerated Domain Value: AO
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: An area inundated by 100-year flooding (usually sheet flow on sloping terrain), for which average depths have been determined; flood depths range from 1 to 3 feet; IN Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
Enumerated Domain Value: AH
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: An area inundated by 100-year flooding (usually an area of ponding), for which Base Flood Elevations have been determined; flood depths range from 1 to 3 feet; IN Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
Enumerated Domain Value: VE
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: An area inundated by 100-year flooding with velocity hazard (wave action); Base Flood Elevations (BFES) have been determined; IN Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
Enumerated Domain Value: X500
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
An area inundated by 500-year flooding; an area inundated by 100-year flooding with average depths of less than 1 foot or with drainage areas less than 1 square mile; or an area protected by levees from 100-year flooding; OUT Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
Enumerated Domain Value: X
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: An area that is determined to be outside the 100- and 500-year floodplains; OUT Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
Enumerated Domain Value: ANI
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: An area that is located within a community or county that is not mapped on any published FIRM; OUT Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
Enumerated Domain Value: UNDES
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: A body of open water, such as a pond, lake, ocean, etc., located within a community's jurisdictional limits that has no defined flood hazard; OUT Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
Enumerated Domain Value: D
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: An area of undetermined but possible flood hazards; OUT Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).

Overview Description:

Entity and Attribute Overview:
In addition to locational and topological information, Q3 Flood data elements are explicitly encoded using attribute items. Each attribute item identifies characteristics about the Flood Hazard Area, COBRA, Floodway, Political Jurisdiction, Quadrangle, or FIRM panel. All polygon data elements may be encoded with one or more feature characteristics.
Entity and Attribute Detail Citation: The FEMA "Q3 Flood Data Specifications" contains a detailed description of each attribute code and a reference to other relevant information <http://msc.fema.gov/MSC/q3users.htm> .

Distributor:

Contact Information:

Contact Organization Primary:

Contact Organization: (MEGIS) Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems

Contact Address:

Address Type: mailing address
Address: State House Station 145
City: Augusta
State or Province: ME
Postal Code: 04333-0145
Country: USA

Contact Voice Telephone: (207) 287-6144
Contact Facsimile Telephone: (207) 287-4563
Hours of Service: Monday through Friday 0800 - 1700 EST

Distribution Liability:
Users must assume responsibility to determine the usability of this data for their purposes. Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems, no warranty expressed or implied is made by MEGIS regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Neither the Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems, nor any of its contributors, is liable for misuse of the data, for damage, for transmission of viruses, or for computer contamination through the distribution of these data sets.
Standard Order Process:

Digital Form:

Digital Transfer Information:

Format Name: ARCE
Format Version Number: ARC Version 9.x
Format Specification: ARC/INFO Export Format
Format Information Content:
An Arc/Info export file is an interchange format used to transfer spatial data, INFO data files, and other ESRI ARC/INFO files between various machine types. Export files have the suffix .e00 and contain, in fixed-length ASCII format, all spatial information available for each feature. The command IMPORT is available in A/I to convert the export file to original format, i.e. coverage, grid, or other spatial data file. Import will add a spatial data file and a related INFO file to a machine directory. ESRI's ArcView is packaged with an import utility called IMPORT71 for the same export file conversion. The utility is also available through the FREE software link on the Maine GIS Internet Data Catalog under "CDProducts" at http://megis.maine.gov/catalog/ or from ESRI at http://www.esri.com/. CARE MUST BE TAKEN after import, not to separate the spatial information from its related INFO file. Since export files are in ASCII format make sure any file transfer method like FTP is executed under ASCII mode. Binary transfer may not work correctly.
Digital Form:

Digital Transfer Information:

Format Name: ESRI Shapefile
Format Version Number: ARC Version 9.x
Format Specification: ArcView Shapefile Format
Format Information Content:
MEGIS has made some data, in the Internet Data Catalog, available in ESRI's ArcView shapefile format. This additional format is available for E911RDS and WETCHAR data under the TOWNS tab. A shapefile is a simple non-topological format that stores the geometry and attribute information for a set of geographic features as a set of vector (point, line, polygon) coordinates. Shapefiles draw quickly and directly in ArcView; you can create your own data using the shapefile format; an existing ARC/INFO coverage can be converted to a shapefile; other spatial data formats can be converted to shapefiles. Three files are created for each shapefile: .shp stores the feature geometry (shape and location information); .shx stores the index of the feature geometry; .dbf a dBASE (TM) file stores the attribute information for the features. Other index files may be created to help speed analysis and query: these file formats are .sbn .sbx .ain .aix .fbn and .fbx. In addition you may find projection .prj, and metadata .xml, files associated with shapefiles. CAUTION: When you edit an existing theme or shapefile you are creating a new dataset or at least a new version of a dataset; give the dataset a new name or a version identifier to reflect your edits. Be prepared to fully document your sources and to both quantify and qualify the edits you make in order to facilitate coordination with other data sources. PLEASE NOTE: conversion to shapefile format changes some characters ( # - .) to underscores; item names over 10 characters are truncated. An effort will be made over time to consider these limitations in item names, and to eliminate the use of these characters in Maine GIS data development. It should not be assumed that a conversion from shapefile back to coverage would produce the same data file as found in the original coverage format. The results of such a conversion are greatly improved by the use of PRECISION setting DOUBLE, DOUBLE and careful management of tolerances.
Digital Transfer Option:

Online Option:

Computer Contact Information:

Network Address:

Network Resource Name: http://megis.maine.gov/catalog/

Access Instructions:
Anyone with an Internet browser can download these data from the Maine GIS Internet Data Catalog. All data available from this website is in .zip compressed format. WinZip is a Windows based, PKZip-compatible compression utility. You will need a program like this to extract the data. A link to a trial copy WinZip software is available at http://megis.maine.gov/software.asp. If you are not already a GIS user, a link to free software for import and viewing of these files, Import71 and ArcExplorer from Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI), is available at http://megis.maine.gov/software.asp.
Digital Transfer Option:

Online Option:

Access Instructions: Where file size and Internet access permit, data requests can be made available via File Transfer Protocol (FTP).

Fees: Data may be downloaded from Maine GIS Internet Data Catalog at no charge.
Turnaround: Data is available for immediate download from the Maine GIS Internet Data Catalog.

Custom Order Process:
MEGIS provides technical support for Maine GIS data, estimates on custom mapping, and consultation on data and application development, as time permits. You may call (207) 287-6144 with questions about Maine GIS data, and to inquire about assistance with your GIS environment.
Available Time Period:

Time Period Information:

Range of Dates/Times:

Beginning Date: 1/1/1996
Beginning Time: Unknown
Ending Date: Present
Ending Time: Unknown

Metadata Date: 7/29/1996
Metadata Review Date: 9/16/2002
Metadata Future Review Date:
Metadata Contact:

Contact Information:

Contact Person Primary:

Contact Person: Kate King
Contact Organization: (KKing) Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems

Contact Position: GIS Coordinator
Contact Address:

Address Type: mailing address
Address: State House Station 145
City: Augusta
State or Province: ME
Postal Code: 04333-0145
Country: USA

Contact Voice Telephone: 207 624-9403
Contact Facsimile Telephone: 207 287-4563
Hours of Service: Monday through Friday 0800 - 1700 EST

Metadata Standard Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata Standard Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
Metadata Access Constraints: none
Metadata Use Constraints:
Please confirm that you are using the most recent copy of both data and metadata from the Maine GIS Data Catalog. The Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems (MEGIS) provides notice of updates and corrections directly to the Maine GIS Technical Group and Maine GIS Users through the MEGISTECH and MEGISUSER list servers. To subscribe please contact the MEGIS technical support line at (207) 287-6144. To request correction in, or updates to, Maine GIS data a feedback form is available at http://megis.maine.gov/, or you may contact MEGIS directly. MEGIS is not responsible for local edits to data or metadata. Updates, corrections, and feedback incorporated in the Maine GIS database are made in accordance with "Data Standards for Maine Geographic Information Systems", 2002, and coordinated by MEGIS in consultation with the Maine GIS Executive Council.