Saltmarsh Survey of Scotland

From 2010-2012 all known saltmarshes larger than 3ha were surveyed across the Scottish mainland and offshore islands, to compile the first detailed comprehensive national survey of this habitat in Scotland. All saltmarsh and brackish swamp was mapped using the National Vegetation Classification. All mapped areas were digitised to a 1:4,000 scale GIS database. The condition of each saltmarsh site visited was assessed. The primary aims of the Scottish Saltmarsh Survey (SSS) were to obtain information on the morphology, vegetation community structure and species found on saltmarsh sites above 3ha in area or 500m in linear extent.The survey was a joint project between Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).The saltmarsh survey was tendered in 2009 and awarded to NatureBureau Ltd, who began work on the project in 2010.Detailed report: http://www.snh.gov.uk/publications-data-and-research/publications/search-the-catalogue/publication-detail/?id=2404
 
Citation proposal
(2016) . Saltmarsh Survey of Scotland. https://services.mspdata.eu:/geonetwork/srv/api/records/94e8b6f5-f2f4-43b8-8d02-7322b726c654

Simple

Alternate title
Date ( Creation )
2010-06-30
Date ( Publication )
2016-03-31
Identifier
/ SMSS

  Point of contact

  Originator

Maintenance and update frequency
unknown Unknown
GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 ( Theme )
  • Habitats and biotopes , Protected sites
Access constraints
otherRestrictions Other restrictions
Other constraints
© SNH and SEPA , licensed under the Open Government Licence (https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/)
Use limitation
© SNH and SEPA , licensed under the Open Government Licence (https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/)
Distance
10  m
Metadata language
eng English
Topic category
  • Environment
N
S
E
W


Supplemental Information
Reference system identifier
EPSG / OSGB 1936 / British National Grid (EPSG:27700) / 7.9
Reference system identifier
EPSG / ETRS89 (EPSG:4258) / 7.9
Distribution format
  • ESRI Shapefile (1.0 )

  • GML (3.2.1 )

OnLine resource
ESRI Shapefile (EPSG:27700)  
OnLine resource
GML 3.1.1 (zipped, EPSG:4258)  
Hierarchy level
dataset Dataset
Statement
A database of point locations of saltmarsh habitat was created using information from existing datasets held by SNH and SEPA. The most relevant datasets were the range of reports and maps available from the Saltmarsh Survey of Great Britain (Burd 1989); the Sand Dune Vegetation Survey of Scotland (Dargie 2000b); the SNH report on the distribution of coastal habitats (Posford Duvivier 1998); and the Cycle 1 Site Condition Monitoring reports (Hutcheon Brothers 2000). These sites were analysed by NatureBureau and any sites which were over 3ha in area were included in the saltmarsh survey. The SSS identified a total of 255 sites requiring survey, including all point data sites over 3ha in extent; all polygon sites over 3ha in extent; and a representative set of 25 sites less than 3ha in extent, and 10 perched saltmarsh sites. Habitat maps were drawn onto aerial photography at a standardised scale of 1:4,000. (1:2,500 Scale Raster Getmapping Vertical Aerial Photography - 1km x 1km tiles (2003-2009)) \\nDue to the wide variation of mapping units on different coastlines (e.g. large uniform areas of saltmarsh on the Solway Firth and small, but complex community structures on small sites in the west) it was concluded that there would be no set minimum mapping unit. Instead the scale of mapping was set to 1:4,000, thus the resolution of mapping was dictated by the resolution of the aerial photography. Mosaics were mapped using an estimation of the cover of each component as a proportion out of ten. This means that for each mapped area of a mosaic, all the constituent components will total up to ten portions, being the total area of the mapped polygon. More details about the NVC survey are available in the published report. http://www.snh.gov.uk/publications-data-and-research/publications/search-the-catalogue/publication-detail/?id=2404 \\nField map digitisation was overseen or undertaken by field surveyors to ensure the accuracy of the maps was maintained. The technique used to digitise maps evolved and became faster as the project progressed. The preferred method used through 2011 to 2013 was to trace polylines onto the GIS platform with a matched back drop and scale to the original field map. NVC community types and other land cover codes were added into the GIS attribute table once individual polygons were created. The attribute table provides valuable information about each saltmarsh polygon including SITE_NAME – example Eden Estuary SITEID – example 001EDE POLYID – example 001EDE001 SALTMARSH_ – example SM8. Can include mosaics proportions given. CATEGORY - Broad category NVC and land cover types – example SM NVC and land cover types used in this dataset are \\n• A – NVC aquatic grouping \\n• BBG – Buildings and bare ground \\n• BM – Bare mud \\n• BR – Bare rock \\n• BS – Bare sand \\n• BSH – Bare shingle \\n• fal jap - Fallopia japonica community \\n• H - Broad NVC community \\n• Iri pse - Iris pseudacorus community \\n• M - NVC Mire grouping \\n• MG - NVC Mesotrophic grassland grouping \\n• Mosaic \\n• OV - NVC Open vegetation community \\n• OW – Open water \\n• S - NVC Swamp community \\n• SD - NVC Sand dune vegetation \\n• SM – Saltmarsh \\n• U - NVC Acid grassland grouping \\n• W - NVC Woodland grouping \\nA full list of NVC and land cover codes from the SSS surveys is given in the Scottish saltmarsh survey national report Table 3-1 http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/commissioned_reports/786.pdf Area and perimeter County – example Angus Coordinates of the centre of each polygon Date of survey – example 14/06/2010 Surveyor name – example T.Haynes The attribute table for the GIS database includes a field Map_Legend for keying out colours in a map legend. A Dominant NVC field has been added which is the NVC community or land cover code from Saltmarsh_ or the largest component of a mosaic.

Metadata

File identifier
94e8b6f5-f2f4-43b8-8d02-7322b726c654   XML
Metadata language
eng English
Hierarchy level
dataset Dataset
Date stamp
2019-12-03
Metadata standard name
ISO 19115:2003/19139
Metadata standard version
1.0

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