Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Atlas: California; Northern (2008), Southern (2010), Central (2006), and San Francisco (1998) maps and geographic information systems data (NCEI Accession 0052935)

Source data used in the development of these regional atlases range from 1959 to 2009 with much of the data dated from the 1980s, 1990s, to 2009. Source data dates are extensively documented in the dataset metadata and include the following Central California, data range 2005-07, compiled 2007, Northern California data range 1959-2007, compiled 2007, San Francisco data range 1976-1998, compiled 1998, and Southern California data range 1982-2009, compiled 2008-2010.

This atlas update adds data formats to those originally released to accommodate new technologies of digital mapping. The underlying data have not been updated since the atlas publication dates shown. Each ESI atlas listed is provided in a variety of GIS formats, including a personal Geodatabase for use with the ESRI ArcGIS product line.

An .mxd file, created in ArcMap 9.3 is also included. This mapping document provides links to all of the data tables and symbolization of the layers using the standardized ESI colors and hatch patterns. Layer files are also supplied.

These, together with the associated geodatabase, can be used in other mapping projects to define the symbology and links established in the original ESI .mxd file. There are also PDF files of the printed maps. All of these are now formatted to have the back of the maps a part of the same document as the map itself.

This eases printing and sharing of the maps and helps to assure that the maps are not distributed without the supporting data. Links from the index map will route the user to the relevant map page. The GIS data are also provided in ARC Export .e00 format, as shape files with an ArcView 3.x project and in MOSS format.

Database files are included in text and .e00 format. Each area directory contains a readme file which shows the area of coverage and gives a bit more description of the various file formats included.