DOCUMENTATION OF A DIGITAL 

SPATIAL DATA BASE FOR 

HYDROLOGIC INVESTIGATIONS, 

BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Water-Resources Investigations Report 92-4061

Prepared in cooperation with the

SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT and the

BROWARD COUNTY OFFICE OF NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION

Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data 

Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward 

County, Florida

By Roy S. Sonenshein

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Water-Resources Investigations Report 92-4061

Prepared in cooperation with the

SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT and the

BROWARD COUNTY OFFICE OF NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION

Tallahassee, Florida

1992
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

MANUEL LUJAN, JR., Secretary

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Dallas L. Peck, Director

______________________________________________________________________________

For additional information Copies of this report can be

write to: purchased from:

District Chief U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Geological Survey Books and Open-File Reports Section

227 N. Bronough Street Federal Center

Suite 3015 Box 25425

Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Denver, Colorado 80225
Contents III

Contents

CONTENTS

Abstract 1

1.0 Introduction 2

1.1 Purpose and scope 2

1.2 Sources of data and documentation 4

1.3 Glossary of terms 6

2.0 Computer program documentation 8

2.1 DOCUMENT 8

2.2 CREATEPOINT 10

2.3 MODELGRID 12

2.4 Particle tracking 14

2.5 Underground storage tank file 16

3.0 Data layers 18

3.1 Manmade features 18

3.1.1 Major roads in southern Florida 18

3.1.2 Municipal boundaries 20

3.1.3 Public land-survey section grid 22

3.1.4 Land-use polygons 24

3.1.4.1 Eastern Broward County 24

3.1.4.2 Southwestern part of eastern Broward County 26

3.1.5 Underground storage tank facilities 28

3.2 Topographic features--surveyed point land-surface elevations 30

3.3 Hydrologic features 32

3.3.1 Surface-water stage data-collection stations 32

3.3.2 Rainfall data-collection stations 34

3.3.3 Surface-water control structures 36

3.3.4 Surface-water features--canals and streams 38

3.3.5 Surface-water features--lakes 42

3.3.6 Water-control district boundaries 44

3.3.7 Water-management basins 46

3.4 Hydrogeologic features 48

3.4.1 Major soil associations 48

3.4.2 Transmissivity polygons 50

3.4.3 Hydrogeologic unit depths at selected points 52

3.4.4 Finite-difference model grid for south-central Broward County 54

FIGURES

1.1-1. Map of Broward County showing location of the study area 3

2.2-1. Map showing location of water-quality monitoring stations in eastern

Broward County 11

2.3-1. Map of eastern Broward County showing a grid generated for use

with a finite-difference ground-water flow model 13

2.4-1. Grid showing sample particle paths determined by the MODPATH

program for part of Broward County 15

2.5-1. Map showing location of underground storage tank facilities in

eastern Broward County 17
IV Contents

FIGURES--Continued

3.1.1-1. Map showing roads in the major roads data layer for eastern

Broward County 19

3.1.2-1. Map showing boundaries in the municipal boundaries data layer

for eastern Broward County 21

3.1.3-1. Public land-survey section grid for Broward County 22

3.1.4.1-1. Map showing level one land uses in the southwestern part of

eastern Broward County from the South Florida Water Management 

District land-use data base 25

3.1.4.2-1. Map showing level one land uses in the southwestern part of

eastern Broward County from the Broward County Office

of Natural Resource Protection land-use data base 27

3.1.5-1. Map showing location of underground storage tanks containing

gasoline in eastern Broward County 29

3.2-1. Map showing location of land-elevation survey points in the

southwestern part of eastern Broward County 31

3.3.1-1. Map showing surface-water stage data-collection sites in

eastern Broward County maintained by the Broward County

Water Resources Management Division 33

3.3.2-1. Map showing rainfall data-collection stations in Broward County 34

3.3.3-1. Map showing primary surface-water control structures in

eastern Broward County 37

3.3.4-1. Map showing primary and secondary canals in eastern Broward County 41

3.3.5-1. Map showing lakes and primary canals in eastern Broward County 43

3.3.6-1. Map showing water-control districts in eastern Broward County 45

3.3.7-1. Map showing water-management basins in eastern Broward County 47

3.4.1-1. Map showing major soil associations in southeastern Broward County and 

northeastern Dade County 49

3.4.2-1. Map showing generalized distribution of transmissivity in

Broward County 51

3.4.3-1. Map showing hydrogeologic unit depth information sites in

Broward County and northern Dade County 53

3.4.4-1. Map showing sample contours created from the Triangulated

Irregular Network of the base of the surficial aquifer system in 

Broward County and northern Dade County 55

TABLES

2.1-1. Attributes from data layer documentation file (DOC) and attribute 

table documentation file (ATT) 9

3.1.1-1. Summary of major roads line data layer for southern Florida 18

3.1.1-2. Description of variables in major roads arc attribute table 18

3.1.2-1. Summary of municipal boundaries polygon data layer for Broward County 20

3.1.3-1. Summary of public land-survey section grid polygon data layer for

Broward County 23

3.1.3-2. Description of variables in public land-survey section land-use

related table 23

3.1.4.1-1. Summary of land-use polygon data layer for eastern Broward County 24
Contents V

TABLES--Continued

3.1.4.2-1. Summary of land-use polygon data layer for the southwestern part of 

eastern Broward County 26

3.1.5-1. Summary of storage tank facility point data layer 1 and storage tank point 

data layer 2 for Broward County 28

3.1.5-2. Description of variables in storage tank facility point attribute table 

(data layer 1) and in storage tank point attribute table (data layer 2) 28

3.2-1. Summary of surveyed point land-surface elevation point data layer 30

3.3.1-1. Summary of surface-water stage data-collection stations point data 

layer 32

3.3.2-1. Summary of rainfall data-collection stations point data layer 35

3.3.2-2. Description of variables in rainfall data-collection stations point 

attribute table 35

3.3.3-1. Summary of surface-water control structures point data layer 36

3.3.3-2. Description of variables in surface-water control structures point 

attribute table 36

3.3.4-1. Summary of canals and streams arc data layer for eastern Broward 

County 38

3.3.4-2. Description of variables in canals and streams arc attribute table 39

3.3.5-1. Summary of lakes polygon data layer for eastern Broward County 42

3.3.6-1. Summary of water-control districts polygon data layer for eastern 

Broward County 44

3.3.7-1. Summary of water-management basins polygon data layer for eastern 

Broward County 46

3.4.1-1. Summary of major soil associations polygon data layer for southeastern 

Broward County 48

3.4.2-1. Summary of transmissivity polygon data layer for Broward County 50

3.4.3-1. Summary of hydrogeologic units point data layer at selected points in 

south-central Broward County 52

3.4.3-2. Description of variables in hydrogeologic units point attribute table 52

3.4.4-1. Summary of finite-difference model grid polygon data layer and finitedifference model point data layer for south-central Broward County 54

3.4.4-2. Description of variables in finite-difference model point attribute table 54
VI Contents

CONVERSION FACTORS AND VERTICAL DATUM

Multiply By To obtain

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter

foot per day (ft/d) 0.3048 meter per day

gallon (gal) 3.785 liter

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer

foot squared per day (ft2/d) 0.09290 meter squared per day

cubic foot per day (ft3/d) 0.02832 cubic meter per day

Sea level: In this report, "sea level" refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929--a geodetic datum 

derived from a general adjustment of the first-order level nets of the United States and Canada, formerly 

called Sea Level Datum of 1929.

.
Abstract 1

Abstract

Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data 

Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward 

County, Florida

By Roy S. Sonenshein

ABSTRACT

Geographic information systems have become an important tool in planning for the protection and development of

natural resources, including ground water and surface water. A digital spatial data base consisting of 18 data layers

that can be accessed by a geographic information system was developed for Broward County, Florida. Five computer

programs, including one that can be used to create documentation files for each data layer and four that can be used to

create data layers from data files not already in geographic information system format, were also developed.

Four types of data layers have been developed. Data layers for manmade features include major roads, municipal

boundaries, the public land-survey section grid, land use, and underground storage tank facilities. The data layer for

topographic features consists of surveyed point land-surface elevations. Data layers for hydrologic features include

surface-water and rainfall data-collection stations, surface-water bodies, water-control district boundaries, and

water-management basins. Data layers for hydrogeologic features include soil associations, transmissivity polygons,

hydrogeologic unit depths, and a finite-difference model grid for south-central Broward County. Each data layer is

documented as to the extent of the features, number of features, scale, data sources, and a description of the attribute

tables where applicable.
2 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

Introduction

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose and Scope

DOCUMENTATION OF A DIGITAL SPATIAL DATA BASE FOR USE

IN A GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS)

A digital spatial data base that can be used in a GIS for hydrologic 

investigations has been documented. The data base includes 18 data layers.

Geographic information systems (GIS) have become an important tool in assessing and planning for the protection

of natural resources. Most Federal and State natural resource agencies and many County environmental agencies in

Florida are currently using GIS to assist in mathematical modeling, resource mapping, and risk assessments.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the South Florida Water Management District

(SFWMD) and the Broward County Office of Natural Resource Protection (BCONRP), developed a digital spatial

data base for Broward County consisting of layers of data that can be used in water-resources investigations. These

data layers include manmade features such as municipal boundaries and roads, topographic features, hydrologic

features such as canals and lakes, and hydrogeologic features such as aquifer thickness. Computer programs were

written for use in developing additional layers of data from existing data bases such as the Florida Department of

Environmental Regulation (FDER) underground storage tank data base.

This report describes the digital spatial data base that was developed and the five computer programs1 that can be

used to create additional data layers from existing data files or to document existing layers. Most of the data layers

cover Broward County east of the conservation areas (fig. 1.1-1.). Some data layers cover all of Broward and may

include parts of Dade County.

As more digital spatial data bases are developed for use with GIS, there is a need of information to document these

data bases, including the source, scale, and limitations of each data layer. This documentation is necessary to

eliminate the possibility of data-base users misinterpreting the spatial data.

1The computer programs presented in this report run on machines used by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Introduction 3

Figure 1.1-1. Broward County showing location of the study area.

0

0

5

5

10 MILES

10 KILOMETERS

Broward County

STUDY AREA

BROWARD COUNTY

ATLANTIC

O

CEAN

Snake Creek Canal

L37 Canal South New River Canal

L35B Canal

L35A Canal

C42 L36 Canal

North New River Canal

Middle River Canal

Pompano Canal

Hillsboro Canal

26°00′

26°15′

80°45′ 80°15′
4 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

1.0 INTRODUCTION--Continued

1.2 Sources of Data and Documentation

DATA LAYERS DEVELOPED FROM MULTIPLE DATA SOURCES

Many different sources and means were used to develop the data layers,

including digitizing, modification of existing data layers, and use

of computer programs to access data bases not in GIS format.

Data layers for the digital spatial data base were developed by many different means and from many different

sources. Some layers such as canals and lakes were digitized directly from topographic quadrangles and aerial photographs; whereas other layers were created using coordinates from point data such as section corners and underground

storage tank locations. Existing layers were sometimes modified and combined to create new layers. This maintains

consistency between layers. For example, several layers were developed using the roads, canals, and section lines as

a base. These include municipal boundaries, drainage districts, and drainage basins. Several layers of data were

developed using computer programs that accessed existing nonspatial data-base formats. This allows these layers to

be recreated and updated as the nonspatial data bases are updated. These layers include the underground storage

tanks and output from the MODFLOW model particle tracking programs. The reference section, presented here, lists

the sources of data that are cited in this report.

Documentation files for each data layer were prepared using computer programs developed by Nebert and others

(see section 2.1). These files store information about the layer (map projection and source of data) and about the data

attributes (attribute descriptions, data domain, and data accuracy).
References 5

References REFERENCES

Broward County, 1989, Broward County metropolitan area map: Fort Lauderdale, 2 sheets, scale 1:28,800.

Broward County Engineering Department, 1951, Survey of township 50 south, range 42 east: Fort Lauderdale, 1 sheet.

----- 1952a, Survey of township 48 south, ranges 42 and 43 east: Fort Lauderdale, 1 sheet.

----- 1952b, Survey of township 49 south, ranges 42 and 43 east: Fort Lauderdale, 1 sheet.

----- 1952c, Survey of township 51 south, range 42 east: Fort Lauderdale, 1 sheet.

----- 1975, Stoner/Keith resurvey of a portion of township 47 south, range 41 east, all of township 48 south, range 41 east, and all

of township 49 south and range 41 east: Fort Lauderdale, 10 sheets.

----- 1977a, Stoner/Keith resurvey no. II of township 50 south, range 40 east, a portion of township 50 south, range 39 east, a

portion of township 49 south, range 39 east, and a portion of township 49 south, range 40 east: Fort Lauderdale, 11 sheets.

----- 1977b, Stoner/Keith resurvey no. III of township 50 south, range 41 east: Fort Lauderdale, 5 sheets.

----- 1985, Keith and Schnars resurvey of township 51 south, range 41 east: Fort Lauderdale, 5 sheets.

----- 1987a, Craven Thompson resurvey of the east one-half of township 51 south, range 39 east: Fort Lauderdale, 3 sheets.

----- 1987b, Craven Thompson resurvey of all of township 51 south, range 40 east: Fort Lauderdale, 5 sheets.

Broward County Engineering Division, Public Works Department, 1987, Aerial photography of Broward County, Florida: Fort

Lauderdale, scale 1:3,600.

Broward County Water Resources Management Division, 1989, Drainage district boundaries: Pompano Beach, 1 sheet.

Cooper, R.M., and Lane, James, 1987, An atlas of eastern Broward County water management basins: West Palm Beach, South

Florida Water Management District Technical Memorandum, 76 p.

Craig A. Smith & Associates, 1987, Muck probes of township 50 south, range 39 east, sections 1 to 3 and 10 to 12; and township

49 south, range 39 east, sections 34 and 35: Pompano Beach, 8 sheets.

Dolph Map Company, 1988, Dolph’s street atlas of Broward County, Florida: Fort Lauderdale, 93 p.

Fairbank, P.K., 1985, Pragmatics of an anticipatory approach to the establishment of a District-wide ambient ground-water

monitoring system: West Palm Beach, South Florida Water Management District Report, 12 p.

Fish, J.E., 1988, Hydrogeology, aquifer characteristics, and ground-water flow of the surficial aquifer system, Broward County,

Florida: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4034, 92 p.

Gallatin, M.H., and others, 1958, Soil survey (detailed reconnaissance), Dade County, Florida: U.S. Department of Agriculture,

ser. 1947, no. 4, 56 p., 13 sheets.

Kuyper, Becker, and Shopmeyer, 1981, Land use, cover and forms classification system: Florida Department of Transportation,

State Topographic Office Remote Sensing Center, Technical Manual.

McDonald, M.G., and Harbaugh, A.W., 1988, A modular three-dimensional finite-difference ground-water flow model: U.S.

Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, Book 6, Chap. A1, 586 p.

Pendleton, R.F., and others, 1984, Soil survey of Broward County, Florida, eastern part: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil

Conservation Service, 123 p., 35 sheets.

Pollock, D.W., 1989, Documentation of computer programs to compute and display pathlines using results from the U.S.

Geological Survey modular three-dimensional finite-difference ground-water flow model: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File

Report 89-381, 188 p.

Sonenshein, R.S., Fish, J.E., Causaras, C.R., and Poore, D.M., 1982, Index of hydrologic data for selected sites in Broward

County, Florida, 1939-80: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 82-920, 3 sheets.

South Florida Regional Planning Council, 1990, Southwest Broward/northwest Dade subregional study--phase II: Hollywood,

153 p.

South Florida Water Management District, 1975, West end canal 9 drainage area profile: West Palm Beach, 1 sheet, scale

1:24,000.

----- 1979, West end canal ll drainage area profile: West Palm Beach, scale 1:24,000.

----- 1988, Access to the South Florida Water Management District hydrologic data base: West Palm Beach, version 3.1, 30 p.

U.S. Geological Survey, 1989, Digital line graphs from 1:100,000-scale maps: National Mapping Program Technical Instructions

Data Users Guide 2, 88 p.

Waller, B.G., Howie, Barbara, and Causaras, C.R., 1987, Effluent migration from septic tank systems in two different lithologies,

Broward County, Florida: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4075, 22 p.
6 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

Computer Program Documentation

1.0 INTRODUCTION--Continued

1.3 Glossary of Terms

GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS AND COMMON TERMS

The glossary defines those terms and acronyms that

may be unfamiliar to the reader.

AAT Arc attribute table. Data-base table containing line attribute data.

ALBERS A standardized coordinate system commonly used for large-scale maps with a predominant east-west expanse such as the conterminous United States.

AML ARC Macro Language. Interactive, intepreted, programming language used within the

ARC/INFO software.

ARC/INFO2 A geographic information system developed by Environmental Systems Research

Institute, Redlands, Calif.

ATT Data layer attribute description file created by the DOCUMENT computer program.

ATTRIBUTE Descriptive information associated with map features.

AUTOCAD A computer-aided drafting program developed by Autodesk, Inc.

BCONRP Broward County Office of Natural Resource Protection. Before January 1989, the agency

was known as the Broward County Environmental Quality Control Board.

BND Data layer extent. The minimum and maximum coordinates that define the limits of the

features in a data layer.

CPL Command Procedure Language. Interactive, interpreted, programming language used within

the PRIMOS operating system, developed by Prime Computer, Inc., Framingham, Mass.

DANGLE LENGTH The minimum length allowed for arcs that are not connected to themselves or another arc

at one of the end points.

DATA LAYER A set of geographic features containing identity, geometric and topological location, and

attribute data.

DBHYDRO A data base system developed by the South Florida Water Management District for

storage of hydrologic data.

DD Decimal-degrees of latitude or longitude.

DLG Digital Line Graph. Line map information in digital form produced by the U.S.

Geological Survey (1989).

DMS Degrees-minutes-seconds of latitude or longitude.

DOC Data layer documentation file created by the DOCUMENT computer program.

ENDPOINT Endpoint and starting point data file created by the MODPATH computer program.

FAC Facility data file in the stationary tank inventory.

FDER Florida Department of Environmental Regulation.

FDOR Florida Department of Revenue.

FUZZY TOLERANCE The minimum distance between all arc coordinates in a data layer.

GIS Geographic Information Systems.

LOC Location file in the stationary tank inventory.

2

Use of firm and trade names in this report is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Geological 

Survey.
Computer Program Documentation 7

MODPATH A computer program that calculates particle pathlines using data from a ground-water

flow model.

NAR Data layer documentation narrative file created by the DOCUMENT computer program.

NW Northwest quadrant of the world.

NWIS National Water Information System. A data-base system developed by the U.S.

Geological Survey for storage of hydrologic data.

PAT Polygon or Point Attribute Table. Data-base table containing polygon or point attribute data.

PATHLINE Particle path data file created by the MODPATH computer program.

PLSS Public Land-Survey System. The system is comprised of township, range, and section

lines.

SFWMD South Florida Water Management District.

STI Florida Department of Environmental Regulation stationary tank inventory.

TICS Registration or geographic control points that allow data layer features to be registered to

a common coordinate system.

TIN Triangulated Irregular Network. A set of adjacent nonoverlapping triangles used to

represent the facets of a surface.

TNK Storage tank data file in the stationary tank inventory.

UNIX A system independent computer operating system.

USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture.

USGS U.S. Geological Survey.

USTARC A computer program that creates point data layers from the stationary tank inventory files.

UTM Universal Transverse Mercator. A standardized coordinate system based on the transverse

Mercator projection and commonly used for large-scale mapping.

WORKSPACE A logical computer file structure for organizing data layers and related tabular data into

related groups.

WRMD Broward County Water Resources Management Division.
8 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

2.0 COMPUTER PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION

2.1 DOCUMENT

DOCUMENT PROGRAM CREATES AND UPDATES DOCUMENTATION

FILES FOR DATA LAYERS IN A GIS

A program to create and access a data layer documentation file is documented.

This section presents the documentation for the DOCUMENT program that creates and provides access to a data

layer documentation file. Table 2.1-1 contains attributes and their descriptions within the documentation file (DOC)

and the attribute description file (ATT) that are created by this program. The documentation for the DOCUMENT

program and a sample outline for the narrative file (NAR) are listed below.

PROGRAM: DOCUMENT

AUTHOR: Douglas Nebert, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia

Original coding, February 1990

Peter VanMetre, U.S. Geological Survey, Tucson, Arizona

Tim Liebermann, U.S. Geological Survey, Carson City, Nevada

SYSTEM: ARC/INFO 5.0.1 UNIX

LANGUAGE: ARC Macro Language (AML)

RELEASE: REVO.9.1

DATE: 4/30/91

 PURPOSE: To create and access a data layer documentation file, proposed as a standard for use in the

USGS, Water Resources Division; the documentation file is created as a combination of

INFO and free-format text files that are managed as INFO files to ensure Export-Import

translation.

CALLS: ATT (ARC/INFO menu)--Attribute documentation

ATTTABLE (ARC/INFO menu)--Attribute table documentation

DOC (ARC/INFO menu)--First part of data layer documentation

DOCCITE (ARC/INFO MENU)--Second part of data layer documentation

(VARIOUS ARC 5.0 SYSTEM COMMANDS)

(INFO SUBSYSTEM)--The documentation file templates must exist as INFO files in the

ARC/INFO workspace ARCEXE50>ATOOL>ARC>DOC

USAGE: DOCUMENT <data layer> {DISPLAY | CREATE | UPDATE | DELETE}

{COPY | CITE} {source data layer}

{FILE} {output file}

ARGUMENTS:

<data layer> - Mandatory; the data layer for which documentation is being accessed

{option} - Optional; documentation process to be performed; the choices are:

DISPLAY: Default option if none is given; displays the contents of an existing documentation file

CREATE: Creates documentation files using an interactive session; four INFO files are created, all

having the root name <data layer>; the four files are the document file (.DOC), the

reference file (.REF), the attribute description file (.ATT), and the narrative file (.NAR)

UPDATE: Updates existing documentation files using an interactive session

 DELETE: Removes documentation files from <data layer>

COPY: Copies existing documentation files from another {source data layer}

CITE: Copies citation lines from the {source data layer}.DOC file to the <data layer>.REF file

FILE: Writes contents of documentation files plus the data layer log and projection file (if

present) to the sequential access file {output file}

{source data layer} - Optional; data layer with existing documentation for the COPY and CITE options

{output file} - Optional; sequential access output file to create for the FILE option
Computer Program Documentation 9

SAMPLE OUTLINE FOR NARRATIVE FILE (NAR)

1. Abstract

1.1 Keywords

1.2 Descriptors

2. Applications that use these data

2.1 Intended use of data

2.2 Limitations of data

3. Attribute discussion

4. Procedures used to create or automate data

5. Revisions made to data (revision number, date, description)

6. Reviews applied to data (review type, date, person, description)

7. Related spatial and tabular data sets

8. References cited

9. Notes

[P, provided by program; US, user specified]

Attribute Definition Source

Data Layer Documentation File (DOC)

DOC-REV Document program revision number P

CREATE-DATE DOC file create date P

UPDATE-PERSONComputer identification of update

individual P

UPDATE-DATE Latest DOC file update P

COVER Computer name of data layer P

WORKSPACE Pathname of data layer location P

EXTENT Minimum and maximum coordinates P

PRECISION Data precision P

TOLERANCES Fuzzy and dangle tolerance limits P

NUM-ARCS Number of arcs P

NUM-SEGS Number of segments P

NUM-POLYS Number of polygons P

NUM-POINTS Number of points P

NUM-TICS Number of tics P

NUM-ANNOS Number of annotation features P

THEME Theme of data layer US

DESCRIPTION Description of data layer US

CONTACT-PERSONContact person for data layer US

CONTACT-INSTRUCContact phone number US

ORGANIZATION Source organization of contact US

COVER-REV Data layer revision number US

LOCATION Location of data layer US

RESOLUTION Resolution of data layer US

Attribute Definition Source

SCALE Scale at which data layer is accurate US

ARCHIVE Archive status US

PUB-STATUS Publication status US

CITATION-1 Line 1 of citation used for REF file US

CITATION-2 Line 2 of citation used for REF file US

CITATION-3 Line 3 of citation used for REF file US

CITATION-4 Line 4 of citation used for REF file US

CITATION-5 Line 5 of citation used for REF file US

Attribute Table Documentation File (ATT)

PATHNAME Pathname of data layer location P

TYPE Type of entity to be described 

(table or column) P

FILENAME Attribute file name P

ITEMNAME Attribute name P

ITEMWIDTH Attribute width P

OUTPUTWIDTH Attribute output width for report 

making P

ITEMTYPE Attribute item type (character, number) P

NUMDECIMAL Number of decimal places (for real 

and floating point values) P

USERNAME Computer identification of entry 

update individual P

SHORTDEF Definition of attribute US

DATADOMAIN Allowed values for attribute US

DATASOURCE Source of values for attribute US

ATTACCURACY Accuracy of values for attribute US

Table 2.1-1. Attributes from data layer documentation file (DOC) and attribute table documentation file (ATT)
10 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

2.0 COMPUTER PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION--Continued

2.2 CREATEPOINT

CREATEPOINT PROGRAM CREATES POINT DATA LAYER

FROM SEQUENTIAL ACCESS FILES

A program to create point data layers with associated attributes

from a sequential access file is documented.

Below is the documentation for the CREATEPOINT program, which is used to create a point data layer from a

sequential access file. Figure 2.2-1 is a sample plot of a data layer created from the National Water Information

System (NWIS) data base.

PROGRAM: CREATEPOINT

AUTHOR: Todd W. Augenstein, U.S. Geological Survey, Richmond, Virginia

Original coding as PRIMOS CPL program

Roy S. Sonenshein, U.S. Geological Survey, Miami, Florida

Convert to ARC/INFO AML

SYSTEM: ARC/INFO 5.0.1 UNIX

LANGUAGE: ARC Macro Language (AML)

RELEASE: REV91.1

DATE: 9/01/91

PURPOSE: To create an ARC/INFO point data layer from any sequential access file; attribute data in

the file can be associated with the data layer; the user is queried for the file format for the

attribute items that are to be transferred to the ARC/INFO data layer; the user is also

queried for the output projection; this can be easily customized by the user for any

projection parameters

CALLS: CORLAB (F77)--Strips latitude and longitude from user file

APPEND (F77)--Builds input file for ARC/INFO GENERATE command

NEWFOR (F77)--Reformats user file for input into INFO

(VARIOUS ARC 5.0 SYSTEM COMMANDS)

(INFO SUBSYSTEM)

USAGE: CREATEPOINT <input file> <output data layer>

ARGUMENTS:

<input file> - Mandatory; a sequential access file containing point information; the file must consist of one line of

formatted data for each data point; each line must contain geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) that

identify the point location; these coordinates can be either in degrees-minutes-seconds (DMS) or decimal-degrees

(DD) format; the coordinates are assumed to be in the northwest quadrant (NW) of the world; longitudes and

latitudes must, therefore, be supplied as positive values; the file may also contain information (data attributes)

that describe the point

<ouput data layer> - Mandatory; the point layer to be created; the resulting data layer has associated attribute (PAT),

boundary (BND), and tic location (TIC) files; the PAT file contains attribute data from the input file
Computer Program Documentation 11

WATER QUALITY MONITORING WELL

EXPLANATION

0

0

5 MILES

5 KILOMETERS

BROWARD COUNTY

ATLANTIC

O

CEAN

Snake Creek Canal

L37 Canal

South New River Canal

L35B Canal

L35A Canal

C42 L36 Canal

North New River Canal

Middle River

Canal

Pompano Canal

Hillsboro Canal

26°00′

26°15′

80°30′ 80°15′

Figure 2.2-1. Location of water-quality monitoring stations in eastern Broward County.
12 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

2.0 COMPUTER PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION--Continued

2.3 MODELGRID

MODELGRID PROGRAM CREATES DATA LAYERS FOR USE

WITH FINITE-DIFFERENCE MODELS

A program to create polygon, line, and point data layers that can

be used to represent a finite-difference model grid is documented.

Below is the documentation of the MODELGRID program, which creates three data layers that can be used to

represent a finite-difference model grid. Figure 2.3-1 shows a model grid created for southern Broward County.

PROGRAM: MODELGRID

AUTHOR: Dan Winkless, U.S. Geological Survey, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Original coding, April 1988

Mike Kernodle, U.S. Geological Survey, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Revisions to program

SYSTEM: ARC/INFO 5.0.1 UNIX

LANGUAGE: ARC Macro Language (AML)

RELEASE: REV2.0

DATE: 8/28/91

PURPOSE: To create three ARC/INFO data layers that can be used to represent a model grid; the first

data layer contains polygons with each polygon representing a grid cell with related cell

attributes row and column number, area, and perimeter; other attributes required to run the

model can also be associated with each grid cell; this data layer is used to perform overlay

operations on other data layers such as rivers, lakes, land use, and soil types; the second

data layer contains points, with each point located at the centroid of a grid cell; these

points can have associated attributes like the polygon data layer, except that the area and

perimeter of the cell are not calculated; this data layer is useful for storing data upon

which contouring operations can be performed; the third data layer contains lines with

each line running the entire length of the grid; this data layer is used for plotting the model

grid because long straight lines will plot much faster than polygon blocks.

CALLS: GRIDDER (F77)--Builds input file of grid line endpoints to be used by the ARC/INFO

GENERATE command to create the LINE and POLYGON data layers

CNTCHK (F77)--Reads the ARC/INFO data layer centroid file and uses the coordinates

to build a file to be used by the ARC/INFO GENERATE command to create the POINT

data layer

(VARIOUS ARC 5.0 SYSTEM COMMANDS)

(INFO SUBSYSTEM)

USAGE: MODELGRID <input file> <output root name of data layers>

ARGUMENTS:

<input file> - Mandatory; a sequential access file containing the following free-formatted data:

Line 1: Number of rows, number of columns

Line 2: Counterclockwise rotation of the grid, in degrees

Line 3: The coordinates of the origin (upper left corner) of the grid in the user’s chosen

 map projection, such as Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) or ALBERS

The rest of the file consists of the row spacings followed by the column spacing specified in a free format; there

must be one value for each row and one for each column; because the input is free formatted, multiple repetitions

of a spacing can be represented using the * format (5*4000 indicates 5 rows or columns with a spacing of 4000);
Computer Program Documentation 13

on two separate lines, one after the row spacings and the other after the column spacings, is the word END

beginning in the first column; the following is a sample input file (note the flexibility of the free format):

15 20

46.

-195000. 130000.

10000,7500.,5000,5*4000

2*5000

5*7500

END

20*3000.

END

<output root name of data layers> - Mandatory; the root name of the three data layers to be created; the polygon

data layer has the appendix .POL; the point data layer created has the appendix .PTS; the line data layer created

has the appendix .ARC; the resulting data layers have associated attribute (PAT for the point and polygon data

layers, arc attribute table [AAT] for the line data layer), boundary (BND), and tic location (TIC) files; the PAT

files contain row and column numbers

0

0

5 MILES

5 KILOMETERS

BROWARD COUNTY

DADE COUNTY

ATLANTIC

O

CEAN

Snake Creek Canal

L37 Canal

South New River Canal

L35B Canal

L35A Canal

C42 L36 Canal North New River Canal

Middle River

Canal

Pompano Canal

Hillsboro Canal

26°00′

26°15′

80°30′ 80°15′

Figure 2.3-1. Eastern Broward County showing a grid generated for use with a finite-difference ground-water flow model.
14 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

2.0 COMPUTER PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION--Continued

2.4 Particle Tracking

MODPATHARC PROGRAM CREATES PARTICLE PATH DATA LAYER

A program to create data layers from the output files of

the MODPATH particle tracking program is documented.

Below is the documentation for the MODPATHARC program that can create either a line data layer from the

PATHLINE file or a point data layer from the ENDPOINT file generated by the MODPATH particle tracking

program (Pollock, 1989). Figure 2.4-1 shows a plot of a sample line data layer created by this program.

PROGRAM: MODPATHARC

AUTHOR: Roy S. Sonenshein, U.S. Geological Survey, Miami, Florida

SYSTEM: ARC/INFO 5.0.1 UNIX

LANGUAGE: ARC Macro Language (AML)

RELEASE: REV91.1

DATE: 10/10/91

PURPOSE: To create an ARC/INFO data layer from the PATHLINE or ENDPOINT output file

created by the MODPATH particle tracking program; the output data layer is either a

LINE (from PATHLINE file) or a POINT (from ENDPOINT file) data layer that contains

all attribute data (row, column, depth, time of travel) from each line of the input file

CALLS: RFMT (F77)--Reformats input file, creating a file that can used by the ARC/INFO

GENERATE command (location file) and a file that contains attribute data that can be

loaded into the data layer attribute table

(VARIOUS ARC 5.0 SYSTEM COMMANDS)

(INFO SUBSYSTEM)

USAGE: MODPATHARC <input file> <output data layer> <line|point>

<x-coordinate> <y-coordinate> <rows> <width>

ARGUMENTS:

<input file> - Mandatory; the sequential access file output by the MODPATH program; this can be either the

PATHLINE file or the ENDPOINT file

<output data layer> - Mandatory; the data layer to be created; this will be a LINE data layer if the PATHLINE file is used

or a POINT data layer if the ENDPOINT file is used; the resulting data layer has associated attribute (AAT for line and

PAT for point), boundary (BND), and tic location (TIC) files; the attribute file contains data from the input file

<line|point> - Mandatory; must be either LINE (for PATHLINE file) or POINT (for ENDPOINT file)

The next four arguments are required to convert the input file coordinates into coordinates in the user’s chosen map

projection such as UTM or ALBERS; because the MODPATH program uses the southwestern corner of the grid

as the origin and the grid is created using the northwestern corner of the grid (see section 2.3 for

MODELGRID.AML), the spacing and number of rows is required to perform the conversion

<x-coordinate> - Mandatory; the x-coordinate of the upper left corner of the model grid used in the finite-difference

flow model (McDonald and Harbaugh, 1988) that generated the files processed by the MODPATH program; this

coordinate must be in projection units such as UTM or ALBERS meters

<y-coordinate> - Mandatory; the y-coordinate of the upper left corner of the model grid used in the finite-difference

flow model (McDonald and Harbaugh, 1988) that generated the files processed by the MODPATH program; this

coordinate must be in projection units such as UTM or ALBERS meters

<rows> - Mandatory; the number of rows in the model grid used in the finite- difference flow model (McDonald

and Harbaugh, 1988) that generated the files processed by the MODPATH program

<width> - Mandatory; the grid spacing, in feet, along the Y-axis of the model grid
Computer Program Documentation 15

0 3 MILES

0 3 KILOMETERS

26°02′30′′

25°57′30′′

80°27′30′′ 80°22′30′′ 80°17′30′′

EXPLANATION

MODEL GRID

CELL

CANAL

PARTICLE

FLOW LINE

Figure 2.4-1. Sample particle paths determined by the MODPATH program for part of Broward County.
16 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

2.0 COMPUTER PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION--Continued

2.5 Underground Storage Tank Files

USTARC PROGRAM USES FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION

STATIONARY TANK INVENTORY (STI) FILES TO CREATE STORAGE TANK DATA BASE

A program to create data layers from files output

from the STI system is documented.

Below is the documentation for the USTARC program that creates point data layers from files output from the STI

system. Two data layers can be created--a facility file (information about facilities that contain storage tanks) and an

optional tank file (information about each storage tank located at a facility). Figure 2.5-1 shows the location of

storage tank facilities and the number of underground storage tanks at each facility using a data layer created from a

test data set.

PROGRAM: USTARC

AUTHOR: Roy S. Sonenshein, U.S. Geological Survey, Miami, Florida

SYSTEM: ARC/INFO

LANGUAGE: ARC Macro Language (AML)

RELEASE: REV91.1

DATE: 3/01/91

PURPOSE: To create an ARC/INFO point data layer of storage tank data and storage tank facilities

data; data are loaded from fixed-format sequential access files obtained from the STI

system; three file types can be used; the location (LOC) and facility (FAC) files are

mandatory; the storage tank (TNK) file is optional; only selected attributes are loaded

from the FAC and TNK files

CALLS: FACILITY (CPL) AND TANKS (CPL)--These programs run CREATEPOINT (AML),

which creates data layers from the LOC, FAC, and TNK files and loads attribute data

into the appropriate attribute file

(VARIOUS ARC 5.0 SYSTEM COMMANDS)

(INFO SUBSYSTEM)

USAGE: USTARC <location file> <facility file> <facility data layer>

 {tank file} {tank data layer}

ARGUMENTS:

<location file> - Mandatory; a fixed-format sequential access file (LOC) containing facility identification number,

latitude, and longitude

<facility file> - Mandatory; a fixed-format sequential access file (FAC) containing facility attributes such as owner,

address, and number of tanks

<facility data layer> - Mandatory; facility data layer to be created; the resulting data have associated attribute (PAT),

boundary (BND), and tic location (TIC) files; the PAT file contains data from the FAC file

{tank file} - Optional; a fixed-format sequential access file (TNK) containing tank attributes such as tank

identification number, size and contents of tank, and types of monitoring systems

{tank data layer} - Optional; tank data layer to be created; the resulting data layer has associated attribute (PAT),

boundary (BND), and tic location (TIC) files; the PAT file contains data from the TNK file
Computer Program Documentation 17

0

0

5 MILES

5 KILOMETERS

BROWARD COUNTY

ATLANTIC

O

CEAN

26°00′

26°15′

80°30′ 80°15′

EXPLANATION

FACILITY WITH ONE

UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK

FACILITY WITH TWO

UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS

FACILITY WITH THREE

UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS

FACILITY WITH FOUR

UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS

FACILITY WITH FIVE OR MORE

UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS

Figure 2.5-1. Location of underground storage tank facilities in eastern Broward County.
18 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

Data Layers

3.0 DATA LAYERS

3.1 Manmade Features

3.1.1 Major Roads in Southern Florida

MAJOR ROADS DATA LAYER CREATED FROM

DIGITAL LINE GRAPH (DLG) DATA

A data layer of major roads in southern Florida, modified from

the DLG data layer, was updated using more recent aerial

photography and USGS topographic quadrangles

A data layer of major roads in southern Florida was created using the 1:100,000 DLG data (U.S. Geological

Survey, 1989) as a source. The DLG data were created using maps from 1981 and earlier. Because of the rapid

growth in southern Florida, many major roads were not included. These additional roads were digitized from aerial

photography and more recent 1:24,000 USGS topographic quadrangles. This data layer is intended to be used as a

background data layer for map products and for reference to location when editing other data layers. The part of the

data layer falling within Broward County is shown in figure 3.1.1-1. Table 3.1.1-1 summarizes the data layer, and

table 3.1.1-2 describes the variables stored in the related arc attribute table.

Table 3.1.1-1. Summary of major roads line data layer for southern Florida

[Coordinates in Universal Transverse Mercator meters, zone 17. USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

Documentation attribute Value

Minimum coordinate x = 426704, y = 2764869

Maximum coordinate x = 594341, y = 2931240

Number of arcs 1,058

Number of segments 12,876

Scale 1:100,000

Data sources U.S. Geological Survey (1989)

1:24,000 USGS topographic quadrangles

Dolph Map Company (1988)

Attribute table name roads.aat

Attribute table output 94

 width (columns)

Table 3.1.1-2. Description of variables in major roads arc attribute table

Attribute Type Length Definition

NAME1 Character 20 Street or road name

NAME2 Character 15 Alternate street or road name

NUMBER1 Character 15 City, County, State, or Federal road number

NUMBER2 Character 15 City, County, State, or Federal road number

FLAG Character 1 User-defined variable
Data Layers 19

0

0

5 MILES

5 KILOMETERS

BROWARD COUNTY

ATLANTIC

O

CEAN

26°00′

26°15′

80°30′ 80°15′

Figure 3.1.1-1. Roads in the major roads data layer for eastern Broward County.
20 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

3.0 DATA LAYERS--Continued

3.1 Manmade Features--Continued

3.1.2 Municipal Boundaries

BROWARD COUNTY MUNICIPALITY DATA LAYER DIGITIZED

The boundaries for 29 municipalities were

digitized at a scale of 1:24,000

The municipal boundaries in Broward County were digitized from 1:24,000 USGS topographic quadrangles using

the major roads (see section 3.1.1) and the canals (see section 3.3.4) as reference data layers. The boundaries for 29

municipalities were obtained from the Broward County Metropolitan Area Map (Broward County, 1989). This data

layer is intended to be used as a background data layer for map products and to perform overlay operations on other

data layers. Figure 3.1.2-1 shows the municipal boundaries and the unincorporated areas within Broward County.

Table 3.1.2-1 summarizes the data layer.

Table 3.1.2-1. Summary of municipal boundaries polygon data layer for Broward 

County

[Coordinates in Universal Transverse Mercator meters, zone 17]

 Documentation attribute Value

Minimum coordinate x = 555035, y = 2870823

Maximum coordinate x = 592312, y = 2912778

Number of arcs 207

Number of segments 3,393

Number of polygons 84

Scale 1:24,000

Data source Broward County (1989)

Attribute table name city.pat

Attribute table output width columns 49
Data Layers 21

0

0

5 MILES

5 KILOMETERS

BROWARD COUNTY

ATLANTIC

O

CEAN

26°00′

26°15′

80°30′ 80°15′

EXPLANATION

INCORPORATED CITY

UNINCORPORATED AREAS

Figure 3.1.2-1. Boundaries in the municipal boundaries data layer for eastern Broward County.
22 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

3.0 DATA LAYERS--Continued

3.1 Manmade Features--Continued

3.1.3 Public Land-Survey Section Grid

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE (FDOR) TAX DATA RELATED

TO PUBLIC LAND-SURVEY SECTION GRID

A data layer consisting of the public land-survey section grid and the county line for

Broward County was created from survey point coordinates and 1:24,000 USGS

topographic quadrangles. Land-use data for each section was stored in a related data file.

The public land-survey section grid used by State, County, and municipal agencies to provide a legal description of

a site location was entered into a data layer using surveyed point coordinates and digitized data. The coordinates for

the section corners in eastern Broward County were obtained from the Broward County Engineering Department

(1951, 1952a, 1952b, 1952c, 1975, 1977a, 1977b, 1985, 1987a, and 1987b), which were then used to create the

section lines. The survey lines in the western part of the county were digitized from 1:24,000 USGS topographic

quadrangles. Usually, no section lines were shown on the maps, so only the township and range lines were digitized.

The coastline and county line used as boundaries for the data layer were also digitized from 1:24,000 USGS

topographic quadrangles. Figure 3.1.3-1 shows the entire grid for Broward County. Table 3.1.3-1 summarizes the

data layer. A related TIC file data layer containing only the section corners was created for use in digitizing from aerial

photographs and other maps where the section corners are to be used as TIC points. There are 945 TICS In this data layer.

The Florida land-use data base created by the FDOR from 1985 tax roll data was used to create a related data file

to the Public Land-Survey System (PLSS) data layer. This data file contains land-use information by PLSS section,

including the number of acres and number of parcels of each type of land use within each section (table 3.1.3-2). The

land-use codes used are the 99 codes developed by FDOR. In addition, the land uses have been subdivided by the

SFWMD into six groups based on the potential for contamination. This index is also included in the data file.

26°00′

26°15′

80°45′ 80°15′

0

0

5

5

10 MILES

10 KILOMETERS

BROWARD

COUNTY

ATLANTIC

O

CEAN

TOWNSHIP OR RANGE LINE

SECTION LINE

EXPLANATION

Figure 3.1.3-1. Public land-survey section grid for Broward County.
Data Layers 23

Table 3.1.3-1. Summary of public land-survey section grid polygon data layer for Broward County

[Coordinates in Universal Transverse Mercator meters, zone 17. FDOR, Florida Department of Revenue; USGS, 

U.S. Geological Survey]

 Documentation attribute Value

Minimum coordinate x = 511817, y = 2870740

Maximum coordinate x = 592311, y = 2912778

Number of arcs 1,743

Number of segments 3,196

Number of polygons 794

Scale 1:24,000

Data sources Broward County Engineering Department (1951, 1952a,

1952b, 1952c, 1975, 1977a, 1977b, 1985, 1987a, 1987b)

1:24,000 USGS topographic quadrangles

FDOR land-use data base

Fairbank (1985)

Attribute table name brwd_grd.pat

Attribute table output width (columns) 22

Attribute table name brwd_grd.aat

Attribute table output width (columns) 29

Related table name brwd_grd.lu

Related table definition FDOR land-use data base

Related table output width (columns) 23

Table 3.1.3-2. Description of variables in public land-survey section land-use related table

[FDOR, Florida Department of Revenue; SFWMD, South Florida Water Management District]

Attribute Type Length Definition

TRS Integer 6 Township, range, and section

DOR-CODE Integer 2 FDOR land-use code

CONT Integer 2 SFWMD contamination potential category

OCCURS Integer 5 Number of parcels of DOR-CODE within TRS

ACRES Real 8.1 Number of acres of DOR-CODE within TRS
24 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

3.0 DATA LAYERS--Continued

3.1 Manmade Features--Continued

3.1.4 Land-Use Polygons

3.1.4.1 Eastern Broward County

SFWMD LAND-USE DATA BASE UPDATED

Aerial photography from 1986 and field work were used to update SFWMD land-use polygon data files.

Land-use polygons were digitized for eastern Broward County from 1986 aerial photography. A classification

system developed for the Florida Department of Transportation (Kuyper and others, 1981) was used to define the

land-use categories. This data layer was an update of one created in 1983 by SFWMD. Digitizing and field checking

of the data were done by the South Florida Regional Planning Council. The data were then transferred to SFWMD

and edited and stored in their AUTOCAD data base by the USGS 1:24,000 quadrangle sheet. Those quadrangles

covering eastern Broward County were transferred to USGS ARC/INFO and combined into a single land-use data

layer. Figure 3.1.4.1-1 shows the level one land uses for the southwestern part of eastern Broward County. Table

3.1.4.1-1 summarizes the data layer.

Table 3.1.4.1-1. Summary of land-use polygon data layer for eastern Broward County

[Coordinates in Universal Transverse Mercator meters, zone 17]

 Documentation attribute Value

Minimum coordinate x = 549987, y = 2861774

Maximum coordinate x = 591351, y = 2917345

Number of arcs 12,141

Number of segments 45,602

Number of polygons 4,695

Scale 1:3,600

Data sources South Florida Water Management District

South Florida Regional Planning Council

Attribute table name landuse.pat

Attribute table output width (columns) 20

Related table name landuse.tab

Related table definition land-use code lookup table

Related table output width (columns) 84
Data Layers 25

EXPLANATION

LEVEL ONE LAND USE

AGRICULTURE URBAN

BARREN WATER

FORESTED WETLANDS

RANGELAND

BROWARD COUNTY

26°00′

26°07′30′′

80°30′ 80°22′30′′

0

0

3 MILES

3 KILOMETERS

Figure 3.1.4.1-1. Level one land uses in the southwestern part of eastern Broward County from the South Florida Water

Management District land-use data base.
26 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

3.0 DATA LAYERS--Continued

3.1 Manmade Features--Continued

3.1.4 Land-Use Polygons--Continued

3.1.4.2 Southwestern Part of Eastern Broward County

1987 AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY OF SOUTHWESTERN BROWARD

USED TO CREATE LAND-USE DATA LAYER

Aerial photography at a scale of 1:3,600 was used to digitize 785

land-use polygons for the southwestern part of eastern Broward County.

Land-use polygons were digitized for the southwestern part of eastern Broward County (fig. 3.1.4.2-1) as part of

the southwestern Broward and northwestern Dade subregional study, phase II (South Florida Regional Planning

Council, 1990). A classification system developed for the Florida Department of Transportation (Kuyper and others,

1981) was used to define the land-use categories. Several additional codes were added by the BCONRP. Aerial

photography at a scale of 1:3,600 supplied by the Broward County Engineering Division, Public Works Department

(1987), was used by the BCONRP to define the land-use polygons. Land-survey section corners were used as

reference (TIC) marks for digitizing from the photography. These reference marks on the aerial photography were

difficult to locate, so there was some error registering the aerial photography to known spatial coordinates. Because

the photography was at a scale of 1:3,600 and only a 1:24,000 scale was required for the study, this error was

considered acceptable. In addition, the roads (section 3.1.1) and PLSS grid (section 3.1.3) were used as references for

the land-use polygons because the polygons often coincided with these features. Table 3.1.4.2-1 summarizes this

data layer.

Table 3.1.4.2-1. Summary of land-use polygon data layer for the southwestern part of eastern Broward County

[Coordinates in Universal Transverse Mercator meters, zone 17]

 Documentation attribute Value

Minimum coordinate x = 554890, y = 2870790

Maximum coordinate x = 572188, y = 2891743

Number of arcs 1,854

Number of segments 17,486

Number of polygons 785

Scale 1:3,600

Data sources Broward County Office of Natural Resource Protection

Broward County Engineering Division, Public Works Department (1987)

Attribute table name bcluc.pat

Attribute table output width (columns) 34

Related table name bcluc.tab

Related table definition land-use code, lookup table

Related table output width (columns) 84
Data Layers 27

BROWARD COUNTY

EXPLANATION

LEVEL ONE LAND USE

AGRICULTURE

URBAN

BARREN

WATER

FORESTED

WETLANDS

RANGELAND

26°00′

26°07′30′′

80°30′ 80°22′30′′

0

0

3 MILES

3 KILOMETERS

Figure 3.1.4.2-1. Level one land uses in the southwestern part of eastern Broward County from the Broward County Office of

Natural Resource Protection land-use data base.
28 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

3.0 DATA LAYERS--Continued

3.1 Manmade Features--Continued

3.1.5 Underground Storage Tank Facilities

USTARC PROGRAM USED TO CREATE STORAGE TANK DATA LAYERS

STI files for 1,309 tanks at 509 facilities were loaded into two separate data layers using the USTARC program.

Storage tank data obtained from STI files were loaded into two separate data layers. The two data layers were

created using the program USTARC.AML described in section 2.5. Geographic coordinates provided in the STI files

were not verified. Data layer 1 includes information about facilities containing storage tanks such as gasoline stations

for Broward County (fig. 3.1.5-1 and table 3.1.5-1). Only selected attributes from the STI files were stored in the

attribute table, including the FDER facility identification number, facility name, and location and descriptive information (table 3.1.5-2). Data layer 2 contains information about the individual storage tanks at each facility (table

3.1.5-1). The selected attributes stored for this data layer include the FDER facility identification number, tank

identification number, descriptive information about the tank, and information on types of monitoring systems (table

3.1.5-2). Some of the data stored in these two layers are presented in figure 3.1.5-1, which shows the location of

facilities containing underground gasoline storage tanks.

Table 3.1.5-1. Summary of storage tank facility point data layer 1 and storage tank point data layer 2 for Broward 

County

[Coordinates in Universal Transverse Mercator meters, zone 17; STI, Florida Department of Environmental Regulation stationary tank inventory]

Documentation attribute Value (data layer 1) Value (data layer 2)

Minimum coordinate x = 517266, y = 2872747 x = 517266, y = 2872747

Maximum coordinate x = 591391, y = 2911993 x = 591391, y = 2911993

Number of points 509 1,309

Scale Unknown Unknown

Data source STI STI

Attribute table name facility.pat usts.pat

Attribute table output width (columns) 131 88

Table 3.1.5-2. Description of variables in storage tank facility point attribute table (data layer 1) and in storage tank 

point attribute table (data layer 2)

[FDER, Florida Department of Environmental Regulation; ID, identification; PLSS, Public Land-Survey System; WRTG, with respect to ground. 

Type: C, character; I, integer]

Data layer 1 Data layer 2

Attribute Type Length Definition Attribute Type Length Definition 

DERID I 9 FDER facility ID number DERID I 9 FDER facility ID number

NAME C 38 Facility name TANK-NO C 6 FDER storage tank ID number

STREET C 32 Street address SIZE I 8 Size of tank, in gallons

CITY C 20 City (facility location) CONTENTS C 1 Tank contents code

SECTION I 3 PLSS section YEAR I 2 Year tank installed

TOWNSHIP I 2 PLSS township CODE C 1 Location of tank (WRTG)

RANGE I 2 PLSS range CONST C 12 Tank construction code

SPILL C 1 Leak or spill indicator code PIPING C 9 Piping system code

BURIED I 4 Number of underground tanks MONITOR C 10 Monitoring system code

ABOVE I 4 Number of above-ground tanks STATUS C 1 Tank status code

LAT C 6 Latitude of facility

LONG C 7 Longitude of facility
Data Layers 29

0

0

5 MILES

5 KILOMETERS

BROWARD COUNTY

ATLANTIC

O

CEAN

Snake Creek Canal

L37 Canal

South New River Canal

L35B Canal

L35A Canal

C42 L36 Canal

North New River Canal

Middle River

Canal

Pompano Canal

Hillsboro Canal

26°00′

26°15′

80°30′ 80°15′

UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK

CONTAINING GASOLINE

EXPLANATION

Figure 3.1.5-1. Location of underground storage tanks containing gasoline in eastern Broward County.
30 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

3.0 DATA LAYERS--Continued

3.2 Topographic Features--Surveyed Point Land-Surface Elevations

LAND-SURFACE ELEVATIONS DATA LAYER FOR SOUTHWESTERN

PART OF EASTERN BROWARD COUNTY CONTAINS 1,163 POINTS

Land-surface elevations at 1,163 points in the southwestern part of

eastern Broward County were entered into a point data layer.

Several sources of land-surface elevations at surveyed points were digitized to produce this data layer that covers

the southwestern part of eastern Broward County. In the western parts of the Snake Creek Canal (canal 9) and the

South New River Canal (canal 11) drainage areas and in part of the North New River Canal drainage area, maps at a

scale of 1:24,000 were prepared by the South Florida Water Management District (1975; 1979). These maps

contained land-surface elevations at points located at about 1,000-ft intervals, generally along the section lines.

Survey points were digitized from aerial photographs (scale of 1:3,600) of 10 sections of land east of US-27

and south of North New River Canal (Craig A. Smith & Associates, 1987). For that section of the data layer not

covered by other sources of data, survey points were digitized from the 1:24,000 Cooper City USGS topographic

quadrangle. A total of 1,163 data points were input from the three sources (fig. 3.2-1). Table 3.2-1 summarizes the

data layer.

The land-surface elevation data layer was created to determine unsaturated thicknesses of the Biscayne aquifer for

the southwestern Broward and northwest Dade subregional study, phase II (South Florida Regional Planning Council,

1990). Because of the flat relief of the area, point land-surface elevations are very difficult to interpret. The location

on the ground where the survey rod is held can affect the results of the survey. No information is available on the

techniques used in these surveys. For this reason, any contour maps produced by computer programs from this data

layer must be carefully analyzed before the data can be used.

Table 3.2-1. Summary of surveyed point land-surface elevation point data layer

[Coordinates in Universal Transverse Mercator meters, zone 17; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

 Documentation attribute Value

Minimum coordinate x = 555856, y = 2867628

Maximum coordinate x = 572082, y = 2890388

Number of points 1,163

Scale 1:24,000

Data sources 1:24,000 USGS topographic quadrangles

South Florida Water Management District (1975; 1979)

Craig A. Smith & Associates (1987)

Attribute table name elev.pat

Attribute table output width (columns) 32
Data Layers 31

26°00′

26°07′30′′

80°30′ 80°22′30′′

BROWARD COUNTY

PRIMARY CANAL

SURVEYED LAND

SURFACE ELEVATION

POINT

LAND SURFACE

ELEVATION POINT

DIGITIZED FROM

1:24000 TOPOGRAPHIC

QUADRANGLE

EXPLANATION

0

0

3 MILES

3 KILOMETERS

Figure 3.2-1. Location of land-elevation survey points in the southwestern part of eastern Broward County.
32 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

3.0 DATA LAYERS--Continued

3.3 Hydrologic Features

3.3.1 Surface-Water Stage Data-Collection Stations

129 SURFACE-WATER DATA-COLLECTION STATIONS IN EASTERN BROWARD COUNTY

Surface-water data-collection stations at 129 locations in 

eastern Broward County were entered into a data layer.

The Broward County Water Resources Management Division (WRMD) maintains surface-water stage

data-collection stations on canals and lakes throughout eastern Broward County (fig. 3.3.1-1). Generally, stages are

measured weekly, either from staff gages or from points of known elevation. The stage data are stored by WRMD.

Latitude and longitude for these sites, reported by Sonenshein and others (1982, table 3), were transformed into UTM

coordinates (zone 17, meters) that were used to create the data layer. The site locations were not field checked.

Table 3.3.1-1 summarizes the data layer.

Table 3.3.1-1. Summary of surface-water stage data-collection stations point data layer

[Coordinates in Universal Transverse Mercator meters, zone 17]

 Documentation attribute Value

Minimum coordinate x = 556479, y = 2870941

Maximum coordinate x = 590298, y = 2912095

Number of points 129

Scale 1:24,000

Data source Sonenshein and others (1982)

Attribute table name bcwmd.pat

Attribute table output width (columns) 24 
Data Layers 33

Figure 3.3.1-1. Surface-water stage data-collection sites in eastern Broward County maintained by the Broward County Water

Resources Management Division.

0

0

5 MILES

5 KILOMETERS

BROWARD COUNTY

ATLANTIC

O

CEAN

Snake Creek Canal

L37 Canal

South New River Canal

L35B Canal

L35A Canal

C42 L36 Canal

North New River Canal

Middle River

Canal

Pompano Canal

Hillsboro Canal

26°00′

26°15′

80°30′ 80°15′

SURFACE WATER STAGE DATA

COLLECTION SITE

EXPLANATION
34 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

3.0 DATA LAYERS--Continued

3.3 Hydrologic Features--Continued

3.3.2 Rainfall Data-Collection Stations

BROWARD COUNTY HAS 52 RAINFALL DATA-COLLECTION STATIONS

Rainfall data-collection stations at 52 locations in 

Broward County were entered into a data layer.

Rainfall data-collection station locations (fig. 3.3.2-1) and attribute data were entered into a data layer using the

CREATEPOINT program (section 2.2). The locations and attribute data were retrieved from the hydrologic data

base, DBHYDRO, maintained by the South Florida Water Management District (1988). All station locations and

attributes in Broward County were retrieved from DBHYDRO and entered into the data layer. Rainfall data for these

stations are collected and stored by various agencies. Table 3.3.2-1 summarizes the data layer. The station locations

and attribute data were not verified. Only selected attributes were retrieved from DBHYDRO (table 3.3.2-2).

Table 3.3.2-1. Summary of rainfall data-collection stations point data layer

[Coordinates in Universal Transverse Mercator meters, zone 17]

 Documentation attribute Value

Minimum coordinate x = 516375, y = 2867299

Maximum coordinate x = 589894, y = 2908932

Number of points 52

Scale Unknown

Data source South Florida Water Management District (1988)

Attribute table name rainfall.pat

Attribute table output width (columns) 113

Attribute lookup tables available AGENCY, FREQ, METH, REC

Table 3.3.2-2. Description of variables in rainfall data-collection stations point attribute table

Attribute Type Length Definition

NAME Character 52 Station name

DBKE YInteger 5 Data base key identifier

METH Character 3 Computational method used to report data

FREQ Character 2 Frequency of data stored

REC Character 4 Recorder type used to collect data

BEGIN Integer 4 Begin year of data collection

END Integer 4 End year of data collection

ALTID Character 15 Source agency identifying number

AGENCY Character 4 Agency that processed the data

FLAG Character 4 User-defined code
Data Layers 35

26°00′

26°15′

80°45′ 80°15′

0

0

5

5

10 MILES

10 KILOMETERS

ACTIVE RAINFALL DATA COLLECTION STATION

INACTIVE RAINFALL DATA COLLECTION STATION

EXPLANATION

BROWARD COUNTY

ATLANTIC

O

CEAN

Figure 3.3.2-1. Rainfall data-collection stations in Broward County.
36 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

3.0 DATA LAYERS--Continued

3.3 Hydrologic Features--Continued

3.3.3 Surface-Water Control Structures

27 MAJOR SURFACE-WATER CONTROL STRUCTURES

IN EASTERN BROWARD COUNTY

Surface-water control structures at 27 locations in eastern Broward County were entered into a data layer.

Many types of surface-water control structures are used in southern Florida. These structures include lift gates,

spillways, pumping stations, gated culverts, and weirs. The locations for the major structures in eastern Broward

County were plotted on 1:24,000 USGS topographic quadrangles, from which they were digitized into a data layer

(fig. 3.3.3-1). Table 3.3.3-1 summarizes this data layer. Attribute data are summarized in table 3.3.3-2.

Table 3.3.3-1. Summary of surface-water control structures point data layer

[Coordinates in Universal Transverse Mercator meters, zone 17; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

 Documentation attribute Value

Minimum coordinate x = 553931, y = 2870833

Maximum coordinate x = 586775, y = 2912158

Number of points 27

Scale 1:24,000

Data sources 1:24,000 USGS topographic quadrangles

 Operating agency

Attribute table name structures.pat

Attribute table output width (columns 73

Attribute lookup tables available STYPE

Table 3.3.3-2. Description of variables in surface-water control structures point attribute table

 Attribute Type Length Definition

SNAME Character 15 Structure name

STYPE Integer 4 Structure type code

OPERATOR Character 30 Structure operating agency
Data Layers 37

SURFACE WATER CONTROL STRUCTURE

EXPLANATION

0

0

5 MILES

5 KILOMETERS

BROWARD COUNTY

ATLANTIC

O

CEAN

Snake Creek Canal

L37 Canal

South New River Canal

L35B Canal

L35A Canal

C42 L36 Canal

North New River Canal

Middle River

Canal

Pompano Canal

Hillsboro Canal

26°00′

26°15′

80°30′ 80°15′

Figure 3.3.3-1. Primary surface-water control structures in eastern Broward County.
38 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

3.0 DATA LAYERS--Continued

3.3 Hydrologic Features--Continued

3.3.4 Surface-Water Features--Canals and Streams

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY USED TO UPDATE CANAL DATA LAYER

A data layer of canals and streams that can be used to prepare input data sets for ground-water flow models was 

prepared from 1:24,000 USGS topographic quadrangles and 1:3,600 aerial photography.

A data layer of canals and streams for eastern Broward County was created from 1:24,000 USGS topographic

quadrangles and aerial photography. The data layer was initially created by digitizing all canals and streams from the

1:24,000 USGS topographic quadrangles. These were then plotted at a scale of 1:3,600 and compared with 1987

aerial photography for the area. Canals and streams that no longer existed were removed from the data layer, and new

canals were digitized from the photographs. The section corners (see section 3.1.3) were used as TIC marks. These

reference marks on the aerial photography were difficult to locate, so there was some error in the digitizing process.

Because the photography was at a scale of 1:3,600 and only a 1:24,000 scale was required for the study, this error was

considered acceptable. Table 3.3.4-1 summarizes the data layer.

Table 3.3.4-1. Summary of canals and streams arc data layer for eastern Broward County

[Coordinates in Universal Transverse Mercator meters, zone 17; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

Documentation attribute Value 

Minimum coordinate x = 549975, y = 2861776

Maximum coordinate x = 592572, y = 2917383

Number of arcs 6,538

Number of segments 36,914

Scale 1:24,000

Data sources 1:24,000 USGS topographic quadrangles

Broward County Engineering Division, Public Works Department (1987)

Agency maintaining canal

Attribute table name canals.aat

Attribute table output width (columns) 187
Data Layers 39

Attribute data include the data needed to prepare input data sets for the MODFLOW ground-water flow model

(McDonald and Harbaugh, 1988) and other descriptive information about the canal or stream (table 3.3.4-2). These

data were obtained from the agency that installed or managed the canal. When top widths were unavailable, they

were measured from the aerial photographs. Some attributes such as sediment thickness and hydraulic conductivity

were estimated from values for similar representative canals in the area. The length of the channel (CLENGTH),

length of bank (BLENGTH), and length of wetted perimeter (WP) were calculated from other attributes using the

following expressions:

CLENGTH = 2*((CSLOPE**2*(CELEV-BOTTOM) ** 2)+(CELEV-BOTTOM)**2)**0.5

BLENGTH = 2*((BSLOPE**2*(STAGE-CELEV)**2)+(STAGE-CELEV)**2)**0.5

WP = BLENGTH+CLENGTH+BWIDTH

where the attributes are as defined in table 3.3.4-2.

Table 3.3.4-2. Description of variables in canals and streams arc attribute table

Attribute Type Length Definition

SOURCE Integer 2. Source of canal or stream

NAME Character 15. Canal name

DISTRICT Character 20. Agency maintaining canal

SUBDIST Character 20. Basin name within 

DISTRICTBASIN Character 20. Water-management basin (Cooper and Lane, 1987)

DATE Integer 4. Date of construction

TYPE Integer 1. Use of canal

STAGE Real 4.1 Control water-level elevation (feet, sea level)

BOTTOM Real 8.1 Bottom elevation (feet, sea level)

TWIDTH Integer 3. Top width (feet)

BWIDTH Integer 3. Bottom width (feet)

COND Real 5.1 Hydraulic conductivity of bottom sediments (feet per day)

THICKNESS Real 4.1 Thickness of bottom sediments (feet)

CELEV Real 4.1 Elevation of top of channel (feet, sea level)

CSLOPE Real 8.3 Channel slope (vertical to horizontal)

BSLOPE Real 8.3 Bank slope (vertical to horizontal)

CLENGTH Real 8.3 Total length of channel slopes (feet)

BLENGTH Real 8.3 Total length of bank slopes (feet)

WP Real 8.3 Total wetted perimeter (feet)

FLAG Character 4. User-defined variable

LAYER Integer 2. Lowest model layer penetrated by canal
40 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

3.0 DATA LAYERS--Continued

3.3 Hydrologic Features--Continued

3.3.4 Surface-Water Features--Canals and Streams--Continued

Canals and streams in southern Florida are managed for three major purposes. Because surface-water features

have a major effect on the ground-water resources of the region, they are managed to provide a means of recharging

or draining the surficial aquifer system. They also are used for flood-control purposes, helping to quickly remove

excess runoff to storage areas and the ocean. Finally, they are managed to help maintain the quality of the natural

environment. This surface-water system is constantly being modified as more areas become developed. Changes

include the addition of new canals and control structures and the widening and deepening of existing canals. Figure

3.3.4-1 shows the primary and secondary drainage and recharge canals in eastern Broward County.
Data Layers 41

0

0

5 MILES

5 KILOMETERS

BROWARD

COUNTY

ATLANTIC

O

CEAN

Snake Creek Canal

L37 Canal

South New River Canal

L35B Canal

L35A Canal

C42 L36 Canal

North New River Canal

Middle River

Canal

Pompano Canal

Hillsboro Canal

26°00′

26°15′

80°30′ 80°15′

PRIMARY CANAL

SECONDARY CANAL

EXPLANATION

Figure 3.3.4-1. Primary and secondary canals in eastern Broward County.
42 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

3.0 DATA LAYERS--Continued

3.3 Hydrologic Features--Continued

3.3.5 Surface-Water Features--Lakes

2,143 LAKES LOCATED IN EASTERN BROWARD COUNTY

A data layer of lakes that can be used to prepare input data sets for ground-water flow models was prepared from 

1:24,000 USGS topographic quadrangles and 1:3,600 aerial photography.

A data layer of lakes in eastern Broward County was prepared from 1:24,000 USGS topographic quadrangles and

1:3,600 aerial photography. All of the lakes are manmade; many are active rock quarries. The data layer was created

using the same method as that used for the canals and streams data layer (section 3.3.4). Table 3.3.5-1 summarizes

the lakes data layer. The only available attribute data (area and perimeter) are automatically calculated by the GIS

software.

There is often little distinction between a canal and a lake in southern Florida. Therefore, users of this data layer

might want to use it in conjunction with the canals data layer when any analysis of lakes is made. Figure 3.3.5-1

shows the lakes and primary canals in eastern Broward County.

Table 3.3.5-1. Summary of lakes polygon data layer for eastern Broward County

[Coordinates in Universal Transverse Mercator meters, zone 17; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

 Documentation attribute Value

Minimum coordinate x = 553863, y = 2861877

Maximum coordinate x = 592144, y = 2917343

Number of arcs 2,194

Number of segments 112,083

Number of polygons 2,143

Scale 1:24,000

Data sources 1:24,000 USGS topographic quadrangles

Broward County Engineering Division, Public Works Department (1987)

Attribute table name lakes.pat

Attribute table output width (columns) 18
Data Layers 43

0

0

5 MILES

5 KILOMETERS

BROWARD COUNTY

ATLANTIC

O

CEAN

Snake Creek Canal

L37 Canal

South New River Canal

L35B Canal

L35A Canal

C42 L36 Canal

North New River Canal

Middle River

Canal

Pompano Canal

Hillsboro Canal

26°00′

26°15′

80°30′ 80°15′

Figure 3.3.5-1. Lakes and primary canals in eastern Broward County.
44 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

3.0 DATA LAYERS--Continued

3.3 Hydrologic Features--Continued

3.3.6 Water-Control District Boundaries

BROWARD COUNTY HAS 20 WATER-CONTROL DISTRICTS

A data layer of the 20 water-control districts and their basins was created for eastern Broward County.

Most of eastern Broward County is divided into water-control districts (fig. 3.3.6-1). The district responsibilities

include flood control and water management. The boundaries for these 20 districts and for the basins within the

district (Broward County Water Resources Management Division, 1989) were plotted on and digitized from 1:24,000

USGS topographic quadrangles. Table 3.3.6-1 summarizes this data layer. Surface-water features (canals and lakes)

were used as reference layers during digitizing. This layer can be used to assign values to surface-water features

within the district.

Table 3.3.6-1. Summary of water-control districts polygon data layer for eastern Broward County

[Coordinates in Universal Transverse Mercator meters, zone 17]

Documentation attribute Value

Minimum coordinate x = 555680, y = 2870827

Maximum coordinate x = 588603, y = 2912741

Number of arcs 136

Number of segments 964

Number of polygons 52

Scale 1:24,000

Data source Broward County Water Resources Management Division (1989)

Attribute table name districts.pat

Attribute table output width (columns) 56
Data Layers 45

0

0

5 MILES

5 KILOMETERS

BROWARD COUNTY

ATLANTIC

O

CEAN

26°00′

26°15′

80°30′ 80°15′

WATER CONTROL

DISTRICT BOUNDARY

WATER CONTROL

DISTRICT SUBDISTRICT

BOUNDARY

EXPLANATION

WEST LAUDERDALE

INDIAN TRACE

BAILEY

SOUTH BROWARD

CENTRAL BROWARD

TINDALL HAMMOCK

LAUDERDALE ISLES

RAVENSWOOD

PLANTATION ACRES

OLD PLANTATION

CORAL SPRINGS

NORTH LAUDERDALE

SUNSHINE

NORTH SPRINGS

WEST PARKLAND

TURTLE RUN

COCOMAR

WCD 2

PINE TREE

WCD 3

WCD 4

Figure 3.3.6-1. Water-control districts in eastern Broward County.
46 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

3.0 DATA LAYERS--Continued

3.3 Hydrologic Features--Continued

3.3.7 Water-Management Basins

BROWARD COUNTY CONTAINS 16 WATER-MANAGEMENT BASINS

A data layer of water-management basins was created for eastern Broward County.

Because southern Florida has a very flat terrain, drainage divides are extremely difficult to determine. Instead, the

region has been divided into water-management basins as shown in figure 3.3.7-1 (Cooper and Lane, 1987). The

basin boundaries for eastern Broward County were plotted on and digitized from 1:24,000 USGS topographic

quadrangles. Table 3.3.7-1 summarizes this data layer. Surface-water features (canals and lakes) were used as

reference layers during digitizing.

Table 3.3.7-1. Summary of water-management basins polygon data layer for eastern Broward 

County

[Coordinates in Universal Transverse Mercator meters, zone 17]

 Documentation attribute Value

Minimum coordinate x = 554951, y = 2870827

Maximum coordinate x = 592311, y = 2915050

Number of arcs 47

Number of segments 1,788

Number of polygons 17

Scale 1:24,000

Data source Cooper and Lane (1987)

Attribute table name basins.pat

Attribute table output width (columns) 36
Data Layers 47

0

0

5 MILES

5 KILOMETERS

BROWARD COUNTY

ATLANTIC

O

CEAN

26°00′

26°15′

80°30′ 80°15′

C-9 WEST

C-11 WEST

C-9 EAST

C-11 EAST

C-10

COAST

NNR CANAL WEST

NNR CANAL EAST

C-12

C-13 WEST

C-13 EAST

NFMR

C-14 WEST C-14 EAST

POMPANO CANAL

HILLSBORO

Figure 3.3.7-1. Water-management basins in eastern Broward County.
48 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

3.0 DATA LAYERS--Continued

3.4 Hydrogeologic Features

3.4.1 Major Soil Associations

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) MAPS USED TO

CREATE SOILS DATA LAYER

A data layer of the major soil associations was created for

southeastern Broward County and northeastern Dade County.

Soil data are needed to determine recharge characteristics when using ground-water models. The major soil

associations for southeastern Broward County (fig. 3.4.1-1) were digitized from the 1982 general soils map prepared

by Pendleton and others (1984). The major soil associations for northeastern Dade County (fig. 3.4.1-1) were

digitized from the 1958 detailed soil survey (Gallatin and others, 1958). Although these maps are at scales of

1:65,000 and 1:63,360, they are sufficient for most hydrologic applications at a scale of 1:24,000 because the

divisions between major soil associations are not clearly defined spatially. Table 3.4.1-1 summarizes this data layer.

Table 3.4.1-1. Summary of major soil associations polygon data layer for southeastern Broward County

[Coordinates in Universal Transverse Mercator meters, zone 17]

Documentation attribute Value

Minimum coordinate x = 554013, y = 2866954

Maximum coordinate x = 589768, y = 2892447

Number of arcs 88

Number of segments 1,417

Number of polygons 33

Scale 1:65,000

Data sources Gallatin and others (1958)

Pendleton and others (1984)

Attribute table name soils.pat

Attribute table output width (columns) 18

Related table name soils.lu

Related table definition major soil association lookup table

Related table output width 42
Data Layers 49

0

0

5 MILES

5 KILOMETERS

BROWARD COUNTY

DADE COUNTY

ATLANTIC

O

CEAN

26°00′

26°15′

80°30′ 80°15′

UDORTHENTS-URBAN LAND-PENNSUCO

ARENTS-URBAN LAND

DADE-URBAN LAND

DUETTE-URBAN LAND-POMELLO

HALLANDALE-MARGATE

IMMOKALEE-URBAN LAND

IMMOKALEE-URBAN LAND-POMPANO

LAUDERHILL-DANIA

PALM BEACH-URBAN LAND-BEACHES

EXPLANATION

Figure 3.4.1-1. Major soil associations in southeastern Broward County and northeastern Dade County.
50 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

3.0 DATA LAYERS--Continued

3.4 Hydrogeologic Features--Continued

3.4.2 Transmissivity Polygons

TRANSMISSIVITY DATA LAYER DIGITIZED FROM 1988 REPORT

A data layer of the generalized distribution of transmissivity of the surficial aquifer system

in Broward County was created.

The generalized distribution of transmissivity of the surficial aquifer system in Broward County (fig. 3.4.2-1) was

digitized from a 1:96,000 scale base map prepared by Fish (1988, fig. 38). The attribute data consist of boundary

lines between transmissivity ranges, with values in feet squared per day, and of polygons with transmissivity ranges

for each polygon, in feet squared per day. Table 3.4.2-1 summarizes this data layer.

Table 3.4.2-1. Summary of transmissivity polygon data layer for Broward County

[Coordinates in Universal Transverse Mercator meters, zone 17]

 Documentation attribute Value

Minimum coordinate x = 511817, y = 2870740

Maximum coordinate x = 592311, y = 2912778

Number of arcs 14

Number of segments 241

Number of polygons 8

Scale 1:96,000

Data source Fish (1988)

Attribute table name trans.aat

Attribute table output width (columns) 38

Attribute table name trans.pat

Attribute table output width (columns) 36
Data Layers 51

26°00′

26°15′

80°45′ 80°15′

BROWARD COUNTY

ATLANTIC

O

CEAN

BOUNDARY BETWEEN RANGES OF TRANSMISSIVITY

TRANSMISSIVITY RANGE IN 1000’S

OF FEET SQUARED PER DAY 75-150

EXPLANATION

0

0

5

5

10 MILES

10 KILOMETERS

<75

75-150

150-300

>300

300-1000

>1000

150-300

Figure 3.4.2-1. Generated distribution of transmissivity in Broward County.
52 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

3.0 DATA LAYERS--Continued

3.4 Hydrogeologic Features--Continued

3.4.3 Hydrogeologic Unit Depths at Selected Points

HYDROGEOLOGIC UNIT DEPTHS AND GENERALIZED LAND ELEVATIONS AT 321 POINTS 

ENTERED INTO DATA LAYER

Hydrogeologic unit depths at 321 selected points, determined from published

cross sections and contour maps, were entered into a point data layer.

Generalized land-surface elevations were also entered for each point.

Hydrogeologic unit depths were entered into a data layer containing point locations along published cross sections

(Fish, 1988, figs. 15-22) and points interpolated from published contour maps (Fish, 1988, figs. 35 and 37; Waller

and others, 1987, fig. 10). A data layer was created containing the test-well sites used for the cross sections (table

3.4.3-1). Additional data points were then entered at an interval of 1 mi along each cross section and at 1,000-ft

intervals along the coast and offshore (fig. 3.4.3-1). The bases of the surface sand, the Biscayne aquifer, and the

surficial aquifer system were then determined from the cross sections and contour maps and entered into the point

attribute table associated with the data layer (table 3.4.3-2). Approximate land-surface elevations for each data point

were entered so that the thickness of the surface sand could be calculated.

Table 3.4.3-1. Summary of hydrogeologic units point data layer at selected points in south-central 

Broward County

[Coordinates in Universal Transverse Mercator meters, zone 17]

Documentation attribute Value

Minimum coordinate x = 512732, y = 2857935

Maximum coordinate x = 592786, y = 2902469

Number of points 321

Scale 1:24,000

Data sources Waller and others (1987); Fish (1988)

Attribute table name units_pts.pat.

Attribute table output width (columns) 42

Table 3.4.3-2. Description of variables in hydrogeologic units point attribute table

[Depth in feet above or below land surface. USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

Attribute Type Length Definition

SNAME Character 10 USGS local name or report cross-section reference number

DEPTH-SS Real 4.3 Depth of the base of the surface sands

DEPTH-BS Real 4.3 Depth of the base of the Biscayne aquifer

DEPTH-SA Real 4.3 Depth of the base of the surficial aquifer system

LAND-ELEV Integer 4 Approximate elevation of land surface in feet above or below sea level
Data Layers 53

26°00′

26°15′

80°45′ 80°15′

0

0

5

5

10 MILES

10 KILOMETERS

BROWARD COUNTY

DADE COUNTY

ATLANTIC

O

CEAN

WELL LOCATION

DATA POINT INTERPOLATED FROM CROSS SECTION

DATA POINT INTERPOLATED FROM

CONTOUR MAP

EXPLANATION

Figure 3.4.3-1. Hydrogeologic unit depth information sites in Broward County and northern Dade County.
54 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida

3.0 DATA LAYERS--Continued

3.4 Hydrogeologic Features--Continued

3.4.4 Finite-Difference Model Grid for South-Central Broward County

FINITE-DIFFERENCE MODEL GRID COMBINED WITH HYDROGEOLOGIC POINT DATA 

LAYER TO DETERMINE AQUIFER THICKNESSES

A finite-difference model grid polygon data layer with an associated point data layer containing

hydrogeologic unit depths was created for south-central Broward County.

A finite-difference model grid polygon data layer was created using the MODELGRID program described in

section 2.3. The grid contains 82 rows and 120 columns (fig. 2.3-1), with a constant spacing of 1,000 ft

(304.8 meters). The x- and y-coordinates of the origin of the grid (northwest corner) in UTM units (zone 17) are

554609.3 and 2892317.6 meters, respectively. Table 3.4.4-1 summarizes the model grid data layer.

A point data layer containing a point located at the centroid of each model grid cell was also created using the

MODELGRID program (table 3.4.4-1). This data layer contains the attribute data associated with each cell of the model

grid (table 3.4.4-2). A triangulated irregular network (TIN) was produced from the hydrogeologic unit depths at selected

points data layer (section 3.4.3) in relation to the base of the surface sands, Biscayne aquifer, and surficial aquifer system

(table 3.4.3-2). Each TIN was overlain on the model point data layer to determine the values of each of these three

attributes for each grid cell. These TIN’s can also be used to produce arc data layers representing the bases of the surface

sands, Biscayne aquifer, and surficial aquifer system (fig. 3.4.4-1). A generalized land-surface elevation was also entered

for each data point so that the thickness of the surface sand could be calculated. Thicknesses for the surface sands, the

Biscayne aquifer, and the surficial aquifer system were then determined for each data point (table 3.4.4-2).

Table 3.4.4-1. Summary of finite-difference model grid polygon data layer and finite-difference model point 

data layer for south-central Broward County

[Coordinates in Universal Transverse Mercator meters, zone 17. See section 2.3 for MODELGRID program]

 Documentation attribute Value (polygon data layer) Value (point data layer)

Minimum coordinate x = 554609, y = 2867324 x = 554761, y = 2867476

Maximum coordinate x = 591185, y = 2892317 x = 591032, y = 2892165

Number of arcs 19,882 Not applicable

Number of points Not applicable 9,840

Number of segments 19,882 Not applicable

Number of polygons 9,841 Not applicable

Scale Not applicable Not applicable

Source MODELGRID program MODELGRID program

Attribute table name model.pat model_pts.pat

Attribute table output width (columns) 24 64

Table 3.4.4-2. Description of variables in finite-difference model point attribute table

[Depth in feet above or below land surface; thickness in feet]

 Attribute Type Length Definition

ROW Integer 4. Row number for finite-difference model grid

COLUMN Integer 4. Column number for finite-difference model grid

LAND-ELEV Real 4.3 Approximate elevation of land surface in feet above or below sea level

DEPTH-SS Real 4.3 Depth of the base of the surface sands

DEPTH-BS Real 4.3 Depth of the base of the Biscayne aquifer

DEPTH-SA Real 4.3 Depth of the base of the surficial aquifer system

THICK-SS Real 8.3 Thickness of the surface sands (LAND-ELEV - DEPTH-SS)

THICK-BA Real 8.3 Thickness of the Biscayne aquifer (DEPTH-SS - DEPTH-BS)

THICK-SA Real 8.3 Thickness of the surficial aquifer system (DEPTH-BS - DEPTH-SA)
Data Layers 55

26°00′

26°15′

80°45′ 80°15′

0

0

5

5

10 MILES

10 KILOMETERS

BROWARD COUNTY

DADE COUNTY

A

TLANTIC

O

CEAN

BASE-OF-AQUIFER CONTOUR--Number is altitude of base of surficial aquifer

system, in feet below sea level;

contour interval 20 feet

EXPLANATION

-200

-200

-300

-200

-200

-200

-200

Figure 3.4.4-1. Sample contours created from the Triangulated Irregular Network of the base of the surficial aquifer system in

Broward County and northern Date County.
56 Documentation of a Digital Spatial Data Base for Hydrologic Investigations, Broward County, Florida