Environmental Sensitivity Index
Data Specifications
- Area of Coverage: U.S. coastline, including Alaska, Hawaii, and American territories
- Dates Available: Varies by location
- Format: Varies based on location and age of the data. PDF available for all areas. GIS data available for most areas in a variety of formats, including Geodatabase, Shapefile, and ArcExport. GIS data also viewable in a free viewer.
- Resolution/Scale: 1:24,000, except in Alaska, where the scale is 1:63,000
- Minimal Mapping Unit: 50 meters
- Accuracy: Varies based on original source of shoreline
Overview
The Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps and data are a compilation of shoreline, biological, and human use resources. The shoreline is classified by physical and biological characteristics and then ranked by its sensitivity to oiling. Biological resources are mapped hierarchically by element (such as bird, fish, invertebrate, and habitat), subelement (such as raptor, diadromous, bivalve, and coral) and species, and include attributes such as seasonality, threatened and endangered status, and concentration. Mapped human use resources include managed areas (such as state parks and preserves), historical sites, marinas, and beaches, among others.