Medium resolution true color ortho images for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, distributed by MassGIS. The photography for the entire commonwealth was captured in April 2005 when deciduous trees were mostly bare and the ground was generally free of snow. Original imagery pixel resolution is 1/2-meter.Original image type is 4-band (RGBN) natural color (Red, Green, Blue) and Near infrared in 8 bits (values ranging 0-255) per band format. This map service contains only the RGB bands and uses the "contrast stretched" JPEG 2000 versions MassGIS Produced from the original GeoTiff files. Image horizontal accuracy is +/-3 meters at the 95% confidence level at the nominal scale of 1:5,000. This digital orthoimagery can serve a variety of purposes, from general planning, to field reference for spatial analysis, to a tool for development and revision of vector maps. It can also serve as a reference layer or basemap for myriad applications inside geographic information system (GIS) software. The project was funded by the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Massachusetts Highway Department, and the Department of Public Health.For full metadata visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massgis-data-2005-aerial-imagery.

In spring 2013 and 2014, the U.S. Geological Survey contracted for true-color imagery covering three urban areas in Massachusetts as defined by the USGS. Those areas are the metropolitan Boston area (and beyond), the greater Worcester area, and the greater Springfield area. Image type for all of the areas is 24 bit, 4-band (red, green, blue, and near-infrared RGBN) portions of the spectrum. Each band has pixel values ranging 0-255. Pixel resolution is 0.3 meters (30 centimeters), or approximately one foot.This digital orthoimagery can serve a variety of purposes, from general planning, to field reference for spatial analysis, to a tool for data development and revision of vector maps. It can also serve as a reference layer or basemap for myriad applications inside geographic information system (GIS) software.It was created to provide easily accessible geospatial data which is readily available to enhance the capability of Federal, State, and local emergency responders, as well as plan for homeland security efforts. These data also support The National Map.This image service was created using JPEG 2000 versions of the imagery that MassGIS converted from GeoTiffs and distributes online.For more information see the imagery's MassGIS metadata page.

This is a seven-category land-cover map of Billerica, Massachusetts. The seven categories are: bare soil, coniferous trees, decidous trees, grass, impervious surface, water, and wetlands. Note: Complete metadata is available within the downloaded zip file. This metadata can be viewed with ESRI ArcGIS software, and can be exported to FGDC and ISO metadata formats.

This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for macroalgae in Massachusetts. Vector points in this data set represent macroalgae vegetation beds. Species-specific abundance, seasonality, status, life history, and source information are stored in associated data tables (described below) designed to be used in conjunction with this spatial data layer. This data set is a portion of...

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management compiled Massachusetts vector shorelines into an updated dataset for the Office’s Shoreline Change Project. The Shoreline Change Project started in 1989 to identify erosion-prone areas of the Massachusetts coast by compiling a database of historical shoreline positions. Trends of shoreline position over long- and short-term timescales provide information to landowners, managers, and potential buyers about possible future changes to costal resources and infrastructure. This updated dataset strengthens the understanding of shoreline position change in Massachusetts. It includes U.S. Geological Survey vector shorelines edited for quality control from the mid-1800s to 1989, 1994, 2001, 2007–9, and 2010–14; and one new shoreline from 2018.

To produce the 2018 vector shoreline, the U.S. Geological Survey analyzed lidar of the Massachusetts coastline collected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The 2018 vector shoreline was extracted by either a profile method or contour method, depending on the location of the shoreline. The study area included shorelines adjacent to Massachusetts Bay (excluding Boston Harbor), Cape Cod Bay, part of Buzzards Bay (excluding the Elizabeth Islands), Outer Cape Cod, and Nantucket Sound, including the shorelines of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

This is a seven-category land-cover map of Beverly, Massachusetts. The seven categories are: bare soil, coniferous trees, decidous trees, grass, impervious surface, water, and wetlands. Note: Complete metadata is available within the downloaded zip file. This metadata can be viewed with ESRI ArcGIS software, and can be exported to FGDC and ISO metadata formats.

The political boundary datalayer is a polygon representation of town boundaries created from arcs developed from survey coordinates extracted from the 68-volume Harbor and Lands Commission Town Boundary Atlas for the 351 communities (cities and towns) in Massachusetts. The Atlas was published in the early 1900's and is maintained by the Survey Section of Massachusetts Highway Department. For communities with a coastal boundary, MassGIS has collaborated with Massachusetts Water Resources Authority and the Department of Environmental Protection to complete a 1:12000 scale coastline. The boundary for the coastline was defined as being the upland side of tidal flats and rocky inter-tidal zones. Note that the 351 communities are the official municipal names, not including "villages" or other sections of towns. Note: Complete metadata is available within the downloaded zip file. This metadata can be viewed with ESRI ArcGIS software, and can be exported to FGDC and ISO metadata formats.

In spring 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey, as part of its Boston 133 Cities Urban Area mapping program, contracted for true-color imagery covering the metropolitan Boston area and beyond. Image type for the entire region (more than 1.7 million acres) is 24-bit, 3-band (red, green, blue) natural color. Each band has pixel values ranging 0-255. Pixel resolution is 30 cm., or approximately one foot. In spring 2009, USGS continued the project and 4-band 30cm imagery was obtained for the remainder of the state.This digital orthoimagery can serve a variety of purposes, from general planning, to field reference for spatial analysis, to a tool for data development and revision of vector maps. It can also serve as a reference layer or basemap for myriad applications inside geographic information system (GIS) software.The data are served from MassGIS' ArcGIS Online account as a tiled cached map service for fast display.For full metadata and links to download the imagery visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massgis-data-20082009-aerial-imagery.

Spring 2023 "true color" aerial imagery for Massachusetts, published as a tile layer at ArcGIS Online by MassGIS.This layer is based on 8-bit, 15 cm resolution JPEG 2000 versions of GeoTiff imagery, using the Red-Green-Blue bands.Funding for this imagery was provided by MassDOT, the State 911 Department, and the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS).This digital orthoimagery was created to provide easily accessible geospatial data which are readily available to enhance the capability of federal, state, and local emergency responders, as well as to plan for homeland security efforts. These data also support The National Map.These images can serve a variety of purposes, from general planning to field reference for spatial analysis, to a tool for data development and revision of vector maps. The imagery can also serve as a reference layer or basemap for myriad applications inside geographic information system (GIS) software and web-based maps.More details...

This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for vernal pools in Massachusetts. Vector points in this data set represent vernal pools that have been certified by MADFW NHESP. Species-specific abundance, seasonality, status and source information are stored in associated data tables (described below) designed to be used in conjunction with this spatial data layer. This data set is a portion of the ESI data for Massachusetts, Rhode Island. As a whole, the ESI data characterize the marine and coastal environments and wildlife by their sensitivity to spilled oil, and include information for three main components: shoreline habitats, sensitive biological resources, and human-use resources. See also the HABITAT (Habitat Polygon) data layer for additional information.

Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) is a neuroinvasive arbovirus that is found throughout North America and increasingly recognized as a public health concern. From 2004 to 2012, an average of 1.7 confirmed cases were reported annually in the United States, whereas from 2013 to 2018 this figure increased over seventeen-fold to 29.2 cases per year. The rising number of reported human infections highlights the need for better understanding of the clinical manifestations and epidemiology of JCV. Here, we describe nine patients diagnosed with neuroinvasive JCV infection in Massachusetts from 2013, the year of the first reported case in the state, to 2017. Because current diagnostic testing relies on serology, which is complicated by cross-reactivity with related orthobunyaviruses and can be negative in immunosuppressed patients, we developed and evaluated an RT-qPCR assay for detection of JCV RNA. We tested this on the available archived serum from two patients, but did not detect viral RNA. JCV is transmitted by multiple mosquito species and its primary vector in Massachusetts is unknown, so we additionally applied the RT-qPCR assay and confirmatory RNA sequencing to assess JCV prevalence in a vector candidate, Ochlerotatus canadensis. We identified JCV in 0.6% of mosquito pools, a similar prevalence to neighboring Connecticut. We assembled the first Massachusetts JCV genome directly from a mosquito sample, finding high identity to JCV isolates collected over a 60-year period. Further studies are needed to reconcile the low vector prevalence and low rate of viral evolutionary change with the increasing number of reported cases.

Hydrography polygon features in Easton, Massachusetts. Compiled from 2017 vector mapping project conducted by WSP. The aerial photographic mission was carried out on April 12, 2017. The vector data was collected at scale of 1"= 40'.

This is a seven-category land-cover map of North Andover, Massachusetts. The seven categories are: bare soil, coniferous trees, decidous trees, grass, impervious surface, water, and wetlands. Note: Complete metadata is available within the downloaded zip file. This metadata can be viewed with ESRI ArcGIS software, and can be exported to FGDC and ISO metadata formats.

Parking areas of more than 4 spaces in Easton, Massachusetts. Compiled from 2017 vector mapping project conducted by WSP. The aerial photographic mission was carried out on April 12, 2017. The vector data was collected at scale of 1"= 40'.

Large vegetation and land covers greater than .25 acres in Easton, Massachusetts. Compiled from 2017 vector mapping project conducted by WSP. The aerial photographic mission was carried out on April 12, 2017. The vector data was collected at scale of 1"= 40'.

This data set contains vector lines representing coastal habitats of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, classified by their susceptibility to oiling. The Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) classification system, developed by NOAA, considers several natural and biological factors when ranking an intertidal range's sensitivity and persistence of oil impacts. This data set is a portion of the ESI...

Buildings and structures greater than 64 sq ft in Easton, Massachusetts. Compiled from 2017 vector mapping project conducted by WSP. The aerial photographic mission was carried out on April 12, 2017. The vector data was collected at scale of 1"= 40'.

In spring of 2013 and 2014, the U.S. Geological Survey contracted for true-color imagery covering the entire state of Massachusetts. Image type for all of the areas is 24 bit, 4-band (red, green, blue, and near-infrared RGBN) portions of the spectrum. Each band has pixel values ranging 0-255. Pixel resolution is 0.3 meters (30 centimeters), or approximately one foot.

This digital orthoimagery can serve a variety of purposes, from general planning, to field reference for spatial analysis, to a tool for data development and revision of vector maps. It can also serve as a reference layer or basemap for myriad applications inside geographic information system (GIS) software.

It was created to provide easily accessible geospatial data which is readily available to enhance the capability of Federal, State, and local emergency responders, as well as plan for homeland security efforts. These data also support The National Map.

This tiled cached image service was created using JPEG 2000 versions of the imagery that MassGIS converted from GeoTiffs and distributes online. The tile cache displays the red, green and blue bands and is visible from scales 1:4,622,324 to 1:564.

For more information see the imagery's MassGIS metadata page.

This is a seven-category land-cover map of Andover, Massachusetts. The seven categories are: bare soil, coniferous trees, decidous trees, grass, impervious surface, water, and wetlands.

            Note: Complete metadata is available within the downloaded zip file. This metadata can be viewed with
            ESRI ArcGIS software. These files can also be exported to FGDC and ISO metadata formats.

Driveways in Easton, Massachusetts. Compiled from 2017 vector mapping project conducted by WSP. The aerial photographic mission was carried out on April 12, 2017. The vector data was collected at scale of 1"= 40'.