# Dataset Overview

## Port Info
This dataset contains daily vessel counts for 37 ports in the Gulf of Mexico, covering the years 2015 to 2022 (excluding 2020 due to COVID-19 impacts). Only commercial vessels, such as cargo, tanker, and container ships, are included. Data is aggregated daily based on port-specific geographic boundaries.

- **Source**: AIS dataset provided by the U.S. Coast Guard (open-access).
- **Format**: CSV files, with fields for `Port_ID`, `Date`, `Vessel_Count`.
- **Exclusion**: Non-commercial vessels (e.g., fishing boats, tugs).

## Tropical Cyclone Info
Details on all tropical cyclones affecting the Gulf of Mexico between 2017 and 2022 (excluding 2020). Attributes include storm trajectory, central pressure, wind speed, and other meteorological data.

- **Source**: National Hurricane Center (NHC).
- **Format**: CSV, with fields for `Cyclone_ID`, `Date`, `Location`, `Central_Pressure`, and `Wind_Speed`.

### Data Fields
1. **objectid**: Unique identifier for each cyclone record.
2. **year**: The year in which the cyclone occurred.
3. **name**: The official name of the cyclone.
4. **begin_time**: The start time of the cyclone event, typically when it first impacted the Gulf of Mexico.
5. **end_time**: The end time of the cyclone event.
6. **Maximum_Category**: Highest category reached by the cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson scale during its lifecycle.
7. **Central_Pressure (mb)**: Minimum central pressure of the cyclone, measured in millibars (mb).
8. **Max_Wind (kts)**: Maximum sustained wind speed during the cyclone, measured in knots (kts).
9. **Wind_lat**: Latitude of the maximum wind impact area.
10. **Wind_lon**: Longitude of the maximum wind impact area.
11. **begin_lat**: Starting latitude where the cyclone first impacted the region.
12. **begin_lon**: Starting longitude where the cyclone first impacted the region.
13. **landfall_lat**: Latitude at the point where the cyclone made landfall.
14. **landfall_lon**: Longitude at the point where the cyclone made landfall.
15. **landfall_wind**: Wind speed at the time of landfall.
16. **landfall_time**: Time at which the cyclone made landfall.
17. **state_affects**: States or regions affected by the cyclone.
18. **trajectory**: General trajectory accessing URL.

## Port-Cyclone Interaction Data
This dataset captures interaction records between tropical cyclones and Gulf of Mexico ports, covering 21 cyclones and 37 ports with 777 interaction records. Key factors include port location, governance, vessel types, harbor size, maximum hurricane category, and wind conditions during landfall. Impact days are calculated based on outliers detected via an additive regression algorithm.

- **Source**: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).
- **Format**: CSV, with fields for `Port_ID`, `Cyclone_ID`, `Impact_Days`, and other factors.

### Data Fields
Below is a description of each column in the dataset:
1. **port**: The name or identification code of the port.
2. **hurricane**: Name or identification code of the hurricane affecting the port.
3. **day**: Specific impact days of the a event recorded.
4. **state**: The state or region where the port is located.
5. **port_governance**: Type or level of governance structure that manages the port.
6. **containership**: Information on the capacity or presence of container ships at the port.
7. **dominate_vessel_types**: The primary types of vessels frequenting the port.
8. **port_lon**: Longitude coordinate of the port's location.
9. **port_lat**: Latitude coordinate of the port's location.
10. **grand_total**: The overall count or capacity of the port (e.g., total number of vessels or cargo volume).
11. **port_type**: Classification of the port (e.g., commercial, fishing, recreational).
12. **Harbor_Size**: Size classification of the harbor (e.g., small, medium, large).
13. **Harbor_Type**: Type of harbor, potentially indicating its infrastructure or specialization.
14. **shelter**: Indicates the level of shelter provided by the port against adverse weather.
15. **year_y**: Year of the data record or hurricane event.
16. **Maximum_Category**: Highest category of the hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale during the event.
17. **Max_Wind_kts**: Maximum wind speed in knots recorded during the hurricane event.
18. **Wind_lat**: Latitude of the maximum wind impact area.
19. **Wind_lon**: Longitude of the maximum wind impact area.
20. **begin_lat**: Starting latitude where the hurricane began.
21. **begin_lon**: Starting longitude where the hurricane began.
22. **landfall_lat**: Latitude at the point where the hurricane made landfall.
23. **landfall_lon**: Longitude at the point where the hurricane made landfall.
24. **landfall_wind**: Wind speed recorded at the time of landfall.
25. **landfall_dur**: Duration of the hurricane’s impact at landfall.
26. **duration**: Total duration of the hurricane event.
27. **begin_distance**: Distance from the hurricane’s beginning point to the port.
28. **wind_distance**: Distance from the maximum wind impact area to the port.
29. **land_distance**: Distance from the landfall point to the port.

# Data Documentation

Each dataset includes the following documentation:
- **Data Dictionary**: Defines each field, data type, and value.
- **Codebook**: Detailed explanations of specific terms, metrics, and categorical values.
- **Metadata Schema**: Follows DCAT-US Schema v1.1 for maximum data utility.

# Metadata and Tools

- **Tools Required**: Any standard spreadsheet application (Excel, Google Sheets) for CSV files and a Notepad or TextEdit for README.txt metadata.
- **Quality Control**: Each dataset has undergone validation to ensure data accuracy.

# References
[1] Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center. "Vessel Traffic (AIS) Data." Marine Cadastre. Accessed November 5, 2024. https://hub.marinecadastre.gov/pages/vesseltraffic 
[2] National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Analyses & Forecasts, Data & Tools, Educational Resources, and Archives. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024. https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ 
[3] U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Port Performance Freight Statistics Program. https://www.bts.gov/ports 