This reference contains the imagery data used in the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Orthophotos, raw imagery, and scanned aerial photos are common files held here. Imagery can also be downloaded at: https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov The rectified, full-resolution orthoimages used to map vegetation for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail are now available through the USGS Earth Explorer imagery portal. They are housed under the "Data Set" tab, "Aerial Imagery" data, "High Resolution Orthoimagery" checkbox. If you have a specific site in mind you can search a geographic area, otherwise you may search for them in the "Dataset Name" field under the "Additional Criteria" tab using "appalachian_trail_appa" Digital 4-band—true-color and color-infrared—aerial imagery was acquired in the months of October during 3 years (2009–11) for the APPA vegetation mapping project using a plane-mounted digital camera. This set of imagery became the primary source for image interpretation and mapping. The aerial imagery was collected at a pixel resolution of 30.48 centimeters (centimeter measurement calculated from a standard 12-inch measurement). The goal of fall-dated imagery, particularly with the color infrared bands, was to capture peak leaf-phenology change of hardwood trees; thus, aiding mappers in viewing distinctions among various hardwood-forest types. With the AT corridor being nearly 3,525 kilometers in length, the aerial imagery mission was flown in segments over 3 years to capture peak-leaf phenology, after leaf color change but prior to leaf fall. Priority was given to peak-leaf phenology in the higher elevations to ensure that all forest species were in leaf-on status for viewing on computers to successfully complete fieldwork and mapping.

This reference contains the imagery data used in the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Orthophotos, raw imagery, and scanned aerial photos are common files held here. Vegetation and land use were interpreted to as detailed a level possible from high-resolution, 9” x 9” stereo pairs of 1:12,000-scale true color aerial photography. Polygons representing vegetation or land use map classes were delineated directly on-screen through heads-up digitizing using ArcGIS editing tools and transferred to a spatial database. The project used the program standard minimum mapping unit of 0.5 ha with few exceptions.

This reference contains the imagery data used in the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Orthophotos, raw imagery, and scanned aerial photos are common files held here. Vegetation and land use were interpreted to as detailed a level as possible from high-resolution, 9” x 9” stereo pairs of 1:12,000-scale true color aerial photography. Polygons representing vegetation or land use map classes were delineated on Mylar overlays on aerial photographs (where signatures were confusing) and with the heads-up digitizing technique (where signatures had high contrast), then transferred to a spatial database. The project used the national program standard minimum mapping unit of 0.5 ha with few exceptions.

This reference contains the imagery data used in the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Orthophotos, raw imagery, and scanned aerial photos are common files held here. A total of 44 map classes were developed to map the vegetation and general land cover of CUVA, including the following: 29 map classes represent natural/semi-natural vegetation types in the NVCS, 12 map classes represent cultural vegetation (agricultural and developed) in the NVCS, and 3 map classes represent non-vegetation features (open-water bodies). Features were interpreted from viewing color-infrared digital aerial imagery dated October 2010 (during peak leaf-phenology change of trees) via digital onscreen three-dimensional stereoscopic workflow systems in geographic information systems (GIS). The interpreted data were digitally and spatially referenced, thus making the spatial database layers usable in GIS. Polygon units were mapped to either a 0.5 ha or 0.25 ha minimum mapping unit, depending on vegetation type.

This reference contains the imagery data used in the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Orthophotos, raw imagery, and scanned aerial photos are common files held here. Several imagery datasets were available for the mapping project. Table 7 lists the types of imagery used in the LEWI mapping project, including the date the imagery was produced and the source of the data. Landsat satellite imagery was acquired from GLOVIS (http://glovis.usgs.gov/). SPOT 4 imagery was downloaded from EarthExplorer (http://edcsns17.cr.usgs.gov/NewEarthExplorer/). Landsat imagery at 30 m resolution consists of 7 bands: 3 visible, 2 mid-infrared, 1 shortwave infrared and 1 thermal band. SPOT 4 imagery consists of 4 bands: 2 visible (10m), 1 shortwave infrared (10m), and 1 mid-infrared (20 m). Imagery used was from the summer 2008 (Landsat) and late fall 2010 (SPOT 4) to provide a phenological contrast useful in differentiating vegetation types. Every homogeneous vegetation type has a unique reflectance which is referred to as a signature. This unique signature is often more apparent and distinct in the infrared wavelengths outside of the human eye visible spectrum, enabling a remote sensing expert to use these unique satellite signature snapshots in time to differentiate various vegetation types.

This reference contains the imagery data used in the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Orthophotos, raw imagery, and scanned aerial photos are common files held here. The project area is covered by 28 flight lines flown south to north for the 1:12,000 scale photography and 10 flight lines for the 1:40,000 scale photography. Some of the flight lines overlap with repeat flights due to elevation and scale considerations. A total of 1,412 color photographs were taken at 1:12,000 (1"=1,000') scale and 366 color photographs for the 1:40,000 (1" = 3,333') all printed on 9"x 9" paper stock. Overlap for all photographs was approximately 50-60% and sidelap between flight lines was approximately 20-30%. All photography was acquired between September 25 and October 3, 2001. Repeat dates were required due to the large area being acquired in addition to the challenging terrain. Airborne GPS was collected with a base station at the Fort Collins, Colorado Airport (Latitude: 40 26 58.07884; Longitude:-105 00 24.66076; Height:1509.710 m; Antenna ht:0.203 m). GPS points provided for a flight line point shape file and aided with the ortho-rectification process

This reference contains the imagery data used in the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Orthophotos, raw imagery, and scanned aerial photos are common files held here. The project area is covered by 28 flight lines flown south to north for the 1:12,000 scale photography and 10 flight lines for the 1:40,000 scale photography. Some of the flight lines overlap with repeat flights due to elevation and scale considerations. A total of 1,412 color photographs were taken at 1:12,000 (1"=1,000') scale and 366 color photographs for the 1:40,000 (1" = 3,333') all printed on 9"x 9" paper stock. Overlap for all photographs was approximately 50-60% and sidelap between flight lines was approximately 20-30%. All photography was acquired between September 25 and October 3, 2001. Repeat dates were required due to the large area being acquired in addition to the challenging terrain. Airborne GPS was collected with a base station at the Fort Collins, Colorado Airport (Latitude: 40 26 58.07884; Longitude:-105 00 24.66076; Height:1509.710 m; Antenna ht:0.203 m). GPS points provided for a flight line point shape file and aided with the ortho-rectification process

This reference contains the imagery data used in the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Orthophotos, raw imagery, and scanned aerial photos are common files held here. Color infrared, stereo pair 1:6,000 scale aerial photography of Valley Forge National Historical Park was acquired from an overflight on September 12, 1999, during leaf-on conditions, by Air Photographics, Inc. The photography was delivered to the National Park Service (NPS) and then forwarded to North Carolina State University where the digital orthophoto mosaic was produced.

This reference contains the imagery data used in the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Orthophotos, raw imagery, and scanned aerial photos are common files held here. Color infrared, stereo pair 1:6,000 scale aerial photography of Valley Forge National Historical Park was acquired from an overflight on September 12, 1999, during leaf-on conditions, by Air Photographics, Inc. The photography was delivered to the National Park Service (NPS) and then forwarded to North Carolina State University where the digital orthophoto mosaic was produced.

This reference contains the imagery data used in the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Orthophotos, raw imagery, and scanned aerial photos are common files held here. One complete set of aerial photography was provided for the project, including both a set of prints and diapositives. The specifications for the aerial photography are listed below: Color infrared photography (CIR) Flown October 29, 1996 - (height of the leaf change) Nominal scale - 1:6,000 (Nominal refers to the photo scale variability within each aerial photo and across flight lines. In this case the photo scale ranged from approximately 1:5,800 to 1:6,200) Approximate photo size - 9" x 9" Overlap between photos and across flight paths met the standards for photo interpretation using a mirror stereo scope. (Approximately 60% between photos and 10% - 20% between the flight lines)