A vector GIS dataset of candidate areas for terrestrial ecological restoration based on landscape context. The dataset was created using NLCD 2011 (www.mrlc.gov) and morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) (http://forest.jrc.ec.europa.eu/download/software/guidos/mspa/). There are 13 attributes for the polygons in the dataset, including presence and length of roads, candidate area size, size of surround contiguous natural areas, soil productivity, presence and length of road, areas suitable for wetland restoration, and others. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Wickham, J., K. Riiters, P. Vogt, J. Costanza, and A. Neale. An inventory of continental U.S. terrestrial candidate ecological restoration areas based on landscape context. RESTORATION ECOLOGY. Blackwell Publishing, Malden, MA, USA, 25(6): 894-902, (2017).

The files linked to this reference are the geospatial data created as part of the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Current format is ArcGIS file geodatabase but older formats may exist as shapefiles. Following the vegetation data analysis, the vegetation cover-type map was edited and refined to develop a preliminary association-level vegetation map. Using ArcView 3.2, polygon boundaries were revised onscreen based on the plot data, field observations, classification analyses, aerial photography signatures, and topographic maps. Each polygon was assigned the name of a preliminary vegetation association based on the five information sources listed above. A mirror stereoscope type F-71 and a Bausch and Lomb zoom stereoscope were used to interpret the aerial photography signatures. The field-collected “true” or “reference” GPS coordinates for the remaining 41 points were compared to the coordinates obtained from the mosaic viewed in ArcMap.

The files linked to this reference are the geospatial data created as part of the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Current format is ArcGIS file geodatabase but older formats may exist as shapefiles. Following the vegetation data analysis, the vegetation cover-type map was edited and refined to develop a preliminary association-level vegetation map. Using ArcView 3.2, polygon boundaries were revised onscreen based on the plot data, field observations, classification analyses, aerial photography signatures, and topographic maps. Each polygon was assigned the name of a preliminary vegetation association based on the five information sources listed above. A mirror stereoscope type F-71 and a Bausch and Lomb zoom stereoscope were used to interpret the aerial photography signatures. The field-collected “true” or “reference” GPS coordinates for the remaining 41 points were compared to the coordinates obtained from the mosaic viewed in ArcMap.

The files linked to this reference are the geospatial data created as part of the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Current format is ArcGIS file geodatabase but older formats may exist as shapefiles. ArcGIS software was used as the GIS platform for the onscreen digital mapping. Because the 3D images were viewed directly in the GIS environment, vegetation could be mapped directly into ArcGIS. The polygon vector data were stored using an ArcGIS file geodatabase, which was projected in in Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), Zone 15, by using the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). The NPS VIP standard MMU of 0.5 ha was applied to mapping forest and cultural types. For shrub, herbaceous, and sparsely vegetated types, as well as non-vegetation features, a MMU of 0.25 ha was applied. This smaller MMU was applied because these vegetation types were comparatively rare across the park, the degree of vegetation diversity over small areas was higher, and the isolated patches across MISS were more prevalent. For woodlands, a MMU of 0.5 ha was applied to deciduous woodlands and a MMU of 0.25 ha was applied to conifer woodlands due to the individual circumstances surrounding these woodlands. Also, when vegetation types were found unique to their immediate surroundings (e.g., an herbaceous wetland within an upland forest), mapping below the MMU was allowed. All geospatial products for the MISS vegetation mapping project have been projected in UTM, Zone 15, by using the NAD 83.

The files linked to this reference are the geospatial data created as part of the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Current format is ArcGIS file geodatabase but older formats may exist as shapefiles. ArcGIS software was used as the GIS platform for the onscreen digital mapping. Because the 3D images were viewed directly in the GIS environment, vegetation could be mapped directly into ArcGIS. The polygon vector data were stored using an ArcGIS file geodatabase, which was projected in in Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), Zone 15, by using the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). The NPS VIP standard MMU of 0.5 ha was applied to mapping forest and cultural types. For shrub, herbaceous, and sparsely vegetated types, as well as non-vegetation features, a MMU of 0.25 ha was applied. This smaller MMU was applied because these vegetation types were comparatively rare across the park, the degree of vegetation diversity over small areas was higher, and the isolated patches across MISS were more prevalent. For woodlands, a MMU of 0.5 ha was applied to deciduous woodlands and a MMU of 0.25 ha was applied to conifer woodlands due to the individual circumstances surrounding these woodlands. Also, when vegetation types were found unique to their immediate surroundings (e.g., an herbaceous wetland within an upland forest), mapping below the MMU was allowed. All geospatial products for the MISS vegetation mapping project have been projected in UTM, Zone 15, by using the NAD 83.

The files linked to this reference are the geospatial data created as part of the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Current format is ArcGIS file geodatabase but older formats may exist as shapefiles. The final MNRR vegetation map consists of 3,590 polygons totaling 69,011 ac (27,928 ha). Mean polygon size is 12.1 ac (4.90 ha). Of the total area, 37,789 ac (15,293 ha) or 55% represent natural or ruderal vegetation map classes. Agricultural vegetation such as cultivated crops and pasture account for approximately 6,238 ac (2,524 ha) or 9% of the total mapped area. Non-vegetated barren land was rare, only accounting for 45 ac (18 ha) or 0.1%. Developed areas such as open mowed fields, parking lots, buildings, and others account for approximately 1,562 ac (632 ha) or 2%. Open water is the most widespread land cover class, with an area of approximately 23,422 ac (9,479 ha) or 34% of the total mapped area. Within the total area occupied by vegetation map classes, forest and woodland types were the most extensive (17,007 ac (6,882 ha) or 46%), followed by herbaceous types (11,457 ac (4,636 ha) or 31%), sparse types (6,287 ac (2,544 ha) or 16%), and shrubland types (3,038 ac (1,229 ha) or 7%).

The files linked to this reference are the geospatial data created as part of the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Current format is ArcGIS file geodatabase but older formats may exist as shapefiles. The final MNRR vegetation map consists of 3,590 polygons totaling 69,011 ac (27,928 ha). Mean polygon size is 12.1 ac (4.90 ha). Of the total area, 37,789 ac (15,293 ha) or 55% represent natural or ruderal vegetation map classes. Agricultural vegetation such as cultivated crops and pasture account for approximately 6,238 ac (2,524 ha) or 9% of the total mapped area. Non-vegetated barren land was rare, only accounting for 45 ac (18 ha) or 0.1%. Developed areas such as open mowed fields, parking lots, buildings, and others account for approximately 1,562 ac (632 ha) or 2%. Open water is the most widespread land cover class, with an area of approximately 23,422 ac (9,479 ha) or 34% of the total mapped area. Within the total area occupied by vegetation map classes, forest and woodland types were the most extensive (17,007 ac (6,882 ha) or 46%), followed by herbaceous types (11,457 ac (4,636 ha) or 31%), sparse types (6,287 ac (2,544 ha) or 16%), and shrubland types (3,038 ac (1,229 ha) or 7%).

The files linked to this reference are the geospatial data created as part of the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Current format is ArcGIS file geodatabase but older formats may exist as shapefiles. All of the interpreted and remotely sensed data were converted to Geographic Information System (GIS) databases using ArcMap© software and are included in a comprehensive geodatabase. Draft maps created from the vegetation classification were field-tested and revised before independent ecologists conducted an assessment of the map’s accuracy during 2014.

The files linked to this reference are the geospatial data created as part of the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Current format is ArcGIS file geodatabase but older formats may exist as shapefiles. All of the interpreted and remotely sensed data were converted to Geographic Information System (GIS) databases using ArcMap© software and are included in a comprehensive geodatabase. Draft maps created from the vegetation classification were field-tested and revised before independent ecologists conducted an assessment of the map’s accuracy during 2014.