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. Using the National Vegetation Classification System (NVCS) developed by Natureserve, with additional classes and modifiers, overstory vegetation communities for each park were interpreted from stereo color infrared aerial photographs using manual interpretation methods. Using a minimum mapping unit of 0.5 hectares (MMU = 0.5 ha), polygons representing areas of relatively uniform vegetation were delineated and annotated on clear plastic overlays registered to the aerial photographs. Polygons were labeled according to the dominant vegetation community. Where the polygons were not uniform, second and third vegetation classes were added. Further, a number of modifier codes were employed to indicate important aspects of the polygon that could be interpreted from the photograph (for example, burn condition). The polygons on the plastic overlays were then corrected using photogrammetric procedures and converted to vector format for use in creating a geographic information system (GIS) database for each park. In addition, high resolution color orthophotographs were created from the original aerial photographs for use in the GIS. Upon completion of the GIS database (including vegetation, orthophotos and updated roads and hydrology layers), both hardcopy and softcopy maps were produced for delivery. Metadata for each database includes a description of the vegetation classification system used for each park, summary statistics and documentation of the sources, procedures and spatial accuracies of the data. At the time of this writing, an accuracy assessment of the vegetation mapping has not been performed for most of these parks.

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. Using the National Vegetation Classification System (NVCS) developed by Natureserve, with additional classes and modifiers, overstory vegetation communities for each park were interpreted from stereo color infrared aerial photographs using manual interpretation methods. Using a minimum mapping unit of 0.5 hectares (MMU = 0.5 ha), polygons representing areas of relatively uniform vegetation were delineated and annotated on clear plastic overlays registered to the aerial photographs. Polygons were labeled according to the dominant vegetation community. Where the polygons were not uniform, second and third vegetation classes were added. Further, a number of modifier codes were employed to indicate important aspects of the polygon that could be interpreted from the photograph (for example, burn condition). The polygons on the plastic overlays were then corrected using photogrammetric procedures and converted to vector format for use in creating a geographic information system (GIS) database for each park. In addition, high resolution color orthophotographs were created from the original aerial photographs for use in the GIS. Upon completion of the GIS database (including vegetation, orthophotos and updated roads and hydrology layers), both hardcopy and softcopy maps were produced for delivery. Metadata for each database includes a description of the vegetation classification system used for each park, summary statistics and documentation of the sources, procedures and spatial accuracies of the data. At the time of this writing, an accuracy assessment of the vegetation mapping has not been performed for most of these parks.

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. Overstory vegetation was mapped using color infrared aerial photographs of 1:12,000 and 1:16,000 scale in film transparency format recorded with a standard photogrammetric mapping camera (f = 15 cm) in late October and early-November by the U. S. Forest Service and Air Photographics (Martinsville, WV). The fall photos were acquired when the leaves were still on the trees (leaf-on) and displayed a color diversity that allowed the vegetation communities/species to be identified. Photo Dates: 10/31/2001 Photo Scale: 1:12,000 Area(ac): 13698

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. Overstory vegetation was mapped using color infrared aerial photographs of 1:12,000 and 1:16,000 scale in film transparency format recorded with a standard photogrammetric mapping camera (f = 15 cm) in late October and early-November by the U. S. Forest Service and Air Photographics (Martinsville, WV). The fall photos were acquired when the leaves were still on the trees (leaf-on) and displayed a color diversity that allowed the vegetation communities/species to be identified. Photo Dates: 10/31/2001 Photo Scale: 1:12,000 Area(ac): 13698

These data were converted from the originally delivered Microsoft Access PLOTs database from the Vegetation Mapping Inventory Project of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. These comma-delimited data tables contain(s) vegetation mapping plot classification and accuracy assessment data, as well as summary information about the data itself. If a table is empty, then it was empty in the original database.

These data were converted from the originally delivered Microsoft Access PLOTs database from the Vegetation Mapping Inventory Project of Canyonlands National Park. These comma-delimited data tables contain(s) vegetation mapping plot classification and accuracy assessment data, as well as summary information about the data itself. If a table is empty, then it was empty in the original database.

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 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.

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. Remotely-sensed imagery provides the foundation for mapping vegetation types and other land cover classes. Imagery taken by the GeoEye-1 satellite/sensor was acquired from LandInfo Worldwide Mapping, LLC. The product was delivered as bundled 50 cm panchromatic and 2 meter 4-band multispectral (R, G, B, and NIR) images. The imagery has a positional accuracy of <3 m. Specifications for the GeoEye acquisition included the following: Total area for new collection of 372 square kilometers, 10% or less cloud cover , 0-20 off-nadir angle guarantee, Acquisition dates between late May and late June, 2011 Imagery satisfying the requirements was successfully acquired for the BICA project area on June 15, 2011 and delivered to CSU in July 2011. Each image was delivered as a geo-referenced product mosaicked as a single scene/image. We created a 50 cm resolution pan-sharpened set of multispectral bands to use for interpretation of vegetation. The acquisition provided 4-band imagery during the peak growing season. Additional imagery supplementing interpretation included 30 cm true-color Google Earth/Bing imagery imported to ArcGIS using Arc2Earth™ software and older true-color imagery viewed using the Google Earth online viewer.

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. Remotely-sensed imagery provides the foundation for mapping vegetation types and other land cover classes. Imagery taken by the GeoEye-1 satellite/sensor was acquired from LandInfo Worldwide Mapping, LLC. The product was delivered as bundled 50 cm panchromatic and 2 meter 4-band multispectral (R, G, B, and NIR) images. The imagery has a positional accuracy of <3 m. Specifications for the GeoEye acquisition included the following: Total area for new collection of 372 square kilometers, 10% or less cloud cover , 0-20 off-nadir angle guarantee, Acquisition dates between late May and late June, 2011 Imagery satisfying the requirements was successfully acquired for the BICA project area on June 15, 2011 and delivered to CSU in July 2011. Each image was delivered as a geo-referenced product mosaicked as a single scene/image. We created a 50 cm resolution pan-sharpened set of multispectral bands to use for interpretation of vegetation. The acquisition provided 4-band imagery during the peak growing season. Additional imagery supplementing interpretation included 30 cm true-color Google Earth/Bing imagery imported to ArcGIS using Arc2Earth™ software and older true-color imagery viewed using the Google Earth online viewer.