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. GRBA’s spatial database and map layer was produced from high-resolution 2007 Digital Map, Inc. imagery provided to CTI by the NPS. By comparing the signatures on the imagery to field and ground data, 64 map units (48 vegetated, four barren geology and snow, and 12 land-use / land-cover) were developed and the vegetation map units were directly cross-walked or matched to their corresponding rUSNVC plant associations. The interpreted and remotely sensed data were converted to Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial geodatabases and maps were printed, field tested, reviewed, and revised.

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. In order to accommodate the complex vegetation patterns often found in National Park units and generally maintain a minimum mapping unit of 0.5 ha, a three-tiered scheme was developed for attributing vegetation polygons. Where appropriate, secondary and tertiary vegetation classes are added to describe mixed-plant communities within the polygon. Secondary and tertiary classes were especially useful for describing ecotones, and for polygons with a patchwork of communities below the minimum mapping unit size. Final products included seamless park-wide GIS databases in ArcGIS geodatabase and ArcView shapefile formats of detailed overstory vegetation communities, along with vegetation statistics, hardcopy maps and orthophoto images plotted at large scale corresponding to the park area.

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. In order to accommodate the complex vegetation patterns often found in National Park units and generally maintain a minimum mapping unit of 0.5 ha, a three-tiered scheme was developed for attributing vegetation polygons. Where appropriate, secondary and tertiary vegetation classes are added to describe mixed-plant communities within the polygon. Secondary and tertiary classes were especially useful for describing ecotones, and for polygons with a patchwork of communities below the minimum mapping unit size. Final products included seamless park-wide GIS databases in ArcGIS geodatabase and ArcView shapefile formats of detailed overstory vegetation communities, along with vegetation statistics, hardcopy maps and orthophoto images plotted at large scale corresponding to the park area.

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 map was designed to facilitate ecologically- based natural resources management at a 1:24,000 scale with 0.5-ha minimum map unit size. Based on a provisional assessment, overall accuracy was 82.5% for Level 1 and 66.8% for Level 2. Level 1 units will likely be sufficient and most appropriate for many natural resource planning and evaluations, while Level 2 units provide added fine-scale information within major ecological groups. To support the map as a management tool, we provide an annotated map legend along with descriptions of each plant association, a corresponding diagnostic key, field forms, and a plant species list. The map was delivered in both printed form and as digital Geographic Information System (GIS) map files. The GIS format allows flexibility to update the map as new information becomes available, or as major vegetation changes, such as fire, disease or other impacts, occur in the park.

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 map was designed to facilitate ecologically- based natural resources management at a 1:24,000 scale with 0.5-ha minimum map unit size. Based on a provisional assessment, overall accuracy was 82.5% for Level 1 and 66.8% for Level 2. Level 1 units will likely be sufficient and most appropriate for many natural resource planning and evaluations, while Level 2 units provide added fine-scale information within major ecological groups. To support the map as a management tool, we provide an annotated map legend along with descriptions of each plant association, a corresponding diagnostic key, field forms, and a plant species list. The map was delivered in both printed form and as digital Geographic Information System (GIS) map files. The GIS format allows flexibility to update the map as new information becomes available, or as major vegetation changes, such as fire, disease or other impacts, occur in the park.

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 plot data analysis, the preliminary vegetation map was edited and refined to produce a revised preliminary vegetation map prior to thematic accuracy assessment (AA). Using ArcMap 9.2 (ESRI 1999-2006), polygon boundaries were revised on-screen using the newly acquired aerial orthophotography (digital photomosaic) based on the classification plot data, field observations, classification analyses, aerial photography signatures, and topographic maps. Each polygon was assigned the USNVC Community Element Global (CEGL) code of a preliminary vegetation association based on the information sources listed above. Second, third, and fourth CEGL code choices were entered in cases of uncertainty, or for polygons representing mosaics of two or more vegetation types.

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 plot data analysis, the preliminary vegetation map was edited and refined to produce a revised preliminary vegetation map prior to thematic accuracy assessment (AA). Using ArcMap 9.2 (ESRI 1999-2006), polygon boundaries were revised on-screen using the newly acquired aerial orthophotography (digital photomosaic) based on the classification plot data, field observations, classification analyses, aerial photography signatures, and topographic maps. Each polygon was assigned the USNVC Community Element Global (CEGL) code of a preliminary vegetation association based on the information sources listed above. Second, third, and fourth CEGL code choices were entered in cases of uncertainty, or for polygons representing mosaics of two or more vegetation types.

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 BITH map consists of 51 map classes. Land cover classes include five types: pasture / hay ground agricultural vegetation; non – vegetated / barren land, borrow pit, cut bank; developed, open space; developed, low – high intensity; and water. The 46 vegetation classes represent 102 associations or park specials. Of these, 75 represent natural vegetation associations within the USNVC, and 27 types represent unpublished park specials. Of the 46 vegetation map classes, 26 represent a single USNVC association/park special, 7 map classes contain two USNVC associations/park specials, 4 map classes contain three USNVC associations/park specials, and 9 map classes contain four or more USNVC associations/park specials. Forest and woodland types had an abundance of Pinus taeda, Liquidambar styraciflua, Ilex opaca, Ilex vomitoria, Quercus nigra, and Vitis rotundifolia. Shrubland types were dominated by Pinus taeda, Ilex vomitoria, Triadica sebifera, Liquidambar styraciflua, and/or Callicarpa americana. Herbaceous types had an abundance of Zizaniopsis miliacea, Juncus effusus, Panicum virgatum, and/or Saccharum giganteum.

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 BITH map consists of 51 map classes. Land cover classes include five types: pasture / hay ground agricultural vegetation; non – vegetated / barren land, borrow pit, cut bank; developed, open space; developed, low – high intensity; and water. The 46 vegetation classes represent 102 associations or park specials. Of these, 75 represent natural vegetation associations within the USNVC, and 27 types represent unpublished park specials. Of the 46 vegetation map classes, 26 represent a single USNVC association/park special, 7 map classes contain two USNVC associations/park specials, 4 map classes contain three USNVC associations/park specials, and 9 map classes contain four or more USNVC associations/park specials. Forest and woodland types had an abundance of Pinus taeda, Liquidambar styraciflua, Ilex opaca, Ilex vomitoria, Quercus nigra, and Vitis rotundifolia. Shrubland types were dominated by Pinus taeda, Ilex vomitoria, Triadica sebifera, Liquidambar styraciflua, and/or Callicarpa americana. Herbaceous types had an abundance of Zizaniopsis miliacea, Juncus effusus, Panicum virgatum, and/or Saccharum giganteum.

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 TOP 2015 imagery was mosaiced and manipulated using image processing and segmentation techniques (e.g. unsupervised image classification, normalized difference vegetation index, etc.) to highlight any subtle vegetation signature differences. All of the preliminary results were evaluated for usefulness and the best examples were first converted to digital lines and polygons, were next combined with other relevant AMIS GIS layers (such as the roads network), and the results were used as the base layer for the new AMIS vegetation mapping effort. Building off the base layer, all relevant lines and polygons were exported as shapefiles and converted to ArcGIS coverages. The resulting coverages were run through a series of smoothing routines provided in the ArcGIS software. Following the smoothing, all digital line-work was manipulated to remove extraneous lines, eliminate small polygons, and merged polygons that split obvious stands of homogeneous vegetation. The cleaning stage was considered complete when all resulting polygons matched homogenous stands of vegetation apparent on the TOP 2015 imagery. At this point, the mapping shifted to manual techniques and all vegetation lines and polygons were visually inspected and manually moved, edited and/or updated as needed.