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. 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. A digital vegetation map for GARI was developed as a personal geodatabase using Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) ArcGIS software. The geodatabase includes a point feature class for locations of plots and two polygon-feature classes (clipped by the park boundary and unclipped) for vegetation, including non-vegetated land cover. The vegetation map includes 31 map classes. Upland communities comprise about 86% of the park area and are represented by 13 map classes. Two upland map classes each include patches of two associations, all others represent single associations.

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. A digital vegetation map for GARI was developed as a personal geodatabase using Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) ArcGIS software. The geodatabase includes a point feature class for locations of plots and two polygon-feature classes (clipped by the park boundary and unclipped) for vegetation, including non-vegetated land cover. The vegetation map includes 31 map classes. Upland communities comprise about 86% of the park area and are represented by 13 map classes. Two upland map classes each include patches of two associations, all others represent single associations.

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. A digital vegetation map was produced as a personal geodatabase using Environmental Systems Research Institute ArcGIS software. The base layer for vegetation mapping was a digital orthophoto mosaic of the park developed by North Carolina State University from color infra-red aerial photography flown for this project in April 2003. The geodatabase includes separate point feature classes for plots, transects, and observations, and polygon feature classes (clipped and unclipped by the park boundary) for vegetation and non-vegetated map classes. The vegetation map consists of 47 map classes, including 15 upland forest and woodland vegetation types, one lichen and sparse vegetation type, 15 riparian vegetation types, two headwater wetland vegetation types, three aquatic feature types, eight cultural and disturbed types, and three transportation feature 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 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.

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.

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. October 29, 1996: Aerial photography for Rock Creek Park is flown February 25, 1997: Initial meeting at Rock Creek Park headquarters - acquisition of aerial photography and ancillary data including existing vegetation maps March - April 1997: First cut delineations onto aerial photography of the photo signatures (see Figure 3 - Rock Creek Park Photo Index). May 12 - 16, 1997: Photointerpretation field reconnaissance trip, TNC training of park biologists in field sampling methodology May - June 1997: Develop initial list of photo signature types, Revise initial delineations based on field reconnaissance findings, Label existing polygons with photo signature types, Deliver copies of overlays to park biologists for plot selection and feedback June - September 1997: Park vegetation sampling effort February 19, 1998: Received draft TNC report of the vegetation classification for Rock Creek March 1998: Received final TNC report on the vegetation classification for Rock Creek, Received plot data and locations for vegetation sampling effort, Received TNC key for communities, Development of PI signature / TNC community lookup table, Polygons attributized with initial communities April 1998: Received DOQQ files (April 1989) May 11-12, 1998: Photointerpretation field verification trip May 1998: Revise photo signature / TNC community lookup table, Update and correct PI community calls and PI linework June - October 1998: Data rectification and conversion, Interim files and plots delivered to NPS-ROCR, Final documentation

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. October 29, 1996: Aerial photography for Rock Creek Park is flown February 25, 1997: Initial meeting at Rock Creek Park headquarters - acquisition of aerial photography and ancillary data including existing vegetation maps March - April 1997: First cut delineations onto aerial photography of the photo signatures (see Figure 3 - Rock Creek Park Photo Index). May 12 - 16, 1997: Photointerpretation field reconnaissance trip, TNC training of park biologists in field sampling methodology May - June 1997: Develop initial list of photo signature types, Revise initial delineations based on field reconnaissance findings, Label existing polygons with photo signature types, Deliver copies of overlays to park biologists for plot selection and feedback June - September 1997: Park vegetation sampling effort February 19, 1998: Received draft TNC report of the vegetation classification for Rock Creek March 1998: Received final TNC report on the vegetation classification for Rock Creek, Received plot data and locations for vegetation sampling effort, Received TNC key for communities, Development of PI signature / TNC community lookup table, Polygons attributized with initial communities April 1998: Received DOQQ files (April 1989) May 11-12, 1998: Photointerpretation field verification trip May 1998: Revise photo signature / TNC community lookup table, Update and correct PI community calls and PI linework June - October 1998: Data rectification and conversion, Interim files and plots delivered to NPS-ROCR, Final documentation