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. Mapping was conducted using a combination of aerial photointerpretation and field delineation using a Trimble ProXR GPS with a TSCe datalogger/display unit. This device, running TerraSync software, was extremely useful during the multiple visits because it allowed us to view and verify existing data while collecting new information. Since Weir Farm is a relatively small site, walking the perimeter of each vegetation type with a GPS unit delineated most mapping polygons. Other polygons, such as the Northeastern Buttonbush Shrub Swamp and the mountain laurel variants of several of the upland forests, were determined by the photointerpretation of the 2001 DEP black and white aerial photos (1:12,000). Lines were drawn. on acetate overlays on the photos and then screen-digitized in ArcView 3x. This combination of field-collected lines and interpreted polygons was converted into the final map.

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. Vegetation communities were delineated for the Mt. Wanda sub-unit of the John Muir National Historic Site in the summer of 2004. A total of 13 alliances and 18 associations were identified in the study area. These 13 alliances represent 7 formation types and 4 classes: forest, woodland, shrubland and herbaceous vegetation. The plot locations encompass every vegetation type and include every aspect and elevation of Mt. Wanda. Included in the report are an alliance level map and a class level map using the black and white aerial photograph of 2000. There are eight polygons that were classified to the alliance level and were visited, but do not have an association assignment because a rapid assessment plot was not done within the polygon. There are two polygons called “facilities” which have some vegetation cover but consist mostly of buildings or horse corrals. In future mapping efforts, these polygons should be included in vegetation analysis since they may have structures removed and/or restoration projects associated with them. The horse corrals are particularly important for management of invasive species since some are a source for specific invasive species not found in other locations on Mt. Wanda, such as purple starthistle (Centaurea calcitrapa) and perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) (Bossard et al. 2000).

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. Just over 698 acres, including 214 acres in the authorized boundary of HOME and an additional 484 acres in the environs, were mapped using ten map classes (Figure 5). This included four land cover classes and six vegetation classes. Of all the map units, the most frequent was Fraxinus pennsylvanica / Ulmus spp. / Celtis occidentalis Forest with 21 polygons. Fraxinus pennsylvanica / Ulmus spp. / Celtis occidentalis Forest was also the most abundant map unit in terms of area other than cropfields in the environs, covering 219 acres (89 hectares) or about 13% of the project area. All of the frequencies for each map unit (i.e., number of polygons) along with acreage per map unit are listed in Table 3. Normally the standard minimum mapping unit for NPS vegetation mapping projects is defined as 0.5 hectare. However this is a nominal unit and due to the small size of HOME and the resolution of the imagery it was reduced to allow for more detail in the mapping. Therefore, 13 of the total 60 polygons were under 0.5 hectare. The average area of polygons for this project was 28.8 acres (11.6 hectares).

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 total of 188 acres (76 hectares) were within the accepted boundaries of HEHO. The standard minimum mapping unit for NPS vegetation inventory projects is defined as 0.5 hectare, although several mapped polygons were smaller for HEHO. Restored tallgrass prairie made up most of the current vegetation of the park, and accounted for 71.6 acres (29 hectares) in nine polygons, or 58.0% of the total non-developed area. Pasture and old field made up 38.9 acres (15.7 hectares), or 31.6% of the area, in a single polygon. Forb ruderal herbaceous vegetation made up 7.4% of the area in four polygons, and bottomland ruderal woodland made up 2.8 acres (1.1 hectares), or 1.1% of the area. Reed canarygrass, western herbaceous vegetation made up <1% of the area, and within the context of the vegetation of HEHO, is considered an undesirable, non-natural vegetation type. A total of 25 polygons were mapped, with an average area of 7.52 acres (3.04 hectares). Minimum Mapping Unit = 0.5 hectare Minimum Patch Size=.006 hectares Total Size = 25 Polygons Average Polygon Size = 7.52 acres (3.04 hectares) Overall Thematic Accuracy = 98.7% Project Completion Date: 12/2013

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 total of 188 acres (76 hectares) were within the accepted boundaries of HEHO. The standard minimum mapping unit for NPS vegetation inventory projects is defined as 0.5 hectare, although several mapped polygons were smaller for HEHO. Restored tallgrass prairie made up most of the current vegetation of the park, and accounted for 71.6 acres (29 hectares) in nine polygons, or 58.0% of the total non-developed area. Pasture and old field made up 38.9 acres (15.7 hectares), or 31.6% of the area, in a single polygon. Forb ruderal herbaceous vegetation made up 7.4% of the area in four polygons, and bottomland ruderal woodland made up 2.8 acres (1.1 hectares), or 1.1% of the area. Reed canarygrass, western herbaceous vegetation made up <1% of the area, and within the context of the vegetation of HEHO, is considered an undesirable, non-natural vegetation type. A total of 25 polygons were mapped, with an average area of 7.52 acres (3.04 hectares). Minimum Mapping Unit = 0.5 hectare Minimum Patch Size=.006 hectares Total Size = 25 Polygons Average Polygon Size = 7.52 acres (3.04 hectares) Overall Thematic Accuracy = 98.7% Project Completion Date: 12/2013

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 map showing the locations of vegetation associations in the park was created, following the NVIP protocols. Digital geospatial databases were created for the ROVA project in its entirety. In early spring 2006, following the vegetation classification plot data analysis, the 2003 preliminary vegetation map of the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt NHS (excluding Roosevelt Farm and Forest), Val-Kill, and Vanderbilt Mansion NHS was edited and refined to produce a revised vegetation map prior to thematic accuracy assessment (AA). In addition, in early spring of 2008, the 2007 Roosevelt Farm and Forest preliminary vegetation map was edited and refined to produce a revised vegetation map prior to AA. Using ArcMap 9.2 (ESRI 1999-2006), both preliminary maps were revised by editing polygon boundaries on-screen based on the classification plot data, field observations, classification analyses, aerial photography signatures, and topographic maps.

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 map showing the locations of vegetation associations in the park was created, following the NVIP protocols. Digital geospatial databases were created for the ROVA project in its entirety. In early spring 2006, following the vegetation classification plot data analysis, the 2003 preliminary vegetation map of the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt NHS (excluding Roosevelt Farm and Forest), Val-Kill, and Vanderbilt Mansion NHS was edited and refined to produce a revised vegetation map prior to thematic accuracy assessment (AA). In addition, in early spring of 2008, the 2007 Roosevelt Farm and Forest preliminary vegetation map was edited and refined to produce a revised vegetation map prior to AA. Using ArcMap 9.2 (ESRI 1999-2006), both preliminary maps were revised by editing polygon boundaries on-screen based on the classification plot data, field observations, classification analyses, aerial photography signatures, and topographic maps.

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. Several imagery sources were used to derive the vegetation map, primarily Light Imaging and Detection Radar (LiDAR) and aerial imagery from the National Agriculture Imagery Program. The eCognition software package and Berkley Imaging Segmentation was used to create the initial image segments and polygon map. The mean values of variable inputs were summarized for each of the training data polygons and were used to generate a predictive non-parametric model using RandomForest in the statistical program R. The model was then applied to all polygons. The resulting draft map was reviewed by experts familiar with the vegetation types of the area. The final map includes 24 classes, representing 3 land cover types and 21 alliance-based map classes. A field-based, blind random sample accuracy assessment of the map was carried out in mid-August 2011 and December 2011. A total of 175 accuracy assessment points were collected. Based on the assessment, the total map accuracy was 88.9%, exceeding the program standard of 80%.

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. Several imagery sources were used to derive the vegetation map, primarily Light Imaging and Detection Radar (LiDAR) and aerial imagery from the National Agriculture Imagery Program. The eCognition software package and Berkley Imaging Segmentation was used to create the initial image segments and polygon map. The mean values of variable inputs were summarized for each of the training data polygons and were used to generate a predictive non-parametric model using RandomForest in the statistical program R. The model was then applied to all polygons. The resulting draft map was reviewed by experts familiar with the vegetation types of the area. The final map includes 24 classes, representing 3 land cover types and 21 alliance-based map classes. A field-based, blind random sample accuracy assessment of the map was carried out in mid-August 2011 and December 2011. A total of 175 accuracy assessment points were collected. Based on the assessment, the total map accuracy was 88.9%, exceeding the program standard of 80%.