LANDFIRE's (LF) Existing Vegetation Cover (EVC) represents the vertically projected percent cover of the live canopy for a 30m cell. EVC is produced separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms. Training data depicting percentages of canopy cover are obtained from plot-level ground-based visual assessments and lidar observations. These are combined with Landsat imagery (from multiple seasons), topographic, climate, and other geospatial data sets to inform models built independently for each lifeform. Tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms each have a potential range from 10% to 100%. The three independent lifeform datasets are merged into a single product. The EVC product is then reconciled through QA/QC measures to ensure lifeform is synchronized with both Existing Vegetation Height (EVH) and Type (EVT) products. Disturbance events not visible in the source imagery are accounted for by incorporating LF Remap Annual Disturbance products. LF uses EVC as an input for LF Remap Fuel Vegetation Cover (FVC).

LANDFIRE's (LF) Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) represents the current distribution of the terrestrial ecological systems classification developed by NatureServe for the western hemisphere. In this context, a terrestrial ecological system is defined as a group of plant community types that tend to co-occur within landscapes with similar ecological processes, substrates, and/or environmental gradients. EVT also includes ruderal or semi-natural vegetation types within the U.S. National Vegetation Classification [(NVC) http://usnvc.org/]. See the EVT product page (https://www.landfire.gov/evt.php) for more information about ecological systems and NVC. EVT is mapped using decision tree models, field data, Landsat imagery, elevation, and biophysical gradient data. Decision tree models are developed separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms which are then used to produce a lifeform specific EVT product. These models are generated for each Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Level III Ecoregion (https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/ecoregions). Riparian, alpine, sparse and other site-specific EVTs are constrained by predetermined masks. Urban and developed areas are derived from the National Land Cover Database (NLCD), whereas agricultural lands originate from the Cropland Data Layer (CDL) and Common Land Unit (CLU) database. Developed ruderal classes are identified by combining wildland-urban-interface (WUI) data with population density information from the US Census Bureau. Annual Disturbance products are included to describe areas that have experienced landscape change within the previous 10-year period. EVT is then reconciled through QA/QC measures to ensure lifeform is synchronized with both Existing Vegetation Cover (EVC) and Height (EVH) products.

LANDFIRE's (LF) Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) represents the current distribution of the terrestrial ecological systems classification developed by NatureServe for the western hemisphere. In this context, a terrestrial ecological system is defined as a group of plant community types that tend to co-occur within landscapes with similar ecological processes, substrates, and/or environmental gradients. EVT also includes ruderal or semi-natural vegetation types within the U.S. National Vegetation Classification [(NVC) http://usnvc.org/]. See the EVT product page (https://www.landfire.gov/evt.php) for more information about ecological systems and NVC. EVT is mapped using decision tree models, field data, Landsat imagery, elevation, and biophysical gradient data. Decision tree models are developed separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms which are then used to produce a lifeform specific EVT product. These models are generated for each Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Level III Ecoregion (https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/ecoregions). Riparian, alpine, sparse and other site-specific EVTs are constrained by predetermined masks. Urban and developed areas are derived from the National Land Cover Database (NLCD), whereas agricultural lands originate from the Cropland Data Layer (CDL) and Common Land Unit (CLU) database. Developed ruderal classes are identified by combining wildland-urban-interface (WUI) data with population density information from the US Census Bureau. Annual Disturbance products are included to describe areas that have experienced landscape change within the previous 10-year period. EVT is then reconciled through QA/QC measures to ensure lifeform is synchronized with both Existing Vegetation Cover (EVC) and Height (EVH) products.

LANDFIRE's (LF) 2016 Remap (Remap) Existing Vegetation Cover (EVC) represents the vertically projected percent cover of the live canopy for a 30m cell. EVC is produced separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms. Training data depicting percentages of canopy cover are obtained from plot-level ground-based visual assessments and lidar observations. These are combined with Landsat imagery (from multiple seasons), topographic, climate, and other geospatial data sets to inform models built independently for each lifeform. Tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms each have a potential range from 10% to 100%. The three independent lifeform datasets are merged into a single product. The EVC product is then reconciled through QA/QC measures to ensure lifeform is synchronized with both Existing Vegetation Height (EVH) and Type (EVT) products. Disturbance events not visible in the source imagery are accounted for by incorporating LF Remap Annual Disturbance products. LF uses EVC as an input for LF Remap Fuel Vegetation Cover (FVC).

LANDFIRE's (LF) 2016 Remap (Remap) Existing Vegetation Cover (EVC) represents the vertically projected percent cover of the live canopy for a 30m cell. EVC is produced separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms. Training data depicting percentages of canopy cover are obtained from plot-level ground-based visual assessments and lidar observations. These are combined with Landsat imagery (from multiple seasons), topographic, climate, and other geospatial data sets to inform models built independently for each lifeform. Tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms each have a potential range from 10% to 100%. The three independent lifeform datasets are merged into a single product. The EVC product is then reconciled through QA/QC measures to ensure lifeform is synchronized with both Existing Vegetation Height (EVH) and Type (EVT) products. Disturbance events not visible in the source imagery are accounted for by incorporating LF Remap Annual Disturbance products. LF uses EVC as an input for LF Remap Fuel Vegetation Cover (FVC).

LANDFIRE's (LF) Existing Vegetation Cover (EVC) represents the vertically projected percent cover of the live canopy for a 30m cell. EVC is produced separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms. Training data depicting percentages of canopy cover are obtained from plot-level ground-based visual assessments and lidar observations. These are combined with Landsat imagery (from multiple seasons), topographic, climate, and other geospatial data sets to inform models built independently for each lifeform. Tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms each have a potential range from 10% to 100%. The three independent lifeform datasets are merged into a single product. The EVC product is then reconciled through QA/QC measures to ensure lifeform is synchronized with both Existing Vegetation Height (EVH) and Type (EVT) products. Disturbance events not visible in the source imagery are accounted for by incorporating LF Remap Annual Disturbance products. LF uses EVC as an input for LF Remap Fuel Vegetation Cover (FVC).

LANDFIRE's (LF) Existing Vegetation Cover (EVC) represents the vertically projected percent cover of the live canopy for a 30m cell. EVC is produced separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms. Training data depicting percentages of canopy cover are obtained from plot-level ground-based visual assessments and lidar observations. These are combined with Landsat imagery (from multiple seasons), topographic, climate, and other geospatial data sets to inform models built independently for each lifeform. Tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms each have a potential range from 10% to 100%. The three independent lifeform datasets are merged into a single product. The EVC product is then reconciled through QA/QC measures to ensure lifeform is synchronized with both Existing Vegetation Height (EVH) and Type (EVT) products. Disturbance events not visible in the source imagery are accounted for by incorporating LF Remap Annual Disturbance products. LF uses EVC as an input for LF Remap Fuel Vegetation Cover (FVC).

LANDFIRE's (LF) 2022 update (LF 2022) Existing Vegetation Cover (EVC) represents the vertically projected percent cover of the live canopy for a 30-m cell. EVC is produced separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms. Training data depicting percentages of canopy cover are obtained from plot-level ground-based visual assessments and lidar observations. These are combined with Landsat imagery (from multiple seasons), to inform models built independently for each lifeform. Tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms each have a potential range from 10% to 100% (cover values less than 10% are binned into the 10% value). The three independent lifeform datasets are merged into a single product based on the dominant lifeform of each pixel. The EVC product is then reconciled through QA/QC measures to ensure lifeform is synchronized with Existing Vegetation Height (EVH). Urban and developed areas are derived from the National Land Cover Database (NLCD), and the latest available Microsoft Building Footprint dataset. Agricultural lands originate from the 2022 Cropland Data Layer (CDL) and the 2019 California Statewide Crop Mapping layer. Disturbance events after 2016 are accounted for by incorporating transition rulesets using LF 2022 Fuel Disturbance (FDist). LF uses EVC as an input for LF 2022 Fuel Vegetation Cover (FVC).

LANDFIRE's (LF) 2022 update (LF 2022) Existing Vegetation Cover (EVC) represents the vertically projected percent cover of the live canopy for a 30-m cell. EVC is produced separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms. Training data depicting percentages of canopy cover are obtained from plot-level ground-based visual assessments and lidar observations. These are combined with Landsat imagery (from multiple seasons), to inform models built independently for each lifeform. Tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms each have a potential range from 10% to 100% (cover values less than 10% are binned into the 10% value). The three independent lifeform datasets are merged into a single product based on the dominant lifeform of each pixel. The EVC product is then reconciled through QA/QC measures to ensure lifeform is synchronized with Existing Vegetation Height (EVH). Urban and developed areas are derived from the National Land Cover Database (NLCD), and the latest available Microsoft Building Footprint dataset. Agricultural lands originate from the 2022 Cropland Data Layer (CDL) and the 2019 California Statewide Crop Mapping layer. Disturbance events after 2016 are accounted for by incorporating transition rulesets using LF 2022 Fuel Disturbance (FDist). LF uses EVC as an input for LF 2022 Fuel Vegetation Cover (FVC).

LANDFIRE's (LF) 2016 Remap (Remap) Existing Vegetation Cover (EVC) represents the vertically projected percent cover of the live canopy for a 30m cell. EVC is produced separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms. Training data depicting percentages of canopy cover are obtained from plot-level ground-based visual assessments and lidar observations. These are combined with Landsat imagery (from multiple seasons), topographic, climate, and other geospatial data sets to inform models built independently for each lifeform. Tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms each have a potential range from 10% to 100%. The three independent lifeform datasets are merged into a single product. The EVC product is then reconciled through QA/QC measures to ensure lifeform is synchronized with both Existing Vegetation Height (EVH) and Type (EVT) products. Disturbance events not visible in the source imagery are accounted for by incorporating LF Remap Annual Disturbance products. LF uses EVC as an input for LF Remap Fuel Vegetation Cover (FVC).