Field Plots Metadata

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Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
• Spatial_Reference_Information
• Entity_and_Attribute_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: James P. Vanderhorst

Publication_Date: 20080219

Title:

Bluestone National Scenic River Vegetation Mapping Project - Field Plot Points

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

Online_Linkage: <http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/ftp/vegmapping/blue/blueplot.zip>

Description:

Abstract:

This feature class contains point features which represent locations of vegetation sampling plots in Bluestone National Scenic River. Location coordinates for most plots were collected using a global positioning system and details on these data are included in the attribute table. Attributes for GPS data follow the field naming conventions of Trimble Pathfinder Office software. The attribute table also includes information on date of plot sampling, surveyors names, and community classification. Complete data from plots is archived in the Plots2-WV database maintained by the West Virginia Natural Heritage Program.

Purpose:

The purpose of this data is to provide locations of plots. These plots were sampled in order to develop a classification of natural and semi-natural vegetation in Bluestone National Scenic River.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 2003

Ending_Date: 2005

Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Status:

Progress: Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed

Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent:

Bluestone National Scenic River and environs, located in Mercer and Summers Counties, West Virginia.

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -81.028922

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -80.940473

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 37.611215

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 37.517784

Local_Bounding_Coordinates:

Left_Bounding_Coordinate: 497447.366996

Right_Bounding_Coordinate: 505253.789004

Bottom_Bounding_Coordinate: 4152316.000003

Top_Bounding_Coordinate: 4162679.999997

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Theme_Keyword: vegetation

Theme_Keyword: plots

Theme_Keyword: GPS

Theme_Keyword: natural communities

Theme_Keyword: plant communities

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: National Park Service Theme Category Thesaurus

Theme_Keyword: Vegetation

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category

Theme_Keyword: biota

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Place_Keyword: Bluestone River

Place_Keyword: Mercer County

Place_Keyword: Summers County

Place_Keyword: West Virginia

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: National Park System Unit Name Thesaurus

Place_Keyword: Bluestone National Scenic River

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: National Park System Unit Code Thesaurus

Place_Keyword: BLUE

Taxonomy:

Keywords/Taxon:

Taxonomic_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Taxonomic_Keywords: Standardized National Vegetation Classification System

Taxonomic_Keywords: vegetation classification

Taxonomic_Keywords: alliance

Taxonomic_Keywords: community association

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Kingdom

Taxon_Rank_Value: Plantae

Access_Constraints: none

Use_Constraints: none

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: James P. Vanderhorst

Contact_Organization: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address

Address: PO Box 67, Ward Road

City: Elkins

State_or_Province: WV

Postal_Code: 26241

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 304-637-0245

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: jimvanderhorst@wvdnr.gov

Contact_Position: Community Ecologist

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 3; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.2.6.1500

Native_Dataset_Format: Shapefile

Data_Quality_Information:

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Points were derived from Trimble GPS Coordinates or hand mapped on topographic maps.

Completeness_Report: Includes all plots sampled for project.

Lineage:

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Plots were subjectively chosen to sample the geographic range and ecological diversity of the study area. Plot locations were selected along elevational gradients or to sample unique community types as they were encountered in the field. An ecological land unit model was developed to improve sampling equity across landform, elevation, aspect, and geological gradients. Throughout the project, plots were located to represent high quality natural vegetation (relatively weed free, away from roads and other human caused ground disturbance, etc) for natural types, but semi-natural types (e.g. successional forests, old fields) and cultural types (e.g. pine plantation) were also sampled. Point features were produced from locational coordinates collected using GPS units (Trimble GeoExplorer, GeoXT; Garmin ETrek) or from points mapped by hand on topographic maps. GPS data from Trimble units were post-process differentially corrected and exported as attributed GIS files using Trimble Pathfinder Office software. Plot points were attributed with community names determined by the vegetation classification.

Process_Date: 20080116

Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: James P. Vanderhorst

Contact_Organization: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address

Address: PO Box 67

City: Elkins

State_or_Province: WV

Postal_Code: 26241

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 304-637-0245

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: jimvanderhorst@wvdnr.gov

Contact_Position: Community Ecologist

Process_Software_and_Version: ArcInfo Version 9

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Process description: The vegetation plots shapefile was altered to create a shapefile suitable for public distribution. The X, Y coordinates for each plot that contains a rare plant species that could be vulnerable to collection were relocated to the following centrally located position: UTM East 501400 UTM North 4157976. Coordinates were altered in this manner for twelve plots. As a result, it is possible that some or all of the points now fall outside a vegetation polygon. A field named "crd_alt" was added to the shapefile attribute table; the value for this field is "no" if the plot coordinates have not been altered and "yes" if the plot coordinates were altered.

Process_Software_and_Version: ArcInfo Version 9.3

Process_Date: 20080930

Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Andrew Steel

Contact_Organization: National Park Service

Contact_Position: GIS Specialist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address

Address: P.O. Box 246

City: Glen Jean

State_or_Province: WV

Postal_Code: 25846

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (304) 465-6556

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: andy_steel@nps.gov

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector

Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Entity point

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 135

ESRI_Terms_Description:

ESRI_Feature_Type: Simple

ESRI_Feature_Geometry: Point

ESRI_Topology: FALSE

ESRI_Feature_Count: 135

Spatial_Index: FALSE

Linear_Referencing: FALSE

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Planar:

Grid_Coordinate_System:

Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator

Universal_Transverse_Mercator:

UTM_Zone_Number: 17

Transverse_Mercator:

Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.999600

Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -81.000000

Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.000000

False_Easting: 500000.000000

False_Northing: 0.000000

Planar_Coordinate_Information:

Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair

Planar_Distance_Units: meters

Coordinate_Representation:

Abscissa_Resolution: 0.000001

Ordinate_Resolution: 0.000001

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983

Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80

Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.000000

Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222

Coordinate_System_Name:

Geographic_Coordinate_System_Name: GCS_North_American_1983

Projected_Coordinate_System_Name: NAD_1983_UTM_Zone_17N

Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Altitude_System_Definition:

Altitude_Encoding_Method:

Explicit elevation coordinate included with horizontal coordinates

Altitude_Resolution: 0.000010

Altitude_Datum_Name: North American Vertical Datum of 1988

Altitude_Distance_Units: meters

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: BLUE_plots_pub

Entity_Type_Type: Feature Class

Entity_Type_Count: 0

Entity_Type_Definition:

Attribute table for shapefile of points representing individual vegetation plots

Entity_Type_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: FID

Attribute_Alias: FID

Attribute_Type: Float

Attribute_Width: 19

Attribute_Number_of_Decimals: 11

Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number.

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Shape

Attribute_Alias: Shape

Attribute_Type: Geometry

Attribute_Width: 0

Attribute_Precision: 0

Attribute_Scale: 0

Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry.

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: PLOT_CODE

Attribute_Alias: PLOT_CODE

Attribute_Type: String

Attribute_Width: 20

Attribute_Precision: 0

Attribute_Scale: 0

Attribute_Definition: Plot code corresponding to Plots database

Attribute_Definition_Source: J. Vanderhorst, WV Division of Natural Resources

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

Unique code assigned to the plot code, correspoinding to Plots database. Values range from BLUE.1 to BLUE.135.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: GPS_FILE

Attribute_Alias: GPS_FILE

Attribute_Type: String

Attribute_Width: 8

Attribute_Definition: Name of GPS file

Attribute_Definition_Source: Trimble

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: File name assigned by Trimble software

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: UTM_X

Attribute_Alias: UTM_X

Attribute_Type: String

Attribute_Width: 100

Attribute_Definition: Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) X coordinate

Attribute_Definition_Source: Trimble

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 497447.367

Range_Domain_Maximum: 505253.789

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: UTM_Y

Attribute_Alias: UTM_Y

Attribute_Type: String

Attribute_Width: 20

Attribute_Definition: Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Y coordinate

Attribute_Definition_Source: Trimble

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 4152367.353

Range_Domain_Maximum: 4161598.441

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: SURVEYORS

Attribute_Alias: SURVEYORS

Attribute_Type: String

Attribute_Width: 50

Attribute_Definition: Name(s) of surveyor(s)

Attribute_Definition_Source: Surveyor's parents

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Surveyors names

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: SURVEY_DAT

Attribute_Alias: SURVEY_DAT

Attribute_Type: String

Attribute_Width: 70

Attribute_Definition: Date plot was surveyed

Attribute_Definition_Source: J. Vanderhorst, WV Division of Natural Resources

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 5/16/2003

Range_Domain_Maximum: 9/15/2005

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: BLUE_COMMU

Attribute_Alias: BLUE_COMMU

Attribute_Type: Float

Attribute_Width: 19

Attribute_Number_of_Decimals: 11

Attribute_Definition: Name of vegetation class observed at the plot

Attribute_Definition_Source: J. Vanderhorst, WV Division of Natural Resources

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Name of vegetation class

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Vegetation class name

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: J. Vanderhorst, WV Division of Natural Resources

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: GPS_ACCURA

Attribute_Alias: GPS_ACCURA

Attribute_Type: String

Attribute_Width: 50

Attribute_Definition:

Estimated horizontal accuracy of location coordinates in meters. For features that are based on Trimble GPS points (GPS_TECHNI field), this is the horizontal accuracy that is exported for the point using Trimble Pathfinder Office. For Garmin points, this is the accuracy displayed by the unit and written down in the field. For one "lost" Trimble file and the "map dots" this value is a conservative estimate (100 meters). We used the map dots when we couldn't get GPS reception; they are our best estimate of where the plot was on a USGS topo.

Attribute_Definition_Source: J. Vanderhorst, WV Division of Natural Resources

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 0.5

Range_Domain_Maximum: 100

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: GPS_TECHNI

Attribute_Alias: GPS_TECHNI

Attribute_Type: String

Attribute_Width: 5

Attribute_Definition: Technical information about GPS equipment and postprocessing

Attribute_Definition_Source: J. Vanderhorst, WV Division of Natural Resources

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

Notes about make and model of GPS equipment used and postprocessing

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: crd_alt

Attribute_Alias: crd_alt

Attribute_Type: Float

Attribute_Width: 19

Attribute_Number_of_Decimals: 11

Attribute_Definition:

Indicates whether or not X,Y plot location coordinates have been altered conceal precise locations of rare plant species

Attribute_Definition_Source: J. Vanderhorst, WV Division of Natural Resources

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Field is blank

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Plot location coordinates have not been altered

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: J. Vanderhorst, WV Division of Natural Resources

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: yes

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Plot location coordinates have been altered

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: J. Vanderhorst, WV Division of Natural Resources

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: USGS/CSS/Core Science Analytics and Synthesis

Contact_Person: USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Coordinator

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address

Address: Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Room 8000, MS 302

City: Denver

State_or_Province: Colorado

Postal_Code: 80225

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (303) 202-4220

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 303-202-4219

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: gs-b-npsveg@usgs.gov

Resource_Description: Downloadable Data

Distribution_Liability:

The U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. These data and related graphics (if available) are not legal documents and are not intended to be used as such.

The information contained in these data is dynamic and may change over time. The data are not better than the original sources from which they were derived. It is the responsibility of the data user to use the data appropriately and consistent within the limitations of geospatial data in general and these data in particular. Any related graphics (if available) are intended to aid the data user in acquiring relevant data; it is not approriate to use the related graphics as data.

The U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data. It is strongly recommended that these data are directly acquired from an U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service servers and not indirectly through other sources which may have changed the data in some way. Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the utility of the data on another system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and aggregate use with other data. It is also strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this metadata report does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U. S. Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey and National Park Service.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: HTML

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: <http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/blue/index.html>

Access_Instructions: Internet Access

Fees: None

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20090205

Metadata_Review_Date: 20100517

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: USGS/CSS/Core Science Analytics and Synthesis

Contact_Person: USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Coordinator

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address

Address: Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Room 8000, MS 302

City: Denver

State_or_Province: Colorado

Postal_Code: 80225

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (303) 202-4220

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 303-202-4219

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: gs-b-npsveg@usgs.gov

Metadata_Standard_Name:

FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001.1-1999

Metadata_Extensions:

Online_Linkage:

<http://www.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt/community/fgdc_metadata/255>