Colorado National Monument: Field Plots and Observations Points Metadata

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Biology - Biological Informatics Program - Vegetation Characterization Program

USGS:Biology

Biological Informatics Program

Vegetation Characterization Program

Colorado National Monument

Field Plots and Observations Points Metadata

Metadata also available as - [Questions & Answers] - [Text] - [Adobe Acrobat pdf file]

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Von Loh, Jim (e2M)
Publication_Date: 20070901
Title:: Vegetation Mapping Plot and Observation Locations for Colorado National Monument
Online_Linkage: <http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/colm/index.html>

File_or_Table_Name: COLM_plots_obs_pts

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

Description:

Abstract:: This point file displays the 525 field plot and observation locations visited in 2003 and 2004 as part of the vegetation mapping project for Colorado National Monument. The data collected were used for the vegetation classification and mapping of the park. Sample plots were located subjectively in representative vegetation throughout the Monument. A map of soils and geology overlain on topography helped field crews maximize the diversity of sites sampled. Field crews decided where and when to use observation points or vegetation plots to sample the vegetation. Vegetation plots were placed in stands judged by field crews to represent legitimate vegetation types that could be classified to the NVC using standard multivariate analysis techniques. Observation points were placed in stands (1) if the vegetation was highly altered and therefore not classifiable, (2) to provide information about the distribution of common vegetation types adequately sampled in vegetation plots, or (3) if the stand represented a unique vegetation type that was too small to hold a 400m2 sample plot (e.g., seeps, Oregon grape shrubland). Fuels data was collected at a subset of the plots visited, and 360 degree movie files were taken of the vegetation. Nine hundred and twenty photographs were also taken of plot and observation locations.
Purpose:: Plots were collected to characterize the vegetation at Colorado National Monument. These points show the location of plot and observation points visited. The intended use of all data in the park's GIS library is to support diverse park activities including planning, management, maintenance, research, and interpretation.
Supplemental_Information:: Established May 24, 1911, and on 20,453.932 acres, Colorado National Monument consists of geologic features including: towering red sandstone monoliths, deep sheer-walled canyons, and a variety of wildlife (bighorn sheep, golden eagles, mule deer, and mountain lions).

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20030513
Ending_Date: 20031010

Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Status:

Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned

Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent: Colorado National Monument

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -108.757326
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -106.455453
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 65.975512
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 38.976568

Local_Bounding_Coordinates:

Left_Bounding_Coordinate: 694264.000000
Right_Bounding_Coordinate: 706376.000000
Bottom_Bounding_Coordinate: 4316876.000000
Top_Bounding_Coordinate: 7323810.000000

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: Vegetation Plots
Theme_Keyword: Ground Cover
Theme_Keyword: Land Cover
Theme_Keyword: Vegetation
Theme_Keyword: Plots
Theme_Keyword: Observations

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: Grand Junction
Place_Keyword: Mesa County
Place_Keyword: Colorado
Place_Keyword: National Park Service
Place_Keyword: Colorado Plateau
Place_Keyword: USA

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: National Park System Unit Name Thesaurus
Place_Keyword: Colorado National Monument
Place_Keyword: Northern Colorado Plateau Network Network

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: National Park System Unit Code Thesaurus
Place_Keyword: COLM
Place_Keyword: NCPN

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:

Acknowledgment of the USGS-RMMC, e2M and the National Park Service would be appreciated in products derived from these data. Any person using the information presented here should fully understand the data collection and compilation process before beginning their analysis/use. The burden of determining fitness for use lies with the user.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:: Northern Colorado Plateau Network, Inventory and Monitoring Program
Contact_Person: Janet Coles

Contact_Position: Vegetation Ecologist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing
Address: P.O. Box 848
City: Moab
State_or_Province: UT
Postal_Code: 84532

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 435-719-2358

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: janet_coles@nps.gov

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Von Loh, J., K. Landgraf, A. Evenden, T. Owens, S. Blauer, and M. Reid

Publication_Date: 20070901

Title:

Colorado National Monument Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: report

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Moab, UT
Publisher: National Park Service, Northern Colorado Plateau Network

Online_Linkage: https://science1.nature.nps.gov/naturebib/

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 2; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.1.0.722

Data_Set_Credit:

NPS NCPN - Sarah Topp, Bruce Condie e2M - Jim Von Loh, Sarah Boyes, Brian Davis, Pete Williams, and Maureen DeCoursey

Data_Quality_Information:

Lineage:

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: USGS
Publication_Date: 20031010
Title:: Colorado National Monument, Battleship Rock, Island Mesa and Glade Park
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: raster digital data

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: unknown

Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date

Source_Scale_Denominator: 24,000

Type_of_Source_Media: CD-ROM

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: DRG

Source_Contribution: Digital Raster Graphics were used for field maps.

Process_Step:

Process_Description:: Field data collection was accomplished with the use of recreational GPS units (generally Garmins). Field crews used their judgment for the placement of plot and observation locations.
Process_Date: unknown

Process_Step:

Process_Description:: Data was entered into the NCPN Plots (MS Access) database, quality assurance checked, and shapefiles were created from the data in the database.
Process_Date: unknown

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:: Network staff has ground checked and verified all features to the best of their knowledge. GIS personnel verified all features and attributes.

Logical_Consistency_Report: There are no duplicate features present.

Completeness_Report:

This data contains all the observation and plot points visited for the Colorado Vegetation Mapping Project.

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:: This data was collected using recreational grade GPS receivers (generally Garmins). A dop or meters error reading was recorded when applicable. Recreational GPS receivers generally have horizontal errors of 3-15 meters (less than 40 meters). GPS accuracy varies for each plot. Error values were recorded on the plot form.

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report: Standard GPS Elevation Error

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector
Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:: ESRI_Terms_Description: ESRI_Feature_Type: Simple ESRI_Feature_Geometry: Point ESRI_Topology: FALSE ESRI_Feature_Count: 524 Spatial_Index: TRUE Linear_Referencing: FALSE SDTS_Terms_Description

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Planar:

Grid_Coordinate_System:

Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator

Universal_Transverse_Mercator:

UTM_Zone_Number: 12

Transverse_Mercator:

Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.999600
Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -111.000000
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: 0.008192
Ordinate_Resolution: 0.008192

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

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: COLM_plots_obs_pts
Entity_Type_Definition: Feature Class
Entity_Type_Definition_Source: National Park Service

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: FID

Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number.

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI