Spatial Vegetation Data 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:

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation - Remote Sensing and GIS Group - Denver Colorado.

Publication_Date: 20021511

Title: Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site Vegetation Mapping Project - Spatial Vegetation Data

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

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

Description:

Abstract:

This metadata is for the vegetation land-cover and land-use spatial database created for Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site

Purpose:

To help meet the management needs of Fort Union Trading Post Historic Site and fulfill contract with USGS-NPS National Vegetation Mapping Program.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: Unknown

Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Status:

Progress: Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned

Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent: Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site and environs

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -104.056523

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -104.020174

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 48.01478

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 47.986084

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Theme_Keyword: Vegetation

Theme_Keyword: Land Cover

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 USBR/RSGIG 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_Person_Primary:

Contact_Organization: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Contact_Person: David Salas

Contact_Position: Project Manager

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing Address

Address: P.O. Box 25007

City: Denver

State_or_Province: Colorado

Postal_Code: 80225

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 303-445-3619

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: desalas@do.usbr.gov

Data_Set_Credit: USBR, Denver, CO: David Salas

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Microsoft Windows NT Version 4.0 (Build 1381) Service Pack 6; ESRI ArcCatalog 8.2.0.700

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

All polygons within FOUS are assumed to be correct because they received a field visit. Polygons outside of the mapping boundary have no accuracy assessment associated with them.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

All polygon features are checked for topology and existence of attributed label points. Coverage checked for un-intentional dangling arcs.

Completeness_Report:

All data with a minimum mapping unit of 1/2 hectare that can be interpreted from the aerial photographs are entered into the digital database. This includes features defined by the NVCS. Some classes under the MMU are included due to its ease of interpretation and due to the specialty of the class. Road and utility corridors and streams/canals wider that 10 meters are included as polygons in this vegetation coverage.

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: Unknown

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report: Not aplicable

Lineage:

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

MAP CLASSES: Vegetation classification was in accordance with the standards developed under the USGS/NPS Vegetation Mapping Program using the National Vegetation Classification Standard. Field work (collecting plot data) aided in the development of the vegetation classes. PHOTO INTERPRETATION: All map classes were interpreted from 1:12,000-scale, true color aerial photography. Photo-interpretation used the standard identification features such as tone, texture, color, pattern, topographic position, and shadow. In addition, field sample locations and their vegetation descriptions aided in assigning a map class to each polygon. Photographs were examined using a stereoscope as needed. Linework was created on mylars placed over both the aerial photos and the ortho-photos. GIS PROCEDURES: The linework on the mylar ortho-photo overlays were transferred into the GIS database by scanning. METHOD : The linework at FOUS was transferred by scanning the ortho-photo mylar overlays using a large-format color scanner. Before the mylar was scanned, it was marked with control points that correspond to the 1000-meter grid embossed on the hard-copy ortho-photos. GIS software was then used to convert the scanned files from a raster to vector base using centerline commands. Extensive cleaning, edge matching, and general editing of the digital vectors was completed before polygon topology was created. Labels were created for each polygon and they were attributed with the necessary vegetation information. The entire transfer and editing sequence was automated via in-house Arc/INFO AML programs. OTHER DATA: The park boundary coverages were acquired from the Park. A flight line coverage was obtained from the photography vendor.

Process_Date: 200210

Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Person: David Salas

Contact_Organization: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Contact_Position: Project Manager

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing Address

Address: P.O. Box 25007

City: Denver

State_or_Province: Colorado

Postal_Code: 80225

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 303-445-3619

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: desalas@do.usbr.gov

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector

Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Complete chain

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 551

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Label point

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 201

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: GT-polygon composed of chains

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 201

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Point

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 4

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Planar:

Map_Projection:

Map_Projection_Name: Transverse Mercator

Transverse_Mercator:

Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.9996

Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -105

Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0

False_Easting: 500000

False_Northing: 0

Planar_Coordinate_Information:

Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair

Coordinate_Representation:

Abscissa_Resolution: 0.000008

Ordinate_Resolution: 0.000008

Planar_Distance_Units: meters

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983

Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80

Semi-major_Axis: 6378137

Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: fous_veg.pat

Entity_Type_Definition: Vegetation within project mapping boundary

Entity_Type_Definition_Source: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: ACRES

Attribute_Definition: Area in acres occupied by each polygon

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Acreage size.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: ALLIANCE

Attribute_Definition:

The alliance is a physiognomically uniform group of plant associations (see association below) sharing one or more dominant or diagnostic species, which as a rule are found in the uppermost strata of the vegetation (see Mueller-Dombois and Ellenberg 1974). Dominant species are often emphasized in the absence of detailed floristic information (such as quantitative plot data), whereas diagnostic species (including characteristic species, dominant differential, and other species groupings based on constancy) are used where detailed floristic data are available (Moravec 1993).

For forested communities, the alliance is roughly equivalent to the "cover type" of the Society of American Foresters (Eyre 1980), developed for use primarily by foresters to describe the forest types of North America. The alliance may be finer in detail than a cover type when the dominant tree species extend over large geographic areas and varied environmental conditions (e.g. the Pinus ponderosa Forest Alliance, Pinus ponderosa Woodland Alliance, and Pinus ponderosa Temporarily Flooded Woodland Alliance are all within the Pinus ponderosa Cover Type of the SAF). Alliances, of course, have also been developed for non-forested vegetation.

The alliance is similar in concept to the "series," as developed for the Habitat Type System to group habitat types that share the same dominant species under "climax" conditions (Daubenmire 1952, Pfister and Arno 1980). Alliances, however, are described by the dominant or diagnostic species for all existing vegetation types, whereas series are generally restricted to potential "climax" types and are described by the primary dominant species.

Attribute_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Alliance names.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: AREA

Attribute_Definition: Area of feature in internal units squared.

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: AREA_METER

Attribute_Definition: Area of feature in internal units squared.

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

Positive real numbers that are automatically generated in meters.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: ASSOCIATIO

Attribute_Definition:

The association is the lowest level, as well as the basic unit for vegetation classification, in the ICEC. The association is defined as "a plant community of definite floristic composition, uniform habitat conditions, and uniform physiognomy" (see Flahault and Schroter 1910 in Moravec 1993). This basic concept has been used by most of the schools of floristic classification (Whittaker 1962, Braun-Blanquet 1965, Westhoff and van der Maarel 1973, Moravec 1993).

The plant association is differentiated from the alliance level by additional plant species, found in any stratum, which indicate finer scale environmental patterns and disturbance regimes. This level is derived from analyzing complete floristic composition of the vegetation unit when plot data are available. In the absence of a complete data set, approximation of this level is reached by using available information on the dominant species or environmental modifiers, and their hypothesized indicator species.

Attribute_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Association names.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: DENSITY

Attribute_Definition:

The cover values for canopy coverage (Crown Density) for wooded classes

Attribute_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value:

1 - Closed/Continuous > 60%, 2 - Discontinuous 40% - 60%, 3 - Dispersed 25% - 40%, 4 - Sparse 10% - 25%, 5 - Rare 2% - 10%

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Unknown

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: FID

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: FM_CLASS

Attribute_Definition:

The physiognomic class is based on te structure of the vegetation as defined by the type, height, and relative percentage of cover ofthe dominant, uppermost life-forms. There are seven mutually exclusive classes:

Attribute_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Forest

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Trees with their crowns overlapping (generally forming 60% - 100% cover).

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Nonvascular Cover

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

(bryophytes, non-crustose lichens, and algae) dominant (generally forming at least 25% cover).

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Woodland

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Open stands of trees with crowns not usually touching (generally forming 25% - 60% cover).

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Shrubland

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Shrubs generally greater than 0.5 meter tall with individuals or clumps overlapping to not touching (generally forming greater than 25% cover, with trees generally less than 25% cover). Vegetation dominated by woody vines is generally treated in this class.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Dwarf-Shrubland

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Low-growing shrubs, usually less than 0.5 meter tall.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Herbaceous

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Herbaceous plants dominant (generally forming at least 25% cover, with trees, shrubs, and dwarf-shrubs generally with less than 25% cover). Nonvascular: Nonvascular cover (bryophytes, non-crustose lichens, and algae) dominant (generally forming at least 25% cover).

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Sparse Vegetation

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Abiotic substrate features dominant. Vegetation is scattered to nearly absent and generally restricted to areas of concentrated resources (total vegetation cover is typically less than 25%).

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: FM_GROUP

Attribute_Definition:

The group generally represents vegetation units defined based on leaf characters, such as broad-leaf, needle-leaf, microphyllous, and xeromorphic. These units are identified and named with broadly defined macroclimatic types to provide a structural-geographic orientation, but the ecological climate terms do not define the groups per se. Examples include: Temperate or subpolar needle-leaved evergreen forest, Cold-deciduous forest, Cold-deciduous shrubland, Temperate or subpolar grassland, Sparsely vegetated cliffs.

Attribute_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Formation group names.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: FM_SUBCLAS

Attribute_Definition:

The physiognomic subclass is determined by the predominant leaf phenology of the forest, woodland, shrubland and dwarf-shrubland classes. Subclass is determined by the persistence (perennial or annual) and growth form (graminoid, forb, hydromorphic) of the vegetation for the herbaceous vegetation class. The relative dominance of lichens, mosses, or algae is the determining factor in the nonvascular class, and particle size of the substrate is the determining factor for the sparse vegetation class Examples include: Evergreen Forest, Deciduous Forest, Deciduous Shrubland, Perennial Graminoid Vegetation, Annual Graminoid or Forb Vegetation, Lichen Vegetation, and Consolidated Rock Sparse Vegetation.

Attribute_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Formation subclass names.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: FM_SUBGROU

Attribute_Definition:

The subgroup (or formation subgroup) represents a distinction between planted/cultivated vegetation and natural/semi-natural vegetation. The latter is broadly defined to include all vegetation not actively planted or maintained through intensive management activities by humans. Examples of subgroups include: Natural temperate and subpolar needle-leaved evergreen forest; Cultural temperate and subpolar needle-leaved evergreen forest (e.g., pine and spruce plantations).

Attribute_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Formation subgroup names.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: FORMATION

Attribute_Definition:

The formation represents a grouping of community types that share a definite physiognomy or structure and broadly defined environmental factors, such as elevation and hydrologic regime. Structural factors such as crown shape and lifeform of the dominant lower stratum are used in addition to the physiognomic characters already specified at the higher levels. The hydrologic regime modifiers were adapted from Cowardin et al. (1979). Examples include: Rounded-crowned temperate or subpolar needle-leaved evergreen forest, Seasonally flooded cold-deciduous forest, Semipermanently flooded cold-deciduous shrubland, Tall sod temperate grassland, Cliffs with sparse vascular vegetation.

Attribute_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Formation names.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: FOUS_VEG#

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: FOUS_VEG-ID

Attribute_Definition: User-defined feature number.

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: HEIGHT

Attribute_Definition: Height categories for wooded classes

Attribute_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 1

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Height less than 1/2 meter

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 2

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Height between 1/2 meter and 2 meters

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 3

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Height between 2 meters and 5 meters

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 4

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Height between 5 meters and 15 meters

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 5

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Height between 15 meters and 35 meters

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 6

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Height between 35 meters and 50 meters

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NatureServe 2002

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: PERIMETER

Attribute_Definition: Perimeter of feature in internal units.

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: PERIMETER_

Attribute_Definition: Perimeter of feature in internal units.

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: RESTORE

Attribute_Definition: Name of Restoration Fields

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Restoration fields name.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Shape

Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry.

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: VEG_CODE

Attribute_Definition: Unique code identifying each map unit.

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Vegetation code acronym names.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: VEG_ID

Attribute_Definition: Sequential numbering for all polygons

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.

Overview_Description:

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

Vegetation is depicted as polygons with vegetation type and associated hierarchy as attributes.

Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: NatureServe 2002

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/fous/index.html>

Access_Instructions: Internet Access

Fees: None

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20021031

Metadata_Review_Date: 20100524

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>