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USGS:Biology arrow icon Biological Informatics Program arrow icon Vegetation Characterization Program arrow icon Hovenweep National Monument arrow icon Field Plots FAQ Metadata

Field Plots FAQ Metadata

Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Hovenweep National Monument Vegetation Mapping Project - Field Plot and Observation Points
Abstract:
This point feature class contains points representing field sample data (27 plots points and 32 observations points, collected April and May of 2003) for the vegetation mapping project at Hovenweep National Monument. Complete metadata for field data collection can be obtained from <http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/hove/index.html> metadata links. Field photos are associated with each plot.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Northern Colorado Plateau Network, Inventory and Monitoring Program, 20080321, Field Plot and Observations Points for Hovenweep National Monument, Utah and Colorado.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -110.057966
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -109.953286
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 37.648256
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 37.570602
    Description_of_Geographic_Extent: Hovenweep National Monument

  3. What does it look like?

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Beginning_Date: 01-Apr-2003
    Ending_Date: 15-May-2003
    Currentness_Reference: ground condition

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):

      • Entity point (385)

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      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 coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000100
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000100
      Planar coordinates are specified in meters

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    fcl_Veg_Points
    Feature Class (Source: National Park Service)

    Shape
    Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    OBJECTID
    Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

    Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

    PLOT_CODE
    Unique plot code. (Source: NPS four letter park code plus unique number)

    unique ids

    Pnts_Type
    Type of point (Source: NPS)

    A text explaining what kind of point.

    Edit_Date
    Date of edit (Source: NPS)

    Date of any edits or updates to attributes.

    Edit_Notes
    Explaination of edit. (Source: NPS)

    Notes about any edits or updates made to a point.

    rc_VegPoints_LocationInfo
    Relationship (Source: National Park Service)

    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    OBJECT_ID - Object ID - ESRI automatically generated unique ID. SHAPE - Geometry - ESRI automatically generated geometry type. PLOT_CODE - Text - Unique plot code created for each location visited. Pnts_Type - Long Interger (subtypes): Type of point 1 = Plot_Point; 2 = Observation Point; 3 = AA_Point; 4 = Fuels_Point (empty). Edit_Date - Text - Date of any edits or updates to attributes. Edit_Notes - Text - Notes about any edits or updates made to a point.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: Unknown.

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

    • Northern Colorado Plateau Network, Inventory and Monitoring Program

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

    NPS NCPN & e2M

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    Northern Colorado Plateau Network, Inventory and Monitoring Program
    c/o Janet Coles
    Vegetation Ecologist
    P.O. Box 848
    Moab, UT 84532

    435-719-2358 (voice)
    janet_coles@nps.gov

Why was the data set created?

Plots were collected to characterize the vegetation at Hovenweep National Monument. 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.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

    DRG (source 1 of 1)
    USGS, varies, The Cheesebox, Woodenshoe Butte, Moss Back Butte, Kane Gulch.

    Type_of_Source_Media: CD-ROM
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 24,000
    Source_Contribution: Digital Raster Graphics were used for field maps.

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: unknown (process 1 of 3)
    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.

    Date: unknown (process 2 of 3)
    Data was entered into the NCPN Plots (MS Access) database, QA/QC'd and shapefiles were created from the data in the database.

    Date: unknown (process 3 of 3)
    Shapefiles and database data were migrated to a personal file-based geodatabase format.

  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

    Von Loh, J., G. Wakefield, A. Wight, M. Reid, and J. Coles, 200803101, Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report, Hovenweep National Monument.

    Online Links:

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

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

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    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.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

    Standard GPS Elevation Error

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

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

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    There are no duplicate features present.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints: None

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

    USGS/CSS/Core Science Analytics and Synthesis
    c/o USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Coordinator
    Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Room 8000, MS 302
    Denver, Colorado 80225

    (303) 202-4220 (voice)
    303-202-4219 (FAX)
    gs-b-npsveg@usgs.gov

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    Downloadable Data

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    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.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 22-Feb-2008
Last Reviewed: 31-May-2010
Metadata author:
USGS/CSS/Core Science Analytics and Synthesis
c/o USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Coordinator
Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Room 8000, MS 302
Denver, Colorado 80225

(303) 202-4220 (voice)
303-202-4219 (FAX)
gs-b-npsveg@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:
FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001.1-1999)
Metadata extensions used:

Generated by mp version 2.9.12 on Mon May 31 08:47:09 2010
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