|
|
Accuracy Assessment FAQ Metadata
Frequently-anticipated questions:
What does this data set describe?
- Title: Isle Royale National Park Accuracy Assessment
- Abstract:
-
The accuracy assessment field work was performed
in July - September, 1998 to verify the accuracy of the
vegetation communities spatial data developed by
the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program for Isle Royale
National Park The data points were
randomly distributed stratified according to
vegetation association over the project area
according to protocols developed by the Program.
Points were located by GPS navigation and the
community information was collected at the point,
without knowledge of the attributes of the
vegetation spatial data.
- How should this data set be cited?
U.S. Geological Survey, and Department of the Interior, 200108, Isle Royale National Park Accuracy Assessment: USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Isle Royale National Park, USGS Biological Resources Division, Center for Biological Informatics, Denver, CO.
Online Links:
- What geographic area does the data set cover?
- West_Bounding_Coordinate: -89.125
- East_Bounding_Coordinate: -88.4
- North_Bounding_Coordinate: 48.2
- South_Bounding_Coordinate: 47.8
- Description_of_Geographic_Extent: Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
- What does it look like?
- <http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/isro/images/isroaa.pdf> (PDF)
-
242 kb
- Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
- Calendar_Date: Oct-1998
- Currentness_Reference: Source of data collection
- What is the general form of this data set?
- Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: database and report
- How does the data set represent geographic features?
- How are geographic features stored in the data set?
This is a Point data set.
- What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
- Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
- Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
-
- UTM_Zone_Number: 16
- Transverse_Mercator:
-
- Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.9996
- Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -105
- Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0
- False_Easting: 0
- False_Northing: 0
Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair
Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 371.951 m
Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 371.951 m
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.
The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/297.257.
- How does the data set describe geographic features?
- Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
-
The National Vegetation Classification Standard is
organized hierarchically to support conservation
and resource stewardship applications across
multiple scales. The upper levels of the hierarchy
are based on the physical form or structure of the
vegetation (physiognomy) and have been refined
from the international standards developed by the
United nations Educational, Scientific, and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The two most
detailed levels of the hierarchy are based on the
species composition of existing vegetation
(floristics) and reflect the phyto-sociological
standards that were originally developed by
European ecologists. The vegetation classification
is continually advanced through the collection and
analysis of new field data and will be greatly
strengthened during the course of the USGS-NPS
mapping efforts. Data file attributes include
species, alliance, community element, and land cover.
01,Jack pine - black spruce / feathermoss forest (forest phase)
02,Spruce - fir / feathermoss forest
03,White cedar - boreal conifer mesic forest
04,White cedar - (mixed conifer) / alder swamp (open phase)
05,Black spruce / dwarf-shrub swamp complex
06,White cedar - (mixed conifer) / alder swamp (closed phase)
08,Maple - yellow birch - northern hardwoods forest (sugar maple phase)
09,Maple - yellow birch - northern hardwoods forest (mixed phase)
11,Red oak - sugar maple forest
12,Paper birch / bush honeysuckle - fir forest
13,Aspen - birch / boreal conifer forest (mixed aspen-birch phase)
15,Aspen - birch / sugar maple - mixed hardwoods forest (mixed phase)
17,Black ash - mixed hardwood swamp complex
18,Northern tamarack rich swamp
19,Balsam fir / paper birch forest
20,White spruce - balsam fir - aspen forest
21,White cedar - yellow birch forest (cedar - birch phase)
22,Jack pine - black spruce / feathermoss forest (woodland phase)
23,White spruce woodland alliance
25,Aspen - birch / boreal conifer forest (sparse canopy phase)
26,Common juniper rocky krummholz
27,Boreal rocky shrubland
28,Speckled alder swamp
29,Dwarf shrub fen complex
30,Poverty grass barrens
31,Bluejoint eastern meadow
32,Sedge meadow complex
49,Red maple - ash - birch swamp forest
50,Yellow birch - (spruce) forest
51,Boreal pine rocky woodland
53,Aspen - birch / boreal conifer forest (woodland phase)
54,Spruce - fir and sugar maple - yellow birch mosaic
55,Aspen - birch / sugar maple - mixed hardwoods forest (paper birch phase)
56,White pine - aspen - birch forest
60,Northern (laurentian) igneous / metamorphic moist cliff scrub
61,Great Lakes bedrock lakeshore
63,Great Lakes cobble / gravel lakeshore
67,Great Lakes bedrock lakeshore - (undifferentiated bedrock)
83,White cedar - balsam fir / leatherleaf / black crowberry krummholz
88,Canada yew mixed shrubland
90,Balsam fir woodland
98,Water
99,Urban/built-up
10A,Maple - yellow birch - northern hardwoods forest (yellow birch phase)
16A,Aspen - birch / sugar maple - mixed hardwoods forest (aspen phase)
16B,Aspen - birch / boreal conifer forest (aspen phase)
16C,Aspen - red maple forest
17A,Black ash (cedar) - mixed hardwoods swamp complex
19A,Balsam fir - aspen - paper birch forest
19B,Balsam fir / Canada yew - devils club forest
25A,Aspen - red maple rocky woodland
32A,Sedge / sphagnum meadow complex
50A,White cedar - yellow birch forest (mixed phase)
53A,Spruce - fir - aspen open forest
67A,Great Lakes cobble / gravel lakeshore - (undifferentiated gravel)
- Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
-
U.S. National Biological Survey, U.S. National Park Service, Department of the Interior
November 1994, Accuracy Assessment Procedures, NBS/NPS Vegetation Mapping Program,
Denver, CO, USGS, Biological Resources Division, Center for Biological Informatics,
Prepared by: Environmental Systems Research Institute; Redlands, CA and
National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis, University of
California, Santa Barbara, CA and The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA
under contract from U.S. Department of the Interior National Biological
Survey and National Park Service.
electronic document
<http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/aa/index.html>
- What biological taxa does this data set concern?
- Taxonomy:
-
- Keywords/Taxon:
-
- Taxonomic_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
- Taxonomic_Keywords: Standard National Vegetation Classification System
- Taxonomic_Keywords: plant communities
- General_Taxonomic_Coverage:
-
Vegetation Alliances of the National Vegetation
Classification System (October 1995)
- Taxonomic_Classification:
-
- Taxon_Rank_Name: Kingdom
- Taxon_Rank_Value: Plantae
- Applicable_Common_Name: plants
Who produced the data set?
- Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Department of the Interior
- Who also contributed to the data set?
- To whom should users address questions about the data?
USGS Biological Resources Division, Center for Biological Informatics
c/o USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Coordinator
USGS
Denver, Colorado 80225-0046
USA
(303) 202-4220 (voice)
303-202-4229 (FAX)
gs-b-npsveg@usgs.gov
Why was the data set created?
To verify the accuracy of the mapped vegetation
communities at Isle Royale National Park
How was the data set created?
- What methods were used to collect the data?
- Method 0 of 2
-
Type: Field
Data points were located by use of a PLGR GPS
receiver. Vegetation communities were identified
on the basis of a dichotomous field key and plant
Species: present
- Method 0 of 2
-
Type: Lab
Accuracy assessment points were compiled into an
ARCINFO point coverage and intersected with the
vegetation community coverage. The resulting INFO
file was exported into a text file, imported into
a spreadsheet, and the attributes from the
accuracy assessment and the spatial data were
compared. If the attributes did not compare, an
analysis of the mismatch was made and either the
AA attribute or the map attribute was changed
based on identification of the community on the
aerial photo.
- From what previous works were the data drawn?
- Veg Mapping Program Accuracy Assessment Procedures (source 1 of 1)
-
U.S. National Biological Survey, U.S. National Park Service, and Department of the Interior, 199411, Accuracy Assessment Procedures, NBS/NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: USGS, Biological Resources Division, Center for Biological Informatics, Denver, CO.
- Other_Citation_Details:
-
Prepared by: Environmental Systems Research Institute; Redlands, CA and
National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis, University of
California, Santa Barbara, CA and The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA
under contract from U.S. Department of the Interior National Biological
Survey and National Park Service.
- Type_of_Source_Media: electronic document
- Source_Contribution:
-
The vegetation spatial data were tested for
accuracy with the AA data.
- How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
- Date: Oct-1998 (process 1 of 1)
-
The accuracy assessment field work was performed
in July - September, 1998 to verify the accuracy of the
vegetation communities spatial data developed by
the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program for Isle Royale
National Park. The data points were
randomly distributed stratified according to
vegetation association over the project area
according to protocols developed by the Program.
Points were located by GPS navigation and the
community information was collected at the point,
without knowledge of the attributes of the
vegetation spatial data.
Source_Used_Citation_Abbrevation:
Spatial data of vegetation communities for Isle Royale National Park.
Source_Used_Citation_Abbrevation: Accuracy Assessment Procedure Document
- What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
- How well have the observations been checked?
The attributes for the accuracy assessment were
recorded in the field in July - September, 1998.
Vegetation associations were identified based on
the field key and plant identification. If
additional communities were found within a 50
meter radius of the plot center, they were
recorded as well. During the analysis, it was
concluded that some attributes were in error and
changed to match the mapped attributes. This was
done by examination of the aerial photographs under
stereoscopic view. The attributes were in error
due to 1) spatial error in the GPS derived
coordinates (4-8 meters), 2) change of vegetation
community due to temporal changes, or differences
between observation team identifications.
- How accurate are the geographic locations?
The points were located using a military-style GPS
receiver (PLGR), which has a published accuracy of
4-8 meters.
- How accurate are the heights or depths?
Not applicable
- Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
All points were collected and analyzed
- How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
All attributes are codes that correspond to
vegetation communities and have been checked for
typographical and logical errors.
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:
-
Any person using the information presented here
should fully understand the data collection and
compilation procedures, as described in these
metadata, before beginning analysis. The burden
for determining fitness for use lies entirely with
the user. For purposes of publication or
dissemination, citations should be given to the
U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park
Service.
- Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Coordinator
USGS/BRD, Center for Biological Informatics
Geospatial Technology Specialist
USGS Biological Resources
Denver, CO 80225-0046
USA
(303) 202-4220 (voice)
303-202-4229 (FAX)
gs-b-npsveg@usgs.gov
- What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
- 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.
- How can I download or order the data?
- Availability in digital form:
- Cost to order the data: None
Who wrote the metadata?
- Dates:
- Last modified: 11-May-2001
Last Reviewed: 06-Nov-2007
- Metadata author:
-
USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Coordinator
U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Biological Informatics, MS 302,
Room 8000, Building 810, Denver Federal Center
Denver, Colorado 80225
USA
(303) 202-4220 (voice)
(303) 202-4219 (FAX)
gs-b-npsveg@usgs.gov
- Metadata standard:
- FGDC-STD-001.1-1999 Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata, 1998 Part 1: Biological Data Profile, 1999 (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
- Metadata extensions used:
-
Generated by mp version 2.7.24 on Tue Nov 06 08:04:35 2007
|
Biological Informatics Program 
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
