Spatial Vegetation Data FAQ Metadata
Frequently-anticipated questions:
- Title: Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Vegetation Mapping Project - Spatial Vegetation Data
- Abstract:
-
This metadata is for the vegetation and land-use geo-spatial database for Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and surrounding areas. The project is authorized as part of the USGS/NPS Vegetation Mapping Program. The program is being administered by the Core Science Systems (CSS), United States Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS/CSS is responsible for overall management and oversight of all ongoing mapping efforts. This mapping effort was performed by the US Bureau of Reclamation's (USBR) Remote Sensing and GIS Group, Technical Service Center, Denver, CO and the USGS Colorado Plateau Research Station, Flagstaff, AZ. The vegetation mapping program is part of a larger Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) program started by the National Park Service (NPS).
- How should this data set be cited?
USBR Remote Sensing and GIS Group, Denver, CO, 2004, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Vegetation Map.
Online Links:
This is part of the following larger work.
M. Hansen, J. Coles, K.A. Thomas, D. Cogan, M. Reid, J. Von Loh, K. Schultz, 2004., USGS-NPS National Vegetation Mapping Program: Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Arizona, Vegetation Classification and Distribution, Final Project Report.
- What geographic area does the data set cover?
- West_Bounding_Coordinate: -111.577426
- East_Bounding_Coordinate: -111.467770
- North_Bounding_Coordinate: 35.408655
- South_Bounding_Coordinate: 35.327255
- Description_of_Geographic_Extent: Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and the environs.
- What does it look like?
- <http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/sucr/images/sucrvegmap.pdf> (PDF)
-
Graphic showing vegetation associations
- Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
- Calendar_Date: 08-Oct-1996
- Currentness_Reference: Date of Aerial Photography
- What is the general form of this data set?
- Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
- How does the data set represent geographic features?
- How are geographic features stored in the data set?
This is a Vector data set.
It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
- Complete chain (8554)
- Label point (1218)
- GT-polygon composed of chains (1218)
- Point (117)
- 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 0.000006
Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000006
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.
- How does the data set describe geographic features?
- sucr_veg.aat
- Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Vegetation Map Arc Attribute Table
(Source: User defined)
- FID
- Internal feature number.
(Source: ESRI)
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
- Shape
- Feature geometry.
(Source: ESRI)
Coordinates defining the features.
- FNODE#
- Internal node number for the beginning of an arc (from-node).
(Source: ESRI)
Whole numbers that are automatically generated.
- TNODE#
- Internal node number for the end of an arc (to-node).
(Source: ESRI)
Whole numbers that are automatically generated.
- LPOLY#
- Internal node number for the left polygon.
(Source: ESRI)
Whole numbers that are automatically generated.
- RPOLY#
- Internal node number for the right polygon.
(Source: ESRI)
Whole numbers that are automatically generated.
- LENGTH
- Length of feature in internal units.
(Source: ESRI)
Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.
- SUCR_VEG#
- Internal feature number.
(Source: ESRI)
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
- SUCR_VEG-ID
- User-defined feature number.
(Source: ESRI)
Whole numbers that are automatically generated.
- DIGTYPE
- Arc (line) attribute - denotes how the arc was entered/created
(Source: ESRI)
| Value | Definition |
|---|
| 1 | Represents lines that were drawn using heads-up digitizing.
|
| 2 | Represents scanned lines that were smoothed.
|
| 3 | Represents project boundary lines.
|
| 5 | Represents lines that are the park boundary.
|
- sucr_veg.pat
- Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Vegetation Map Polygon Attribute Table
(Source: User defined)
- FID
- Internal feature number.
(Source: ESRI)
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
- Shape
- Feature geometry.
(Source: ESRI)
Coordinates defining the features.
- AREA
- Area of feature in internal units squared.
(Source: ESRI)
Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.
- PERIMETER
- Perimeter of feature in internal units.
(Source: ESRI)
Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.
- SUCR_VEG#
- Internal feature number.
(Source: ESRI)
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
- SUCR_VEG-ID
- User-defined feature number.
(Source: ESRI)
Whole numbers that are automatically generated.
- MAP_CODE
- Map codes are numeric codes associated with the map label names
(Source: USGS and USBR Remote Sensing and GIS Group)
| Value | Definition |
|---|
| 1 | Cinder Sparse Mosaic
|
| 2 | Lava Beds
|
| 3 | Rock Outcrop and Scree Shrubland
|
| 4 | Wild Buckwheat - Sand Bluestem Sparse Vegetation
|
| 5 | Apache Plume / Cinder Sparse Vegetation
|
| 6 | Lava Bed Sparse Vegetation
|
| 7 | Sand Bluestem Herbaceous Vegetaton
|
| 8 | Montane Grassland
|
| 9 | Montane Grassland (Rabbitbrush)
|
| 10 | Montane Grassland (Bonito Park)
|
| 11 | Pinyon Pine - Utah Juniper / Blue Grama Woodland
|
| 12 | Pinyon Pine - Utah Juniper / Blue Grama Woodland (Sparse)
|
| 13 | Limber Pine Woodland
|
| 14 | Ponderosa Pine / Cinder Woodland
|
| 15 | Ponderosa Pine / Montane Grass Mosaic
|
| 16 | Ponderosa Pine Invasive Herbaceous Vegetation
|
| 17 | Ponderosa Pine / Apache Plume Woodland (Sparse)
|
| 18 | Ponderosa Pine / Apache Plume Woodland
|
| 19 | Ponderosa Pine / Apache Plume Woodland (Pinyon)
|
| 20 | Ponderosa Pine / Sand Bluestem Woodland
|
| 21 | Douglas-fir Forest
|
| 22 | Transportation, Communications, and Utilities
|
| 23 | Facilities
|
| 24 | Residential Land
|
| 25 | Reservoirs and Trick Tanks
|
| 26 | Strip Mines, Quarries, and Gravel Pits
|
| 27 | Croplands and Pastures
|
- PHOTO
- Aerial photo number (flightline-number) from which the polygon was interpreted.
(Source: 1:12,000 scale, color infra-red photography flown in October 1996.)
Positive real numbers representing the flightline and aerial photo numbers
- VEG_NAME
- Map Unit Common Name
(Source: USGS and USBR Remote Sensing and GIS Group)
Text
- ECO
- Ecological description of the polygon
(Source: USGS Colorado Plateau Research Station)
- PHYS
- Physiographic description of the polygon
(Source: USBR Remote Sensing and GIS Group)
- ASSN_NAME
- NVCS Association Scientific Name(s)
(Source: National Vegetation Classification System)
- ASSN_CNAME
- NVCS Association Common Name(s)
(Source: National Vegetation Classification System)
- ELCODE
- NVCS Association code - Community Element Gobal Code
(Source: National Vegetation Classification System)
- ALL_NAME
- NVCS Alliance Scientific Name(s)
(Source: National Vegetation Classification System)
- ALL_CNAME
- NVCS Alliance Common Name(s)
(Source: National Vegetation Classification System)
- NVCS_CODE
- NVCS Code(s) to the formation level
(Source: National Vegetation Classification System)
- CLASS
- NVCS Class Name(s) and Code(s)
(Source: National Vegetation Classification System)
- SUBCLASS
- NVCS Subclass Name(s) and Code(s)
(Source: National Vegetation Classification System)
- GROUP
- NVCS Group Name(s) and Code(s)
(Source: National Vegetation Classification System)
- SUBGROUP
- NVCS Subgroup Name(s) and Code(s)
(Source: National Vegetation Classification System)
- FORMATION
- NVCS Formation Name
(Source: National Vegetation Classification System)
- LUC_II
- Land use and land cover (Level II) classification system code and name for the polygon.
(Source: Anderson, J.R., E.E. Hardy, J.T. Roach, R.E. Witmer. 1976. Land use and land cover classification system for use with sensor data.)
| Formal codeset |
|---|
| Codeset Name: | Level II Code and Text |
|---|
| Codeset Source: | Anderson, J.R., E.E. Hardy, J.T. Roach, R.E. Witmer. 1976. Land use and land cover classification system for use with remote sensor data. |
|---|
- COMMENT_1
- General description of the map unit.
(Source: USBR and USGS)
Text
- COMMENT_2
- General description of the map unit.
(Source: USGS and USBR)
Text
- Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
-
Attributes were either generated by ArcInfo or assigned by the USBR Remote Sensing GIS Group. Attribure values were provided by the USGS Colorado Plateau Research Station and the USBR Remote Sensing GIS Group.
- Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
-
USGS-NPS National Vegetation Mapping Program: Sunset Crater National Monument, Arizona, Vegetation Classification and Distribution, Final Project Report
- What biological taxa does this data set concern?
- Taxonomy:
-
- Keywords/Taxon:
-
- Taxonomic_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
- Taxonomic_Keywords: plant communities
- Taxonomic_Classification:
-
- Taxon_Rank_Name: Kingdom
- Taxon_Rank_Value: Plantae
- Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
- USBR Remote Sensing and GIS Group, Denver, CO
- Who also contributed to the data set?
USBR: Janet Coles, Jim Von Loh, Dan Cogan, Doug Crawford, Trudy Meyer, and Jean Pennel. USGS: Kathryn Thomas and Monica Hansen
- To whom should users address questions about the data?
Dan Cogan and Kathryn Thomas
Remote Sensing and GIS Group and USGS Southwest Biological Science Center, Colorado Plateau Research Station
Cogan: Physical Scientist, Thomas: Vegetation Ecologist
Cogan: POB 25007 Bldg 56 D-8260, Denver Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225
Cogan: 303-445-2291, Thomas: 928-556-7327 (voice)
303-445-6337 (FAX)
kathryn_a_thomas@usgs.gov
- Hours_of_Service: 8:00-5:00pm MST
- Contact_Instructions:
-
For GIS questions contact Cogan, for ecological questions contact Thomas.
The purposes of the mapping effort are varied and include the following: Provides support for NPS Resources Management; Promotes vegetation-related research for both NPS and USGS/CSS; Provides support for NPS Planning and Compliance; Adds to the information base for NPS Interpretation; and Assists in NPS Operations. The NPS I&M goals are, among others, to map the vegetation of all national parks and monuments and provide a baseline inventory of vegetation.
- From what previous works were the data drawn?
- National Forest Service Photos (source 1 of 2)
-
USDA - National Forest Service (BY: Merrick & Company 2450 S. Peoria St Aurora, CO 80014 Phone: 303-751-0741), 19961008, USDA-USGS Photos (Merrick & Company).
- Type_of_Source_Media: Color Infared Photography
- Source_Scale_Denominator: 1200
- Source_Contribution:
-
Photos used for vegetation interpretation; Flight Lines 1 thur 6.
- USGS SUCR DOQQ's (source 2 of 2)
-
USGS, Unknown, USGS SUCR DOQQ's.
Online Links:
- Other_Citation_Details:
-
DOQQ's used: O'Leary Peak, Strawberry Crater, Sunset Crater West, Sunset Crater East
- Type_of_Source_Media: CD-ROM
- Source_Scale_Denominator: 1200
- Source_Contribution: DOQQ's used as base map for the mapping project
- How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
- Date: 2000 (process 1 of 1)
-
PHOTO INTERPRETATION: All map classes were interpreted from 1:12,000 scale, color infra-red photography flown in October 1996. The photographs were acquired from the USGS/NPS mapping program. 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 map classes to each polygon. Photographs were examined using a stereoscope as needed. Linework was created on semi-clear mylars placed over the photos.
GIS PROCEDURES: The linework on the mylar overlays was transferred into the GIS database by one of two methods, either heads-up digitizing or scanning. METHOD I: Heads-up digitizing is a procedure whereby the operator digitizes by hand on a computer terminal screen showing a digital image of a DOQQ. By looking at similar features on both the aerial photograph and on the DOQQ, the line drawn on the aerial photo overlay is manually transferred to the digital image. METHOD II: Most of SUCR was transferred by digitally scanning the mylar overlays, vectorizing the scanned images, and fitting the resulting linework to corresponding DOQQs using known control points. 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 ArcInfo AML programs. The final vegetation coverage consists of vegetation polygons.
Person who carried out this activity:
Dan Cogan and Kathryn Thomas
USBR Remote Sensing and GIS Group and USGS Southwest Biological Science Center Colorado Plateau Research Station
Cogan: Physical Scientist, Thomas: Vegetation Ecologist
Cogan: POB 25007 Bldg 56 D-8260 Denver Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225
Cogan: 303-445-2291 (voice)
- Hours_of_Service: 8:00-5:00PM MST
- Contact_Instructions:
-
For GIS questions contact Cogan, for ecological questions contact Thomas.
Data sources used in this process:
- C:\DOCUME~1\mlh\LOCALS~1\Temp\xml3.tmp
- What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
- How well have the observations been checked?
These data have overall accuracy using the acceptable criteria of 70.3 % (68.0 % Kappa Index) within a 90% confidence interval of 69.0 to 84.0 % and a Kappa Index of 68.0%.
- How accurate are the geographic locations?
Data were transferred to the GIS database using 1:12,000-scale USGS Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quadrangles (DOQQs) as basemaps. As such, the positional accuracy is no better than these products.
- How accurate are the heights or depths?
Data were transferred to the GIS database using 1:12,000-scale USGS Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quadrangles (DOQQs) as basemaps. As such, the positional accuracy is no better than these products.
- Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
All data that could be interpreted from the aerial photos were digitized in accordance with the minimum mapping unit (MMU) of 1/2 hectare. This included selected features that fell into the National Vegetation Classification and the Anderson Level II land use classification. Some classes below the MMU were included, especially those at the edge of the study area (i.e. cut off by other features and borders) and unique features. Roads (to visible right-of-way or fence line) and unique features wider than 10 meters were digitized as polygons and attributed accordingly.
- How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
All polygon features were checked for topology, existence of label points, and label point uniqueness. The labels were checked for correct and complete attributing. All nodes where checked for unintentional lines and to ensure that the polygons were closed. All steps preformed using ESRI ArcInfo commands.
Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
- Access_Constraints: none
- Use_Constraints:
-
Acknowledgment of the USGS and 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 before beginning analysis. The burden for determining fitness for use lies entirely with the user.
- 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
- What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
Downloadable Data
- 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
- Dates:
- Last modified: 09-Feb-2004
Last Reviewed: 15-Jun-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 Tue Jun 15 13:38:17 2010
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