Field Plots FAQ Metadata
Frequently-anticipated questions:
- Title:
-
Valley Forge National Historical Park Vegetation Mapping Project - Field Plot Points Modified
- Abstract:
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This shapefile includes the locations of vegetation classification sampling plots used to develop an association-level vegetation classification of Valley Forge National Historic Park by the Pennsylvania Science Office of The Nature Conservancy (PSO-TNC) and Nature Serve for the National Park Service. Vegetation plot sampling was performed by staff of PSO-TNC. In this data set, the X, Y coordinates for one plot have been altered to protect a rare plant species that could be vulnerable to collection.
- How should this data set be cited?
North Carolina State University, Center for Earth Observation, 200703, Vegetation Sampling Plots (Points) for the Association-level Vegetation Map of Valley Forge National Historical Park (VAFO) - Modified.
Online Links:
- What geographic area does the data set cover?
- West_Bounding_Coordinate: -75.470916
- East_Bounding_Coordinate: -75.421855
- North_Bounding_Coordinate: 40.114312
- South_Bounding_Coordinate: 40.082719
- Description_of_Geographic_Extent: Valley Forge National Historical Park and environs
- What does it look like?
- Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
- Calendar_Date: Oct-2000
- Currentness_Reference: ground condition
- 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):
- What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
- Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
- Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
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- UTM_Zone_Number: 18
- Transverse_Mercator:
-
- Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.999600
- Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -75.000000
- 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 0.000008
Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000008
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?
- vafoplots_mod
- Attribute table for shapefile of vegetation classification plots for Valley Forge National Historical Park
(Source: PSO-TNC)
- FID
- Internal feature number.
(Source: ESRI)
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
- Shape
- Feature geometry.
(Source: ESRI)
Coordinates defining the features.
- PLOT_ID
- Unique ID that relates this spatial data layer to the Plots table in the PLOTS (MS Access) database.
(Source: NPS)
| Range of values |
|---|
| Minimum: | VAFO.1 |
|---|
| Maximum: | VAFO.80 |
|---|
- crd_alt
- Field used to indicate whether X, Y coordinates for the plot have been altered to protect a rare species that could be vulnerable to collection
(Source: NCSU)
| Value | Definition |
|---|
| yes | The X, Y coordinates for the plot have been altered.
|
| no | The X, Y coordinates for the plot have not been altered.
|
- What biological taxa does this data set concern?
- 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
- Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
- North Carolina State University, Center for Earth Observation
- Who also contributed to the data set?
The shapefile from which this data set is derived was created by Greg Podniesinski, Pennsylvania Science Office of the Nature Conservancy.
- To whom should users address questions about the data?
Greg Podniesinski
Pennsylvania Science Office of the Nature Conservancy
Ecologist
208 Airport Road
Middletown, Pennsylvania 17057
United States
717-948-3842 (voice)
c-gpodnies@state.pa.us
The shapefile shows point locations for vegetation classification sampling points. Locations were determined using a Garmin III+ Gps unit
- From what previous works were the data drawn?
- How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
- Date: 2000 (process 1 of 2)
-
Vegetation Sampling (taken from the cross-referenced final report)
Plots were subjectively placed to be most representative of the vegetation within a given formation polygon. All mapped vegetation types were sampled over a range of environmental variation (primarily geology, hydrology, and topographic position) (see Appendix B for field data forms). Plot sizes were determined based on physiognomy: 20 x 20 m for forests and woodlands, 10 x 10 m for shrublands, and 5 x 5 m for herbaceous vegetation. Forest was defined as vegetation with trees over 5 m high and canopy cover between 60 to 100%. Woodland was defined as vegetation with trees over 5 m high and canopy cover 25 to 60%. Shrubland was defined as vegetation with trees and shrubs less than 5 m tall and typically more than 0.5 m tall with shrub cover greater than 25%. Herbaceous vegetation was defined as vegetation with herbs (graminoids, forbs, and ferns) dominant with woody plants (trees and shrubs) typically having less than 25% total cover. The vegetation was visually divided into strata, all the species of each stratum listed, and percent cover (in modified Braun-Blanquet cover classes) estimated for each. Vegetation strata used in sampling were emergent (individual trees significantly taller or emergent relative to the general height of the forest canopy), canopy (general forest canopy), subcanopy (trees with maximum height below general forest canopy, but taller than 5 m in height), tall shrub (saplings and shrubs 2 to 5 m in height), short shrubs (woody plants under 2 m in height), herbaceous (grasses, sedges, forbs, and ferns), vines and lianas (perennial woody vegetation with a vine habit), and non-vascular (mosses and lichens. Species that were not identifiable in the field were collected for later identification. In addition to floristic information the following environmental information was recorded: flooding regime, soil moisture regime, slope, aspect, and evidence of disturbance. Additional notes on plot setting, other environmental factors, surrounding stand, etc., were recorded as appropriate. Location of each plot was recorded using a Garmin III Plus GPS unit, with datum set to North America Datum 1983 (Conus) and coordinate system set to Universal Trans-Mercator (UTM) Zone 18 North. The vegetation / topographic profile was sketched in cross-section to represent the location and setting of the plot. A photo was taken of each sample plot.
The Pennsylvania Science Office of The Nature Conservancy (PSO/ TNC) completed sampling of 80 plant community plots at the Valley Forge National Historical Site between May and October 2000. A complete copy of original and transcribed field data sheets was sent to the NatureServe regional ecologist in Boston for use in developing crosswalks between park vegetation types and the National Vegetation Classification System.
Person who carried out this activity:
Greg Podniesinski
Pennsylvania Science Office of the Nature Conservancy
Ecologist
208 Airport Road
Middletown, Pennsylvania 17057
United States
717-948-3842 (voice)
c-gpodnies@state.pa.us
Data sources produced in this process:
- Vegetation plots shapefile
- Date: Mar-2007 (process 2 of 2)
-
The vegetation plots shapefile was altered to create a shapefile suitable for public distribution. The X, Y coordinates for each plot that contains a rare plant species that could be vulnerable to collection were rounded as follows: the coordinate value was rounded up if the last three digits = 000-499; the coordinate value was rounded down if the last three digits = 500-999. Coordinates were altered in this manner for one plot. As a result, it is possible that the point now falls outside the park boundary. A field named "crd_alt" was added to the shapefile attribute table; the value for this field is "no" if the plot coordinates have not been altered and "yes" if the plot coordinates were altered.
Person who carried out this activity:
North Carolina State University (NCSU), Center for Earth Observation
Campus Box 7106
Raleigh, NC 27695-7106
United States
919 515-3430 (voice)
- What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
Greg Podniesinski, Lesley Sneddon, and Julie Lundgren, Pennsylvania Science Office of The Nature Conservancy, and Hugh Devine, Bill Slocumb, and Frank Koch, North Carolina State University, Center for Earth Observation, 200511, Vegetation classification and mapping of Valley Forge National Historical Park, Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2005/028: National Park Service, Northeast Region, Philadelphia, PA.
- How well have the observations been checked?
- How accurate are the geographic locations?
- How accurate are the heights or depths?
- Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
Point locations for all 80 plot locations are included. The X,Y coordinates for one plot (VAFO.10) have been altered, as described in the second processing step below, to protect a rare species that could be vulnerable to collection.
- How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
ESRI point geometry
Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
- Access_Constraints: None
- Use_Constraints: None
- 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: Mar-2007
Last Reviewed: 17-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 Thu Jun 17 08:10:48 2010
Return to USGS Vegetation Characterization Program at Valley Forge National Historical Park
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U.S. Department of the Interior |
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