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:

North Carolina State University - Center for Earth Observation; Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory - East, The Nature Conservancy (Pennsylvania Science Office); Valley Forge National Historical Park

Publication_Date: 20020901

Title:

Valley Forge National Historical Park Vegetation Mapping Project - Spatial Vegetation Data

Edition: Final

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

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

Description:

Abstract:

The vegetation and landcover of Valley Forge National Historical Park (VAFO) were mapped to the association level of the National Vegetation Classification System developed by The Nature Conservancy and network of Natural Heritage Programs. The mapping process was based on the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program with some modifications due to the size of the mapped polygons. A total of 308 plots were used to assess the thematic accuracy of the database.

The estimated overall thematic accuracy of the database is 81.20 percent. At a 90 percent confidence interval, the estimated minimum overall thematic accuracy is 77.40 percent and the estimated maximum is 85.00 percent. Based on hypothesis testing, the final association level classification meets the minimum overall thematic accuracy of 80 percent specified in NPS vegetation mapping protocols.

Purpose:

To develop a vegetation database for VAFO to the association level of the National Vegetation Classification System and based on the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program protocals.

Supplemental_Information:

Creation of the vegetation database involved the cooperation of North Carolina State University Center for Earth Observation (CEO) and the Pennsylvania Science Office of The Nature Conservancy (PSO) and assistance from VAFO.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Multiple_Dates/Times:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 2001 Field Season

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 2002 Field Season

Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Status:

Progress: Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned

Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent: Valley Forge National Historical Park and environs

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -75.473051

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -75.416067

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 40.123300

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 40.078468

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Theme_Keyword: vegetation

Theme_Keyword: landcover

Theme_Keyword: association

Theme_Keyword: formation

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Place_Keyword: Valley Forge National Historical Park

Place_Keyword: Valley Forge

Place_Keyword: Pennsylvania

Place_Keyword: Chester County

Place_Keyword: Northern Appalachian Piedmont Ecological Region

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: None

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: Valley Forge National Historical Park

Contact_Position: GIS Specialist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address

Address: P. O. Box 953

City: Valley Forge

State_or_Province: PA

Postal_Code: 19482-0953

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 610-783-1000

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 610-783-1053

Hours_of_Service: 0800 - 1700

Data_Set_Credit:

Frank Koch - CEO Greg Podniesinski - PSO

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 2; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.0.0.535

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

National Park Service Northeast Region, Pennsylvania Science Office of The Nature Conservancy

Publication_Date: 2005

Title:

Vegetation Classification and Mapping of Valley Forge National Historical Park, Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2005/028

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

The CEO staff calculated thematic accuracy of the database based on data collected by PSO staff at 308 plots collected during the 2001 and 2002 field seasons. Based on data collected at these plots, CEO staff estimates that the overall thematic accuracy of the database is 77.92 percent. At a 90 percent confidence interval, the estimated minimum overall thematic accuracy is 73.87 percent and the estimated maximum is 81.97 percent. Based on hypothesis testing, the final association level classification meets the minimum overall thematic accuracy of 80 percent specified in NPS vegetation mapping protocols.

The most prevalent errors in the association level vegetation map were caused by inability to distinguish grasslands from croplands and late successional from climax forests.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

ESRI shapefile with polygon geomerty. Imported into a geodatabase to check topology rules and then exported as a shapefile.

Completeness_Report:

The minimum mapping unit was approximately 0.5 acres although smaller distinctive areas were delineated. To ensure that all areas within the park were covered, one full polygon outside the park boundary was mapped.

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

The database is based on an orthorectified photo mosaic. Horizontal positional accuracy of the orthorectified photo mosaic meets Class 1 National Map Accuracy Standards in the X-coordinate direction and Class 2 National Map Accuracy Standards in the Y-coordinate direction with root mean square errors of 1.18 meters and 2.89 meters, respectively.

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report: None

Lineage:

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Air Photographics, Incorporated

Publication_Date: 19990912

Title:

1:6000 color-infrared photo-transparancies of Valley Forge National Historical Park, September 12, 1999

Edition: First

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: remote-sensing image

Source_Scale_Denominator: 6000

Type_of_Source_Media: photo-transparency

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 19990912

Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: photos

Source_Contribution: Homogeneous polygons of vegetation and landcover.

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

North Carolina State University - Center for Earth Observation (CEO) staff scanned the photos with an EPSON Expression 836 XL desktop scanner using Adobe Photoshop 5.0 software at a resolution of 600 dots per inch. The scanned images were saved as Tagged-Image File Format files that were subsequently converted to ERDAS Imagine image file (*.img) format.

Orthorectification, the process of removing radial tilt and relief distortion from aerial photographs and the first step in creating a photo mosaic, was performed using ERDAS Imagine software. CEO staff used two black and white digital orthophoto quarter quadrangles (DOQQs) obtained from the Pennsylvania Geospatial Data Clearinghouse to provide the X- and Y-coordinate references for orthorectifying the scanned photography. The two DOQQs were mosaicked into a single image and reprojected to match existing park data layers.

Two USGS digital elevation models (DEMs) obtained from the Pennsylvania Geospatial Data Clearinghouse were used to provide the elevation data required for orthorectification. The DEMs were reprojected to match existing park data layers. They were then resampled from 30-meter to 10-meter pixel resolution using a cubic convolution algorithm. The resultant DEMs were mosaicked into a single DEM.

CEO staff orthorectified each scanned photo-transparency individually using ERDAS Imagine. Using the DOQQs as a base, between seven and twelve ground control points were spread across each image and the elevation for each point was obtained from the DEM. Typical points included visible features on the DOQQs and photos. In the final step of this process, each image was resampled into an orthophoto using a cubic convolution interpolation method.

A single orthorectified mosaic was created from the individual orthorectified images using ERDAS Imagine software.

CEO staff delineated formation level vegetation classes using ArcMap 8.0.1 software produced by Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) to heads-up digitize homogeneous polygons using the orthorectified photo mosaic as a backdrop. Before starting the on-screen classification, CEO staff worked with the Pennsylvania Science Office of The Nature Conservancy (PSO) to develop a preliminary list of formations and draft associations based on The Nature Conservancy's Terrestrial Vegetation of the United States. Vegetation, polygons were delineated based on clear differences in stand height, color/spectral differences, (and thus, at least in theory, species) composition, and texture. The interpreter used ancillary data--hard copy stereo pairs, DOQQs, and geospatial data provided by VAFO--to assist in delineating areas of homogeneous vegetation. The minimum mapping unit was approximately 0.5 acres although smaller distinctive areas were delineated to provide a basis for association level mapping. To ensure that all areas within the park were covered, one full polygon outside the park boundary was mapped.

Upon completion of the formation level classification, CEO staff created a draft association level vegetation map using a classification scheme based on The Nature Conservancy's Terrestrial Vegetation of the United States and association level classes developed by PSO. An ERDAS Stereo Analyst workstation equipped with a color monitor with a high refresh rate and an emitter box affixed to the top of the monitor was used to view the orthorectified images in stereo. The interpreter wears a pair of battery-powered goggles that flash 115 times per second. Emitter waves strike the goggles and, with the high refresh rate of the monitor, allow the interpreter to view a photo pair on-screen in stereo. Once the workstation and working parameters were established, the formation level vegetation database was imported into ERDAS Stereo Analyst. The interpreter viewed the formation level polygons overlaid on each stereo pair to delineate association level polygons and assign preliminary association classes based on the formation and environmental factors including topography, aspect, individual species, and vegetation height. The resulting draft association level vegetation database was exported to an ESRI shapefile.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: photos

Process_Date: 199912 - 200104

Source_Produced_Citation_Abbreviation: draft association level map

Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: North Carolina State University - Center for Earth Observation

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address

Address: NCSU Campus Box 7106

City: Raleigh

State_or_Province: NC

Postal_Code: 27695-7106

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 919-515-3430

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 919-515-3439

Hours_of_Service: 0900 - 1700

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

The PSO staff developed a vegetation plot sampling design in spring 2000 following USGS/NPS Vegetation Mapping Program guidelines. PSO allocated plots to each of the 17 vegetation types included on the draft association level map, with replicate plots assigned over each type's environmental range. The sampling design called for three to five plots per association and a minimum of 75 plots.

The PSO staff placed plots subjectively so that they would be most representative of the mapped vegetation units. Additional plots were established when field personnel encountered a vegetation type that was not included in the classification scheme or that was not well known.

The PSO staff collected data from a total of 80 plots between May and October 2000. Mount Joy was sampled intensively in May and June 2000. Between July 1 and mid-October 2000, field teams sampled grasslands throughout the park (with assistance from PSO staff botanist John Kunsman); forested sections of Mount Misery; forested, shrubland and grassland areas north of the Schuylkill River; and forested areas between Route 23 and the Schuylkill River.

Based on this fieldwork, PSO staff edited some of the draft association level polygons. As a result, the final association level vegetation map has 69 fewer polygons than the draft association level database.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: draft association level map

Process_Date: 200104 - 200206

Source_Produced_Citation_Abbreviation: final association level map

Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Greg Podniesinski

Contact_Organization:

Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory - East, The Nature Conservancy (Pennsylvania Science Office)

Contact_Position: Community Ecologist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address

Address: 208 Airport Drive

City: Middletown

State_or_Province: PA

Postal_Code: 17057

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 717-948-3842

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: c-gpodnies@state.pa.us

Hours_of_Service: 0900 - 1700

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Indirect_Spatial_Reference: Valley Forge National Historical Park, Valley Forge, PA

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector

Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: G-polygon

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 322

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Planar:

Grid_Coordinate_System:

Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator

Universal_Transverse_Mercator:

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_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: 6378137.000000

Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: VAFO_Veg_Map_2005

Entity_Type_Definition: vegetation attribute database

Entity_Type_Definition_Source: none

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: Shape

Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry.

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: FORM_CODE

Attribute_Definition:

The formation code is a unique idenitifier for the formation level of the National Vegetation Classification System (NVCS).

Attribute_Definition_Source: The Nature Conservacny

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Codeset_Domain:

Codeset_Name:

International Classification of Ecological Communities: Terrestrial Vegetation of the Northeastern United States. Pennsylvania and Ecoregion 61 Review Subset.

Codeset_Source: The Nature Conservancy

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: FORM_NAME

Attribute_Definition:

The formation desciption is a unique description that is associated with the formation code and the formation level of the National Vegetation Classification System (NVCS).

Attribute_Definition_Source: The Nature Conservacny

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Codeset_Domain:

Codeset_Name:

International Classification of Ecological Communities: Terrestrial Vegetation of the Northeastern United States. Pennsylvania and Ecoregion 61 Review Subset.

Codeset_Source: The Nature Conservancy

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: RECNO

Attribute_Definition:

Series of sequentially assigned numbers to identify each polygon

Attribute_Definition_Source: The Nature Conservancy

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Unique identifier.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: CEGL

Attribute_Definition:

The Community Element Global Code (CEGL) is the unique identifier for the association level of the NVCS.

Attribute_Definition_Source: NPS

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Codeset_Domain:

Codeset_Name:

International Classification of Ecological Communities: Terrestrial Vegetation of the Northeastern United States. Pennsylvania and Ecoregion 61 Review Subset.

Codeset_Source: The Nature Conservancy

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Assoc_Sci

Attribute_Definition:

The NVC Scientific Name is the description associated with the CEGL code.

Attribute_Definition_Source: NPS

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Codeset_Domain:

Codeset_Name:

International Classification of Ecological Communities: Terrestrial Vegetation of the Northeastern United States. Pennsylvania and Ecoregion 61 Review Subset.

Codeset_Source: The Nature Conservancy

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Assoc_Com

Attribute_Definition:

The NVC English Name is the description associated with the CEGL code.

Attribute_Definition_Source: NPS

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Codeset_Domain:

Codeset_Name:

International Classification of Ecological Communities: Terrestrial Vegetation of the Northeastern United States. Pennsylvania and Ecoregion 61 Review Subset.

Codeset_Source: The Nature Conservancy

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Local_Name

Attribute_Definition:

Common Name (Park-specific) is a local name identified by the Pennsylania Office of The Nature Conservancy

Attribute_Definition_Source: NPS

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Codeset_Domain:

Codeset_Name:

International Classification of Ecological Communities: Terrestrial Vegetation of the Northeastern United States. Pennsylvania and Ecoregion 61 Review Subset.

Codeset_Source: The Nature Conservancy

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:

Valley Forge NHP Final Association Level Vegetation Classification

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/vafo/index.html>

Access_Instructions: Internet Access

Fees: None

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20060109

Metadata_Review_Date: 20100617

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>