Field Plots FAQ Metadata

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Frequently-anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How should this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
  8. What biological taxa does this data set concern?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
• How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
  1. How well have the observations been checked?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
• Who wrote the metadata?

What does this data set describe?

1. How should this data set be cited?

   USBR Remote Sensing and GIS Group, Denver, Colorado, Unpublished Material, waba_plots: None None, None, None.

   Online Links:

   • <http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/ftp/vegmapping/waba/wabaplot.zip>

   Other_Citation_Details: None

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -99.712884

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -99.696058

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 35.624902

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 35.617574

   Description_of_Geographic_Extent: Washita Battlefield National Historic Site

3. What does it look like?

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

   Calendar_Date: 2005

   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 (31)
      • Point (4)

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

      Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator

      Universal_Transverse_Mercator:

      UTM_Zone_Number: 14

      Transverse_Mercator:

      Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.999600

      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -99.000000

      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 0.000000
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000000
      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?

   waba_plots

   attributes from shapefile table (Source: Washita Battlefield National Historic Site)

   COMMENTS

   General Comments About the Data Collection (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual comments description of collected data.

   OTHER

   Description of the Other Category used in Cover Classes (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual description of other information found within the site.

   FID

   Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

   Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

   Shape

   Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

   Coordinates defining the features.

   PLOT_CODE

   Unique Code Used to Identify Plots (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Unique plot number.

   PROV_NAME

   Provisional Name of Plant Association Recorded by Field Crew (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual common association name.

   ELCODE

   NVCS CODE for Plant Association (Source: NatureServe)

   Textual and numerical code.

   CLASS_NAME

   Classified Plant Association Name (Source: NatureServe)

   Textual Scientific association name.

   SUBLOC

   Sub-location of the Point in the Park (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual description of the sub-location.

   QUAD

   Name of the USGS Quadrangle (Source: Roger Sanders)

   USGS Quadrangle name.

   DRAINAGE

   Comments on the Soil Drainage within the Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Soil drainage description type.

   PHENOLOGY

   Phenology of the Dominant Stratum in the Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual of leaf phenology type description.

   FIELD_X

   UTM X Value as Recorded in the Field (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Easting coordinate collected in the field.

   FIELD_Y

   UTM Y Value as Recorded in the Field (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Northing coordinate collected in the field.

   UTM_ZONE

   UTM Zone (Source: Roger Sanders)

   UTM Zone 14.

   DATE

   Date of Data Collection (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Numerical of the date the plot was observed.

   ZSROCKS

   Percent (%) of Small Rocks in the Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Percentage (i.e. 25.000 = 25%)

   DIRECTIONS

   General Directions to the Plot Center (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual direction description of locations.

   ZLITTER

   Percent (%) of Litter in the Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Percentage (i.e. 25.000 = 25%)

   SURVEYORS

   Names of the Surveyors Who Collected the Data (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual surveyors last name.

   XDIM

   X Dimension of Field Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual and numerical of X dimension (whole numbers).

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Meters

   YDIM

   Y Dimension of Field Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual and numerical of Y dimension (whole numbers).

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Meters

   PLOT_SHAPE

   Overall Shape of the Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual defining the shape of the plot.

   PHOTOS

   Where Ground Photos Taken of the Plot (True/False) (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Ground photos relating to plot points.

   PERMANENT

   Is the Point Permanently Marked in the Field (Yes/No) (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual of yes/no for permanent plots.

   REPRESENT

   Description of How Representative the Point is of the Surrounding Vegetation or Polygon (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual of representiveness description.

   ELEV

   Elevation of the Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Numerical elevation of plot.

   ZWATER

   Percent (%) of Standing Water in the Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Percentage (i.e. 25.000 = 25%)

   ELEV_UNITS

   Units of the Elevation Values (feet/meters) (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Elevation units in feet/meters.

   TOPO_POS

   General Position of the Plot on the Landscape (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual of topology position type description.

   LANDFORM

   General Landform that the Plot Occurs On (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual of landform description.

   COWARDIN

   General Wetland Description (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual cowadrin classification description.

   HYDRO

   Comments on the Hydrology of the Soils in the Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual hydrology type description.

   ENVIRO

   General Environmental Comments about the Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual of environment description.

   TEXTURE

   Soil Texture in the Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual of soil texture description.

   ZLROCKS

   Percent (%) of Large Rocks in the Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Percentage (i.e. 25.000 = 25%)

   ZSAND

   Percent (%) of Sand in the Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Percentage (i.e. 25.000 = 25%)

   ZWOOD

   Percent (%) of Dead and Down Wood in the Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Percentage (i.e. 25.000 = 25%)

   ZBARESOIL

   Percent (%) of Bare Soil in the Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Percentage (i.e. 25.000 = 25%)

   ZOTHER

   Percent (%) of Other Non-vegetated Item in the Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Percentage (i.e. 25.000 = 25%)

   DATUM

   The Projection Datum of the GPS Point (Source: Roger Sanders)

   NAD 83.

   SOIL

   General Description of the Soils on the Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual soil description of plot.

   LEAF_TYPE

   General Leaf Type of the Dominant Stratum (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual of leaf type description.

   PHYSIO

   Physiognomic Description of the Dominant Stratum (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual of physiology class type description.

   T2_HGT

   Height of the Canopy Stratum (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual and numerical of T2 height (whole & decimal numbers).

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Range in meters (i.e. 0.5 - 1 m)

   T2_COVER

   Relative Percent Cover of the Canopy Stratum (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Numerical of T2 cover (whole numbers).

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Midpoint of the Cover Scale = Percentage (i.e. 80 = 80%)

   T3_HGT

   Height of the Sub-canopy Stratum (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual and numerical of T3 height (whole & decimal numbers).

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Range in meters (i.e. 0.5 - 1 m)

   T3_COVER

   Relative Percent Cover of the Sub-Canopy Stratum (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Numerical of T3 cover (whole numbers).

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Midpoint of the Cover Scale = Percentage (i.e. 80 = 80%)

   S1_HGT

   Height of the Tall Shrub Stratum (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual and numerical of S1 height (whole & decimal numbers).

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Range in meters (i.e. 0.5 - 1 m)

   S1_COVER

   Relative Percent Cover of the Tall Shrub Stratum (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Numerical of S1 cover (whole numbers).

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Midpoint of the Cover Scale = Percentage (i.e. 80 = 80%)

   S2_HGT

   Height of the Short Shrub Stratum (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual and numerical of S2 height (whole & decimal numbers).

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Range in meters (i.e. 0.5 - 1 m)

   S2_COVER

   Relative Percent Cover of the Short Shrub Stratum (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Numerical of S2 cover (whole numbers).

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Midpoint of the Cover Scale = Percentage (i.e. 80 = 80%)

   S3_HGT

   Height of the Dwarf Shrub Stratum (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual and numerical of S3 height (whole & decimal numbers).

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Range in meters (i.e. 0.5 - 1 m)

   S3_COVER

   Relative Percent Cover of the Dwarf Shrub Stratum (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Numerical of S3 cover (whole numbers).

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Midpoint of the Cover Scale = Percentage (i.e. 80 = 80%)

   SPECIES

   Number of Plant Species Recorded at the Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Numerical count of plant species at each plot point.

   GPS

   GPS Unit Used (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual GPS unit name.

   H_HGT

   Height of the Herbaceous Stratum (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual and numerical of H height (whole & decimal numbers).

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Range in meters (i.e. 0.5 - 1 m)

   H_COVER

   Relative Percent Cover of the Herbaceous Stratum (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Numerical of H cover (whole numbers).

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Midpoint of the Cover Scale = Percentage (i.e. 80 = 80%)

   ANIMAL_USE

   Evidence of Any Animal Use in the Area (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual description of animal use.

   DISTURB

   Evidence of Any Disturbance in the Area (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual description of other disturbance.

   FRAME

   Plot Photo Frame(s) (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Whole number of the plots photo frame.

   ACCURACY

   Accruacy of the GPS Unit in Meters (Source: Roger Sanders)

   GPS accuracy from position.

   SLOPE_DEG

   Degree of Slope at Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Numerical of slope in degrees.

   ASPECT_DEG

   Degree of Aspect at Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Numerical of aspect in degrees.

   ZBEDROCK

   Percent (%) of Bedrock in the Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Percentage (i.e. 25.000 = 25%)

   T1_HGT

   Height of the Emergent Stratum (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual and numerical of T1 height (whole & decimal numbers).

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Range in meters (i.e. 0.5 - 1 m)

   T1_COVER

   Percent (%) of Bedrock in the Plot (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Numerical of T1 cover (whole numbers).

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Midpoint of the Cover Scale = Percentage (i.e. 80 = 80%)

   N_HGT

   Height of the Non-vasular Stratum (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Textual and numerical of N height (whole & decimal numbers).

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Range in meters (i.e. 0.5 - 1 m)

   N_COVER

   Percent cover of the Non-vasular Stratum (Source: Roger Sanders)

   Numerical of N cover (whole numbers).

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	Midpoint of the Cover Scale = Percentage (i.e. 80 = 80%)

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   Attributes were either generated by ArcInfo or assigned by Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, Roger Sanders or NatureServe.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Washita Battlefield National Historic Site Mapping Project Final Report (DOI - USGS/USBR)

8. 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 produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • USBR Remote Sensing and GIS Group, Denver, Colorado

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

   USBR Remote Sensing and GIS Group: Mike Pucherelli. Others: Dan Cogan (Cogan Technology Inc.), Roger Sanders (formally with the Botanical Research Institute of Texas) and Jim Drake (Nature Serve).

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   Bureau of Reclamation
   c/o Mike Pucherelli
   Group Manager
   P.O. Box 25007 Bldg. 56 Denver Federal Center M.S. D-8260
   Denver, Colorado 80225
   United States of America
   

   303-445-2267 (voice)
   303-445-6337 (FAX)
   mpucherelli@do.usbr.gov
   

   Hours_of_Service: 8 am - 5 pm

   Contact_Instructions: None

Why was the data set created?

Plots were collected to characterize the vegetation at LWashita Battlefield National Historic Site and vicinity. This GIS layer was created from the GPS coordinates recorded at the center of each plot to map their distribution and location in the Park.

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

   None (source 1 of 1)

   None, None, None.

   Type_of_Source_Media: paper

   Source_Scale_Denominator: None

   Source_Contribution: None

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

   Date: Unknown (process 1 of 5)

   Plots were subjectively placed by qualified ecologists to characterize the plant communities. Portions of the methodology were derived from the USGS/NPS Vegetation Mapping Program's Field Methods for Vegetation Mapping standard. Vegetation data in each sample plot was recorded by qualified ecologists using a standard NVC plot data collection form. Data was manually transferred to a MS Access database. Point coverage was created by importing the database into ArcView as an event theme.

   Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Dan Cogan
   Cogan Technology Inc.
   Vice-President
   21 Valley Road
   Galena, Illinois 61036
   United States of America
   

   815-777-1773 (voice)
   None (FAX)
   dancogan@cogantech.com
   

   Hours_of_Service: 8 am - 5 pm

   Contact_Instructions: None

   Data sources used in this process:

   • None

   Data sources produced in this process:

   • None

   Date: Unknown (process 2 of 5)

   Metadata imported.

   Data sources used in this process:

   • C:\Projects\nps\grte\CD\GIS_Data\NAD83\Vegetation_Data\Field_Plots\2002_Plots\Spatial_data\metadata.xml

   Date: Unknown (process 3 of 5)

   Metadata imported.

   Data sources used in this process:

   • C:\Projects\nps\grte\CD\GIS_Data\NAD83\Vegetation_Data\Field_Plots\2002_Plots\Spatial_data\2002_plots_cov\plots_2002\metadata.xml

   Date: Unknown (process 4 of 5)

   Metadata imported.

   Data sources used in this process:

   • C:\DOCUME~1\Dan\LOCALS~1\Temp\xml6C.tmp

   Date: Unknown (process 5 of 5)

   Metadata imported.

   Data sources used in this process:

   • C:\DOCUME~1\Dan\LOCALS~1\Temp\xml41.tmp

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

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

1. How well have the observations been checked?

   Positional accuracy is only as good as the GPS receiver used. Thematic accuracy was not checked for this layer. Thematic data was collected on the ground by trained ecologists.

2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

   GPS accuracy varies for each plot. No GPS error or PDOP values were recorded.

3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

   GPS accuracy varies for each plot.

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

   All field plots collected in 2005 at Washita Battlefield National Historic Site are included in this coverage.

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

   All point features were checked for uniqueness and for correct and complete attributing.

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?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	HTML
     Network links:	<http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/waba/index.html>

   • Cost to order the data: None

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 13-Mar-2008
Last Reviewed: 18-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:

• <http://www.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt/community/fgdc_metadata/255>