Greater Hunter Native Vegetation Mapping with Classification for Mapping

## **Abstract** 

The dataset was derived by the Bioregional Assessment Programme.This dataset is derived from Greater Hunter Native Vegetation Mapping supplied by NSW Office of Water on 19/12/2014. You can find a link to the parent datasets in the Lineage Field in this metadata statement. The History Field in this metadata statement describes how this dataset was derived.



This is essentially the same as the original dataset (see History) except an additional field (Map _Class) has been added to the polygon attribute table where the source vegetation classes have been collapsed into fewer more generic classes to facilitate the production of report map image.



Additionally there is a 50m rasterised version of the re-classified data (HUN_GHM_Veg_50m) derved from the Map_Class field of the polygon features. This was generated to facilitate timely redrawing of the feature layer in the report map MXD.

## **Dataset History** 

The GHM geodatabase builds on a wealth of information and previous mapping from the Hunter region. Existing field data, mapping, classification and remote sensing interpretation 

were augmented with new survey data to produce the vegetation community classification used in this project. The classification used a series of well documented analyses as well as 

expert review to achieve its end-point. This document contains descriptions of the 252 native vegetation communities resulting from the data analysis and classification process. 

The GHM geodatabase contains two principal vegetation layers. The GHM Vegetation Type layer and the Canopy Cover (v2) layer (individual tree crowns or clumps of tree crowns). The 

GHM also contains field plot localities, associated species information and plot-specific photographs. Data specific to each polygon (e.g. crown cover) and to each native vegetation 

community type (e.g. common name, scientific name) are included. 

Polygons, the fundamental spatial units, are built from computer-based feature recognition which delineates landscapes patterns. The GHM Vegetation Type map is built by attributing 

individual polygons with vegetation type from the GHM floristic classification through a multi-stage process. The process includes visual interpretation of SPOT 5 and ADS40 imagery as 

well as species distribution modelling and expert review. 

The project included a review of existing mapping and classification and established equivalences between these and the GHM Classification. This was done for two main 

reasons; to allow the mapping team to draw the maximum benefit from existing mapping and, to ensure that mapping currently in common use has a recorded and explicit 

relationship with the current products. This is important considering that much of this existing mapping is at a very fine scale and may represent sub-classes of the GHM Classification. 

This document provides users with a description of 'standard' products and also provides examples of how more advanced use may be made of the GHM.



In addition to the source polygon data, a 50m rasterised version of the Map Class has been included to facilitate fast re-draw for the large scale report map production.



A comprehensive account of the lineage of this data is give in the accompanying document GHM_v4p0_Geodatabase_Guide_070812.pdf included in this dataset.

## **Dataset Citation** 

Bioregional Assessment Programme (2014) Greater Hunter Native Vegetation Mapping with Classification for Mapping. Bioregional Assessment Derived Dataset. Viewed 13 March 2019, http://data.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/dataset/73abc2f6-1b8a-43a0-b458-c67ee4275edc.

## **Dataset Ancestors** 

* **Derived From** [Greater Hunter Native Vegetation Mapping](https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/8f575981-3730-4989-84ce-c90204158406)



Tags: Gloucester subregion, Hunter subregion, New South Wales, biota
Organization: Bioregional Assessment Program