Identification_Information:
  Citation:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator:
        Remote Sensing and GIS Group, Technical Service Center, US Bureau of Reclamation, Mail Code
        D-8260, POB 25007, Denver CO 80225
      Publication_Date: 2000
      Title: Theodore Roosevelt National Park Accuracy Assessment Data
      Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Table
      Series_Information:
        Series_Name: USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program
        Issue_Identification: Theodore Roosevelt National Park
      Publication_Information:
        Publication_Place: Denver, CO
        Publisher: USGS-BRD
      Other_Citation_Details: Created under contract to the USGS-BRD-CBI
      Online_Linkage: http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/thro/index.html
  Description:
    Abstract:
      This metadata is for the accuracy assessment data
      associated with the vegetation land cover and land use
      geospatial database for Theodore Roosevelt National Park and
      surrounding areas.  The project is authorized as
      part of the USGS/NPS Vegetation Mapping Program
      http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg. The program is
      being administered by the Biological Resources
      Division (BRD) of the United States Geological
      Survey (USGS).  The USGS/BRD 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. The vegetation mapping program
      is part of a larger Inventory and Monitoring (I&M)
      program started by the National Park Service (NPS)
      Their website is: http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/
    Purpose:
      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/BRD; 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.
  Time_Period_of_Content:
    Time_Period_Information:
      Single_Date/Time:
        Calendar_Date: 1998
    Currentness_Reference:
      From the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Theodore Roosevelt
      National Park, North Dakota Procedure Report,
      March 7, 2000.  See:
      http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/thro/throrpt.pdf
  Status:
    Progress: Complete
    Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None Planned
  Spatial_Domain:
    Bounding_Coordinates:
      West_Bounding_Coordinate: -103.75
      East_Bounding_Coordinate: -103.125
      North_Bounding_Coordinate: 47.75
      South_Bounding_Coordinate: 46.75
    Description_of_Geographic_Extent: Theodore Roosevelt NP and surrounding environs
  Keywords:
    Theme:
      Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
      Theme_Keyword: Land cover
      Theme_Keyword: Land use
      Theme_Keyword: Vegetation
      Theme_Keyword: National Park Service
      Theme_Keyword: Accuracy Assessment
    Place:
      Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
      Place_Keyword: North Dakota
      Place_Keyword: Theodore Roosevelt National Park
      Place_Keyword: Little Missouri River
      Place_Keyword: Little Missouri National Grasslands
      Place_Keyword: Elkhorn Ranch
      Place_Keyword: Medora
  Taxonomy:
    Keywords/Taxon:
      Taxonomic_Keyword_Thesaurus: none
      Taxonomic_Keywords: vegetation
      Taxonomic_Keywords: plants
      Taxonomic_Keywords: National Vegetation Classification System
    Taxonomic_System:
      Classification_System/Authority:
        Classification_System_Citation:
          Citation_Information:
            Originator: Anderson, et al
            Publication_Date: 1976
            Title: A Land Use and Land Cover Classification System for Use with Remote Sensor Data
            Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document
            Series_Information:
              Series_Name: Geological Survey Professional Paper
              Issue_Identification: No. 964
            Publication_Information:
              Publication_Place: Washington, DC
              Publisher: US GPO
            Other_Citation_Details: This project used the Level II Land Use Classes
            Online_Linkage: http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/classification/index.html
      Taxonomic_Procedures: Sequence of field test data plots, observation plots, and photo-signature observations.
    General_Taxonomic_Coverage:
      Refer to complete listing of mapped plant alliances/associations under Supplemental Information above.
      Taxanomic_Classification:
    Taxonomic_Classification:
      Taxon_Rank_Name: Kingdom
      Taxon_Rank_Value: Plantae
  Access_Constraints: None
  Use_Constraints:
    Acknowledgment of the USGS/BRD, National Park Service,
    and the USBR/RSGIS Group would be appreciated in
    products derived from these data.  Any person using
    the information presented here should fully understand
    the data collection and compilation procedures, as
    described in the metadata, before beginning
    analysis.  The burden for determining fitness for
    use lies entirely with the user.
  Point_of_Contact:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Organization_Primary:
        Contact_Person: USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Coordinator
        Contact_Organization:
          USGS Biological Resources Division, Center for Biological
          Informatics
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: Physical Address
        Address: USGS
        Address: Biological Resources Division, CBI
        Address: Building 810, Room 8000
        City: Denver
        State_or_Province: Colorado
        Postal_Code: 80225-0046
        Country: USA
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: Mailing Address
        Address: USGS
        Address: Biological Resources Division, CBI
        Address: PO BOX 25046, DFC, MS302
        City: Denver
        State_or_Province: Colorado
        Postal_Code: 80225-0046
        Country: USA
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: (303) 202-4220
      Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 303-202-4229
      Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 303-202-4219 (org)
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: gs-b-npsveg@usgs.gov
  Browse_Graphic:
    Browse_Graphic_File_Name: http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/thro/images/throaa.pdf
    Browse_Graphic_File_Description: 321 Kbyte
    Browse_Graphic_File_Type: PDF
  Data_Set_Credit: Dan Cogan, Doug Crawford, Jean Pennell, Trudy Meyer, Jim Von Loh of Theodore Roosevelt NP, NPS
  Native_Data_Set_Environment: UNIX-ARC/INFO
Data_Quality_Information:
  Attribute_Accuracy:
    Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
      Overall, initial accuracy of the vegetation map is 74.3% for all vegetation classes and the Kappa Index is 71.3%.  Results for each vegetation class are discussed here, and recommendations are made relative to creating a more accurate vegetation map, as desired.

      The specific results are presented in Tables 4-2 and 4-3 below.  Confidence interval calculations are presented in Appendix O.  In general, the percentage of the Park that an individual map class covered is reflected in the number of AA points collected for that type.  For example, needle-and-thread herbaceous alliance was interpreted for approximately 33% of the Park and is represented by 28% of the AA points, and the  badlands sparse vegetation complex was interpreted for approximately 20% of the Park and is represented by 14% of the AA points.  Similarly, the prairie dog town complex was interpreted for approximately 2% of the Park and is represented by 1.7% of the AA points.

      However, several map classes are sampled with a larger number of AA points relative to their actual percent abundance/ground cover.  For example:  the silver buffaloberry shrubland alliance covers 0.1 % of the park and is represented by 2.6% of the AA points;  the little bluestem - sideoats grama herbaceous alliance covers  0.3 % and is represented by 3.5% of the AA points; and  the prairie sandreed herbaceous alliance covers  0.2 % and is represented by 2.3% of the AA points.  Four map classes were not sampled as follows:  the ponderosa pine woodland alliance does not occur within Park boundaries and is well-represented by plot and observation data;  the quaking aspen woodland alliance has a plot and/or observation form for every stand known to occur in the Park and no additional stands were observed;  the emergent wetland class is too small to be interpreted on aerial photos and has an observation form for every wetland observed during field research in the Park; and the Canada thistle herbaceous alliance is too small to be interpreted on aerial photos and has several observation forms reporting occurrences in the Park.
  Logical_Consistency_Report: Unknown
  Completeness_Report:
    AA data, including limited habitat and vegetation data, was recorded on field forms to document the classification decision made by the investigator.  All AA data were collected during July 1998.  The weather at this time was unusually warm and vegetation readily identifiable except where it was heavily grazed.

    AA data were collected as shown in Figure 3-5 with more points collected within extensive types, e.g., AA points were collected proportional to the size of the plant association/map class within the Park.  Accuracy assessment of the THRO project area was conducted in January 2000.  This involved entering all accuracy data points into a coverage and overlaying these electronically on final vegetation maps (quarter-quads).  AA point (identification) numbers plotted alongside each point allowed for comparison with accuracy assessment data forms.  A contingency table was set up to record the reference data (collected field data) versus the sample data (vegetation map) for each map unit.
  Positional_Accuracy:
    Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:
      Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: The UTM coordinates and elevation of all plots were logged using a hand-held Precision Lightweight Global Positioning  System (GPS) Receiver (PLGR) unit.
  Lineage:
    Process_Step:
      Process_Description:
        AA data were collected as shown in Figure 3-5 with more points collected within extensive types, e.g., AA points were collected proportional to the size of the plant association/map class within the Park.  Accuracy assessment of the THRO project area was conducted in January 2000.  This involved entering all accuracy data points into a coverage and overlaying these electronically on final vegetation maps (quarter-quads).  AA point (identification) numbers plotted alongside each point allowed for comparison with accuracy assessment data forms.  A contingency table was set up to record the reference data (collected field data) versus the sample data (vegetation map) for each map unit.

        Errors of commission (i.e. users errors) for each class were calculated by dividing the number of correctly classified samples by the total number of samples that were classified as belonging to that map class.  Errors of omission (i.e. producers errors) for each class were calculated by dividing the number of samples that were classified correctly by the total number of reference samples in that class.  Confidence intervals for each map class were calculated using one of the methods shown in Table 3-1. depending on the normality and size of the data.

        Overall total accuracy for THRO is calculated across all sampled map classes by dividing the number of correctly classified accuracy points by the total number of accuracy points.  Confidence intervals for overall total accuracy were calculated using the equation for normally distributed data (see Table 3-1).  A Kappa Index (Foody 1992 in Accuracy Assessment Procedures, TNC, 1994) was used to help account for any correct classification due to chance.

        A total of 346 accuracy assessment points were used to assess the THRO vegetation map by:

        using AA points collected during the summer of 1998 (front-loading method);

        entering AA point coordinates into an electronic format to overlay on the vegetation map;

        comparing map vegetation classification (transferred from photo interpretation) with field assessment of vegetation type to determine errors of omission and commission;

        resolving questions by referring to original data forms, so that Dr. Butler could make the final determination; and

        recording all information on the AA matrix (Table 4-3).

        Overall, initial accuracy of the vegetation map is 74.3% for all vegetation classes and the Kappa Index is 71.3%.

        The specific results are presented in Tables 4-2 and 4-3 below.  Confidence interval calculations are presented in Appendix O.  In general, the percentage of the Park that an individual map class covered is reflected in the number of AA points collected for that type.  For example, needle-and-thread herbaceous alliance was interpreted for approximately 33% of the Park and is represented by 28% of the AA points, and the  badlands sparse vegetation complex was interpreted for approximately 20% of the Park and is represented by 14% of the AA points.  Similarly, the prairie dog town complex was interpreted for approximately 2% of the Park and is represented by 1.7% of the AA points.

        However, several map classes are sampled with a larger number of AA points relative to their actual percent abundance/ground cover.  For example:  the silver buffaloberry shrubland alliance covers 0.1 % of the park and is represented by 2.6% of the AA points;  the little bluestem - sideoats grama herbaceous alliance covers  0.3 % and is represented by 3.5% of the AA points; and  the prairie sandreed herbaceous alliance covers  0.2 % and is represented by 2.3% of the AA points.  Four map classes were not sampled as follows:  the ponderosa pine woodland alliance does not occur within Park boundaries and is well-represented by plot and observation data;  the quaking aspen woodland alliance has a plot and/or observation form for every stand known to occur in the Park and no additional stands were observed;  the emergent wetland class is too small to be interpreted on aerial photos and has an observation form for every wetland observed during field research in the Park; and the Canada thistle herbaceous alliance is too small to be interpreted on aerial photos and has several observation forms reporting occurrences in the Park.
      Process_Date: 199909
    Methodology:
      Methodology_Type: Field
      Methodology_Identifier:
        Methodology_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
        Methodology_Keyword: front-loading
        Methodology_Keyword: Kappa Index
      Methodology_Description:
        The accuracy assessment (AA) for THRO vegetation mapping analyses consisted of preliminary planning and discussion, logistical planning, fieldwork, analysis of fieldwork, and computation of final results.  Preliminary planning involved RSGIG and Dr. Jack Butler (Plant Ecologist hired by TNC and responsible for collecting the field AA data).  Following detailed discussion, a modified accuracy assessment procedure dubbed front-loading (Owens 1998) was selected using protocols outlined in the Accuracy Assessment Procedures (TNC 1994).

        The following guidelines for this procedure were adopted at this time:

        Observations of vegetation classes were to be ground-based.

        Ground sampling techniques were to be similar to the Observation Points collected during initial classification.

        The number of samples per plant association/map class would vary depending on abundance of the class upon the landscape.

        Logistical planning for the AA revolved around access to work areas within the Park.  The actual assessment was begun prior to completion of preliminary vegetation maps for the Park, thus the front-loading aspect of the study.

        A maximum number of points to be collected was not assigned, so that the Park could be sampled as completely as possible.

        Assessment was performed within Park boundaries and data points were not limited to the previously described gradsects, but rather were located based on availability of access and to a lesser extent, time constraints.  Selecting random AA sampling sites beforehand was deemed unnecessary due to familiarity of the principal researcher with vegetation types and distribution at THRO.  The final points chosen for assessment were selected to be as representative as possible of the vegetation in the immediate area, well away from stand boundaries, and in a stand larger than the minimum mapping unit (exceptions were made for emergent wetland, scoria and bentonite exposures, and some exotic species classes which rarely exceeded 0.5 hectares in size).  Field ecologists were supplied with a vegetation key, to be used to determine plant associations/map classes to enter on the field form.  The field form used for the AA was a modified version of the observation point form (Appendix E).

        AA data, including limited habitat and vegetation data, was recorded on field forms to document the classification decision made by the investigator.  All AA data were collected during July 1998.  The weather at this time was unusually warm and vegetation readily identifiable except where it was heavily grazed.

        AA data were collected as shown in Figure 3-5 with more points collected within extensive types, e.g., AA points were collected proportional to the size of the plant association/map class within the Park.  Accuracy assessment of the THRO project area was conducted in January 2000.  This involved entering all accuracy data points into a coverage and overlaying these electronically on final vegetation maps (quarter-quads).  AA point (identification) numbers plotted alongside each point allowed for comparison with accuracy assessment data forms.  A contingency table was set up to record the reference data (collected field data) versus the sample data (vegetation map) for each map unit.
      Methodology_Citation:
        Citation_Information:
          Originator: Remote Sensing and GIS Group, Technical Service Center, US Bureau of Reclamation, MC-D8260, POB 25007, Denver CO 80225
          Publication_Date: 1998
          Title:
            Accuracy Assessment Procedures,
            NBS/NPS Vegetation Mapping Program
          Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Report
          Publication_Information:
            Publication_Place: Denver, Colorado
            Publisher: USGS-BRD, Center for Biological Informatics
          Other_Citation_Details:
            Prepared for:

            United States Department of Interior
            National Biological Survey and National Park Service

            Prepared by:

            Environmental Systems Research Institute
            380 New York Street
            Redlands, California 92373

            National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis
            University of California
            3510 Phelps Hall
            Santa Barbara, California 93106

            The Nature Conservancy
            1815 N. Lynn Street
            Arlington, Virginia  22209
          Online_Linkage: http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/aa/index.html
Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
  Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Point
Spatial_Reference_Information:
  Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
    Planar:
      Grid_Coordinate_System:
        Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
        Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
          UTM_Zone_Number: 13
          Transverse_Mercator:
            Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -105
            Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0
            False_Easting: 0
            False_Northing: 0
            Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: .9996
      Planar_Coordinate_Information:
        Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair
        Coordinate_Representation:
          Abscissa_Resolution: 1
          Ordinate_Resolution: 1
        Planar_Distance_Units: meters
    Geodetic_Model:
      Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983
      Ellipsoid_Name: Geodedic Reference System 80
      Semi-major_Axis: 6378137
      Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257
Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
  Overview_Description:
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
      Information collected for Accuracy Assessment included:

      Plot Number
      Park Code
      Date
      Observer(s)
      Datum
      Accuracy
      UTM Coordinates:       Easting     Northing
      UTM Zone     9. Offset from Point:       Easting (in meters)      Northing (in meters)
      Topographic Description
      Elevation
      Aspect
      Veg Assoc. at Site
      Veg Assoc. 2 within 50m of Site
      Veg Assoc. 3 within 50m of Site
      Major Species Present (by strata)
      Canopy Closure of Top Layer
      Rationale for Classification
      Comments
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
      See:

      Accuracy Assessment Field Form:
      http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/thro/throrpt.pdf

      Mapping totals for area and quantity of polygons.
      http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/thro/throrpt.pdf

      Summary of AA Results for Theodore Roosevelt National Park, by map class.
      http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/thro/throrpt.pdf

      Contingency table (error matrix) for THRO vegetation mapping accuracy assessment.
      http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/ftp/vegmapping/thro/aa_matrix.xls

      The map codes as described in Appendix K:
      http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/thro/throrpt.pdf

Distribution_Information:
  Distributor:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Person_Primary:
        Contact_Person: USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Coordinator
        Contact_Organization: Center for Biological Informatics, USGS-BRD
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: Mailing Address
        Address: PO Box 25046, MS-302
        City: Denver
        State_or_Province: Colorado
        Postal_Code: 80225
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: (303) 202-4220
      Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 303-202-4229
      Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 303-202-4219 (org)
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: gs-b-npsveg@usgs.gov
  Resource_Description: Badlands National Accuracy Assessment Data
  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/thro/index.html
    Fees: None
Metadata_Reference_Information:
  Metadata_Date: 200001
  Metadata_Review_Date: 20080507
  Metadata_Contact:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Organization_Primary:
        Contact_Organization: USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Coordinator
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing and physical address
        Address:
          U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Biological Informatics, MS 302,
          Room 8000, Building 810, Denver Federal Center
        City: Denver
        State_or_Province: Colorado
        Postal_Code: 80225
        Country: USA
      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-STD-001.1-1999 Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata, 1998 Part 1: Biological Data Profile, 1999
  Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
  Metadata_Extensions:
    Online_Linkage: http://metadata.nbii.gov/portal/community/Communities/Toolkit/Metadata/FGDC_Metadata/
    Profile_Name: Biological Data Profile FGDC-STD-001.1-1999