Mojave Desert Ecosystem Initiative

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Table of Contents

Identification_Information
     Abstract
     Purpose
     Supplemental Information
Data_Quality_Information
Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
Spatial_Reference_Information
Distribution_Information
Metadata_Reference_Information

IDENTIFICATION_INFORMATION

Citation_Information
	Originator: U.S. Geological Survey
	Publication_Date: 1994
	Title: Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics
	Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: remote-sensing image
Publication_Information
	Publication_Place: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
	Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey 	
	Online_linkage: http://edcwww.cr.usgs.gov/glis/glis.html

Description
	Abstract
	The Multi-Resolution Land Characterisitics(MRLC) dataset is comprised of 
	standardized, pre-processed Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) image scenes 
	covering the Mojave Ecoregion and outlying areas as defined by Robert 
	Bailey in the 1995 second edition of "Description of the Ecoregions 
	of the United States". 

	The EROS Data Center (EDC), on behalf of the MRLC Consortium, negotiated an
	agreement with Space Imaging EOSAT allowing the purchase of 430 Landsat TM
	scenes representing one-time coverage of the conterminous United States. The
	agreement further provided the option to obtain an additional 100 scenes, at
	no cost to allow for multitemporal coverage of selected portions of the
	United States. Additionally, the agreement allowed the EDC to identify up to
	an additional 150 scenes which had been previously purchased for non-MRLC
	activities, such as scenes purchased by the GAP prior to the purchase
	agreement, to be used for MRLC activities.

	TM scenes for areas comprised mostly of natural vegetation were selected
	from seasons corresponding to peak biomass or period of peak vegetation of
	the dominant underlying vegetation types. When multitemporal scenes were
	selected, the second scene was selected to represent non-peak or senescent
	vegetation seasons. Selection for areas comprised mostly of agricultural
	landcover was based on the seasonal planting record and phenology of 10
	major crop groups, as identified in the 1987 Census of Agriculture, and
	evaluation of annual time series for vegetation greenness indices derived
	from AVHRR satellite data.

	All scenes were previewed for image quality. Those scenes found to be
	unacceptable due to cloud cover patterns or radiometric anomalies were
	rejected and new scenes selected. Replacement scenes were selected based on
	the same criteria used in the initial selection, with the replacement scenes
	generally acquired within one or two months of the original or acquired in
	the same season but in a different year.

	Temporal coverage consists of TM scene acquistions ranging from 1990 to
	1994, with a cloud coverage limitation of 10 percent or less. All image
	scenes are geometrically corrected using a cubic convolution resampling 
	algorithm to a Universal Transverse Mercator output projection with a 
	30 meter pixel resolution.       

	Purpose
	The Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics (MRLC) project was established to
	provide multi-resolution landcover data of the conterminous United States
	from local to regional scales. A centerpiece of MRLC is an objective to
	develop a national 30-meter landcover characteristics data base using
	Landsat thematic mapper (TM) data. This is a cooperative effort among six
	programs within four U.S. Government agencies: the U.S. Environmental
	Protection Agency's (EPA) Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
	(EMAP); the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) National Water Quality
	Assessment Program (NAWQA); the Department of Interior National Biological
	Service's (NBS) Gap Analysis Program (GAP); the USGS's Earth Resources
	Observation Systems (EROS) Data Center; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
	Administration's (NOAA) Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP); and the
	EPA's North American Landscape Characterization (NALC) project. The four
	agencies formed the MRLC Consortium for the purpose of purchasing Landsat TM
	images covering the conterminous U.S. that could form the basis of a system
	for obtaining baseline multi-scale environmental characteristics as well as
	a mechanism for monitoring and assessing environmental change at the
	regional level. Each of these programs had an immediate need for the images
	but found that individual purchases were not cost effective. However, a
	joint purchase was found to be very cost effective, saving the Federal
	Government several million dollars in data costs and data processing. This
	collaboration allows for each program to continue the pursuit of its own
	objective, but also increases the potential for joint landscape
	characterization efforts.

Supplemental_Information

	Data Source: Landsat 5
	Sensor Type: TM10
	WRS: 041/035 

	Preprocessing Steps:
	In an effort to remove or attenuate the 16-detector banding pattern found in
	some TM imagery, a debanding algorithm was applied to all scenes. After
	debanding is performed, all scenes are inspected for line and pixel drops.
	Scenes found to have multiple line drops or severe pixel drops are rejected
	and replacement scenes ordered. Single line drops are replaced by averaging
	the line above and the line below. The preprocessed image is written to tape
	and stored in the EDC archive.

	Geometric Registration:
	The TM images were precision corrected and registered to a map base. This
	entailed the selection of image and planimetric source control points for
	use in developing the model for precision correction. Control point sources
	included 1:100,000-scale USGS digital line graph (DLG) data and
	1:24,000-scale USGS topographic maps for areas within the U.S. and
	1:50,000-scale maps for areas of the included scenes that fall outside the
	U.S. borders. The DLGs are components of the National Digital Cartographic
	Data Base (NDCDB), and they are comprised of the various thematic layers
	(transportation, hydrography, hypsography, political boundaries, etc.)
	depicted on the 1:100,000-scale topographic map series (USGS, 1989).

	The DLGs were interactively overlaid onto the imagery to facilitate visual
	correlation of area features in the imagery and the DLG data. Once a feature
	match was achieved, the image (line, sample) and DLG (latitude, longitude)
	coordinates for a specific point along the feature were extracted and
	compiled in a control point file. Approximately 20 to 30 points were
	extracted, and the corresponding elevation values for these points retrieved
	from the digital elevation model (DEM) data, which were derived from the
	Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) Level 1 Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED)
	(USGS, 1987). The image and map/DLG ground control points were then used to
	compute the coefficients for a first order polynomial model used to
	geometrically correct and reproject the image to a Universal Transverse
	Mercator (UTM) ground control coordinate system.

	The map control points contain X, Y, and elevation values and were corrected
	for relief displacement. The image was rectified and resampled, using cubic
	convolution, to a UTM-projected output image comprised of 30- by 30-meter
	pixels. A full terrain correction was applied by correcting for the effects
	of relief displacement, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, using the DEM image
	previously created. A verification of registration quality was performed
	using control points selected from a map source. Scenes must meet quality
	restrictions of total RMSEs of less than 1.0 pixel. Approximately 12-plus
	control points were used to verify the image-to-map registration accuracy.

	Further information about these topics can be accessed via the on-line 
	linkage WWW site listed above. 

Time_Period_of_Content
	Time_Period_Information
	Single_Date/Time
	Calendar_Date: 19930810
	Currentness_Reference
	Sensor acquistion date 
	
Status
	Progress
	Complete
	Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency
	None Planned

Spatial_Domain
	Bounding_Coordinates
	West_Bounding_Coordinate: -119.1512
	East_Bounding_Coordinate: -116.6506
	North_Bounding_Coordinate: 36.1228
	South_Bounding_Coordinate: 35.1290

Keywords
	Theme
	Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
	Theme_Keyword: Satellite, imagery, remote sensing, Thematic Mapper, MRLC, USGS
	Place
	Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
	Place_Keyword: Mojave Desert Ecoregion 

Access_Constraints
Data availability is restricted to MRLC consortium members, their affiliated users, 
and to Federal Agencies. The joint acquistion of data is archived and distributed 
by USGS EROS Data Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. 
	
Use_Constraints
The MRLC LANDSAT TM Geocoded dataset distribution is limited to MRLC participants 
and U.S. government affiliated users. Usage is restricted to noncommercial 
purposes such as research.  

Point_of_Contact
Contact_Information
	Contact_Organizaton_Primary
	Contact_Position: N/A
	Contact_Address
		Address_Type: mailing address
		Address: U.S. Geological Survey 
		Earth Resources Observation Systems Data Center
		City: Sioux Falls
		State_or_Province: South Dakota
		Postal_Code: 57198
		Country: USA
	Contact_Voice_Telephone: (605) 594-6151
	Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (605) 594-6589
	Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: custserv@edcserver1.cr.usgs.gov
		
Data_Set_Credit
U.S. Geological Survey
EROS Data Center, Sioux Falls, SD 57198
Telephone: (605)594-6151
FAX: (605)594-6589

Security_Information
	Security_Classification_System: None
	Security_Classification: Unclassified 
	Security_Handling_Description: None

Native_Data_Set_Environment: SunOS UNIX, ERDAS IMAGINE version 8.3, dataset size 
variable

Cross_Reference
Citation_Information
	Originator: Bara, T. J., ed. 
	Publication_Date: 1994 
	Title: Multi-resolution Land Characteristics Consortium- Documentation 
	Notebook
	Publication_Information
		Publication_Place: Research Triangle Park, N.C.
		Publisher: ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc.
	Other_Citation_Details: [Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program-
	Landscape Characterization, Contract 68-DO-0106]

Cross_Reference
Citation_Information
	Originator: Bernstein, Ralph
	Publication_Date: 1983
	Title: Image Geometry and Rectification
	Publication_Information
		Publication_Place: Falls Church, Va.
		Publisher: American Society of Photogrammetry
	Other_Citation_Details: in Manual of Remote Sensing, Colwell, R.N., ed.

Cross_Reference
Citation_Information
	Originator: Kelly, P.M. and White, J.M. 
	Publication_Date: unknown
	Title: Preprocessing Remotely Sensed Data for efficient analysis and 
	classification
	Publication_Information
		Publication_Place: Los Alamos, N.M.
		Publisher: Los Alamos National Laboratory
 

DATA_QUALITY_INFORMATION

Attribute_Accuracy
	Attribute_Accuracy_Report: not applicable for raster data
Logical_Consistency_Report: N/A
Completeness_Report N/A 
Positional_Accuracy
	Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy
		Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:
		Geometric rectification of TM scenes entailed registration to a map 
		base by selection of planimetric source control points from 
		1:100,000 scale USGS Digital Line Graph (DLG) data and 1:24,000 
		scale USGS topographic quadrangles.  Elevation values were retrieved
		from DEM data derived from DMA 1:250,000 scale DTED data. 
		Image-to-vector overlay point extraction yielded approximately 30 
		X,Y,Z values used to calculate coefficients input into a first order 
		polynomial transformation, and reprojection to the UTM coordinate 
		system.  A single cubic convolution resample combining geometric 
		correction and reprojection minimized decimation of output DN values.  
		Verification of registration accuracy was performed using control 
		point distribution plots from 7.5 minute topographic quadrangles. 
		Geometric registration quality was required to meet total root mean 
		square errors (RMSE) of plus or minus one pixel (30 meters).  If 
		scenes failed to meet this error requirement, then control points were
		reselected and the process repeated.    
		 
	Quantitative_Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment:
		Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Value: +-30 meters
		Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: see Horizontal Positional 
		Accuracy Report
 
	Vertical_Positional_Accuracy
		Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report:
		Elevation values were extracted from 1:250,000 scale USGS DTED data 
		and used to create a DEM.  Control points were corrected for relief
	 	displacement using a full terrain correction model from the DEM 
		creation.  Quality restrictions were required to meet total RMSE's
		of less than one pixel.  

Lineage
	Source_Information
	Source_Citation
	Citation_Information
		Originator: U.S. Geological Survey 
		Publication_Date: 1989 
		Title: Digital Line Graphs from 1:100,000-Scale maps - Data Users 
		Guide 2.
		Publication_Information
			Publication_Place: Reston, Virginia
			Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey
	
	Source_Scale_Denominator: 100000
	Type_of_Source_media: cartridge tape, magnetic tape, CD-ROM

	Source_Time_Period_of_Content
		Time_Period_Information
		Range_of_Dates/Times
		Beginning_Date: Unknown
		Ending_Date: Unknown
		Source_Currentness_Reference
		publication date

	Source_Contribution
	Digital line graph data at the 1:100,000 scale were used as a map base
	to extract ground control points for geometric registration of TM scenes. 
	A minimum of 12 x,y coordinate points were selected from the DLG data 
	and/or the 1:24,000 scale topographic quadrangles.    

SPATIAL_DATA_ORGANIZATION_INFORMATION

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Raster
Raster_Object_Information
	Raster_Object_Type: Grid Cell 
	Row_Count: 6892
	Column_Count: 7693

SPATIAL_REFERENCE-INFORMATION

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition
	Planar
        Grid_Coordinate_System
        Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal_Transverse_Mercator (UTM)
           Zone_Number: 11
        Planar_Distance_Units: METERS
    	
	Geodetic Model
        Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983
        Ellipsoid_Name:  Geodetic Reference System 80
        Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.0
        Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 21384.69/6378137.0

DISTRIBUTION_INFORMATION
Distributor
Contact_Information
	Contact_Organizaton_Primary
	Contact_Position: N/A
	Contact_Address
		Address_Type: mailing address
		Address: U.S. Geological Survey 
			 Earth Resources Observation Systems Data Center
		City: Sioux Falls
		State_or_Province: South Dakota
		Postal_Code: 57198
		Country: USA
	Contact_Voice_Telephone: (605) 594-6151
	Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (605) 594-6589
	Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: custserv@edcserver1.cr.usgs.gov

Standard_Order_Process
	Digital_Form
		Digital_Transfer_Information
		Format_Name: BSQ
		Format_Information_Content:
		The 8-mm cartridge tapes may be ordered in either Space Imaging
		EOSAT Fast format or in a transfer format, containing the data 
		descriptor record (DDR) file in ASCII format; the six image files
		(one file for each band processed), the coregistered DEM DDR; and 
		the coregistered DEM image data. The DDR file contains information 
		describing the image projection parameters and corner coordinates.  
		Corner coordinates correspond to the four corners of the full 
		geocoded scene including the zero-filled area. The six image
		files correspond to TM bands 1,2,3,4,5, and 7.  The image size 
		(number of lines and samples) is determined by the corner 
		coordinates and projection of individual images, and therefore, 
		will vary based upon path/row. 
  
		Transfer_Size: 650 megabytes

		Digital_Transfer_Option
		Online_Option
		Computer_Contact_Information
		Network_Address
		Network_Resource_Name: http://edcwww.cr.usgs.gov/eros-home.html
		Offline_Option
		Offline_Media: CD-ROM  8 mm cartridge tape
		Recording_Format: ISO 9660
	
	Fees
	CD-ROM: MRLC Geocoded - $50
	Cartridge tape - MRLC Geocoded - $150

METADATA_REFERENCE_INFORMATION

Metadata_Date: 1997-10-24
Metadata_Contact
Contact_Information
	Contact_Person_Primary
	Contact_Person: Information Systems Management
	Contact_Organization: U.S.G.S. EROS Data Center
	Contact_Address
		Address_Type: mailing address
		Address: Information Systems Management
		U.S. Geological Survey
		EROS Data Center
		City: Sioux Falls
		State_or_Province: South Dakota
		Postal_Code: 57198
		Country: USA
	Contact_Voice_Telephone: (605) 594-6594
	Contact_Facimile_Telephone: (605) 594-6589
	Electronic_Mail_Address: custserv@edcmail.cr.usgs.gov

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: 19940608