Long Term Resource Monitoring Program

Program Report

95-P008-2

Long Term Resource Monitoring Program 

Standard Operating Procedures:

Field Station Photointerpretation

August 1995
Long Term Resource Monitoring Program

Standard Operating Procedures:

Field Station Photointerpretation

by

Thomas Owens

National Biological Service

Environmental Management Technical Center

575 Lester Avenue

Onalaska, Wisconsin 54650

 and

Kevin D. Hop

St. Mary's University of Minnesota

700 Terrace Heights

Winona, MN 55987-1399

August 1995
The Environmental Management Technical Center issues LTRMP Program Reports to

provide Long Term Resource Monitoring Program partners with programmatic documentation,

procedures manuals, training manuals, and geospatial applications.

National Biological Service

Environmental Management

Technical Center

CENTER DIRECTOR

Robert L. Delaney

SCIENCE ADVISOR

John W. Barko

INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY

SERVICES DIRECTOR

Norman W. Hildrum

GEOSPATIAL APPLICATIONS

DIRECTOR

Frank D'Erchia

INFORMATION TRANSFER AND MEDIA

SERVICES MANAGER

Terry D'Erchia 

REPORT EDITOR

Madelon M. Wise

Cover graphic by Mi Ae Lipe-Butterbrodt

Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation

for use by the National Biological Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

The National Biological Service . . . gathering, analyzing,

and sharing the biological information necessary to support the wise

stewardship of the Nation's natural resources.

 Printed on recycled paper 
iii

Preface

The Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) was authorized under the Water Resources

Development Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-662) as an element of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers'

Environmental Management Program. The LTRMP is being implemented by the Environmental

Management Technical Center, an office of the National Biological Service, in cooperation with the five

Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS) States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin,

with guidance and Program responsibility provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The UMRS

encompasses the commercially navigable reaches of the Upper Mississippi River, as well as the Illinois

River and navigable portions of the Kaskaskia, Black, St. Croix, and Minnesota Rivers.

The mission of the LTRMP is to provide decision makers with information to maintain the UMRS as

a sustainable large river ecosystem given its multiple-use character. The long-term goals of the Program

are to understand the system, determine resource trends and impacts, develop management alternatives,

manage information, and develop useful products.

The strategy to develop and adopt standard operating procedures is included in the LRTMP Operating

Plan as Strategy 4.1.1, Develop and Update Information Management Guidance Documents under

Objective 4.1, Provide Direction for Automation Activities. This report was developed with funding

provided by the Long Term Resource Monotoring Program.

Additional copies of this report may be obtained from the National Technical Information Service,

5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161 (1-800-553-6847 or 703-487-4650).

This report should be cited as:

Owens, T. and K. D. Hop. 1995. Long Term Resource Monitoring Program standard operating

procedures: Field station photointerpretation. National Biological Service, Environmental

Management Technical Center, Onalaska, Wisconsin, August 1995. LTRMP 95-P008-2. 13 pp. +

Appendixes A-E.
v

Contents

Page

Preface ........................................................................ iii

Contents ....................................................................... v

Figures ........................................................................ vi

Introduction ..................................................................... 1

Aerial Photography Interpretation .................................................... 1

Photo Preparation ............................................................ 1

Scaling Photos/Minimum Mapping Unit .......................................... 1

Work Area Preparation ........................................................ 2

Overlay Preparation ..................................................... 2

Endlap Preparation ...................................................... 2

Sidelap Preparation ...................................................... 3

Field Verification ............................................................ 5

Photointerpretation ........................................................... 5

References ...................................................................... 7

Appendix A .................................................................... A-1

Appendix B .................................................................... B-1

Appendix C .................................................................... C-1

Appendix D .................................................................... D-1

Appendix E .................................................................... E-1
vi

Figures

Page

Figure 1. Side-matching photos - Case A: The left-hand photo is offset above the right-hand photo. 

Case B: The left-hand photo is offset below the right-hand photo. .................. 3

Figure 2. Sidelap correction ....................................................... 4
Introduction

This chapter describes specific procedures that should be followed by Long Term Resource

Monitoring Program (LTRMP) Field Station staff when preparing for and conducting a

photointerpretation project. Procedures are provided for photo and work area preparation, scaling, field

verification, and interpretation.

Aerial Photography Interpretation

Photo Preparation

Each field station will receive one set of color-infrared contact prints and one set of transparencies in a

canister. The prints are used for indexing and field work. The transparencies are used to create work

areas and for photointerpretation.

Immediately upon receipt of the photos, use the contact prints to find each photo center (the

intersection of imaginary lines extended from the fiducial marks). Locate the point on the appropriate

7.5-ft topo quad and place a piece of tape labeled with the flight strip number and exposure number at

that point. An alternative method is to show individual flightlines on a quadrangle schematic such as the

example seen in Appendix A.

While indexing, carefully check the photos for proper endlap (60%) and sidelap (30%), color quality,

crab (photos askew from the flight line due to side winds), cloud cover, and sufficient coverage. 

Immediately report major problems (gaps in coverage, insufficient endlap for stereo viewing, excessive

cloud coverage, poor exposure) to the Environmental Management Technical Center (EMTC)

cartographer.

Organize each flight strip into a file folder labeled with the strip number and exposure numbers. Place

all topo quads, along with the filed prints, in an accordion folder labeled with photo type, scale, pool, and

date. Cut transparencies into individual frames and put into clear plastic sleeves. Organize the

transparencies in the same manner as the prints.

A list of materials necessary to complete the tasks described below is in Appendix B.

Scaling Photos/Minimum Mapping Unit

Aerial photos are taken at a nominal (or planned) scale, but the actual scale is not exactly the same,

due to a variety of factors such as changes in topography or the aircraft's altitude. It is necessary to

determine the actual photo scale to ensure that specifications were met and also to create a minimum

mapping unit (MMU) guide (instructions follow).

First, locate a feature (usually a road) near the photo center with two points (such as intersections) that

are easily identifiable on both the photo and the corresponding 1:24,000 topo quad.
SCALE '

PD

MD

× MAPSCALE '

PD

MD

×

1

24,000

2

Using dividers, carefully measure the photo distance (PD) and the map distance (MD) of the feature,

using the same units. Place these distances into the following formula:

The calculated scale should be close to the nominal scale (e.g., a nominal scale of 1:15,000 but an

actual scale of 1:15,433). Repeat this process in different areas of the pool to determine scale variability.

Next, create the MMU guide, which is a small piece of clear plastic with the MMU drafted on it at the

photo scale. For example, at the scale of 1:15,000, if the MMU is 1 acre, the guide could have a 0.17-

inch square and a 0.05- x 0.50-inch rectangle. This guide will serve as a calibration tool for the

interpreter's eye so that polygons smaller than the MMU are not delineated, thus eliminating unnecessary

detail. Use of the MMU is not a hard and fast rule. Land cover/use types which are less than the MMU

may be delineated if they are obviously and significantly different than their surroundings. For example,

if the MMU is 1 acre, a 3/4-acre forested island within the open water of the river may be delineated. 

However, land cover/use types which are less than MMU should be incorporated in with other types if

possible. For example, a 3/4 acre of Sagittaria spp. next to a 1/2 acre of Scirpus spp. should be

delineated together creating one polygon (with an attribute of Scirpus/Sagittaria mix), thus meeting the

MMU criteria.

Work Area Preparation

Overlay Preparation

First, cut a clear plastic sheet to size, approximately 9 inches on a side. Secure the sheet to the four

corners of the transparency with rectangles of drafting tape cut to 1/2 inch by 3/4 inch. Affix the overlay

to the photograph with the overlay's curl side up. This will help flatten the transparency photo, which is

curled the opposite direction. When handling the overlay sheets, use extra care not to touch the area

where delineations will be applied, as ink does not adhere well to skin oils. Because the edges of the

sheets should be handled minimally, wearing thin nylon or cotton industrial gloves may help prevent

excessive contact. Always protect the photograph and overlay with a photograph sleeve.

Neatly mark fiducials and photo numbers on the overlay, using a drafting pen (size 0 or 0.35 mm). If

the overlay is shifted or removed, it can then be accurately replaced.

Endlap Preparation

Beginning with the first photo in a flight strip, mark the study area boundary (SAB) on the photo.
3

Figure 1. Side-matching photos - Case A: The left-hand photo is offset above the right-hand photo. Case B: The left-hand

photo is offset below the right-hand photo.

On a light table, place the end photo over the next photo in the flight line. Line up features in the

overlap area on both photos, determine the halfway point of the overlap, and draw a line (perpendicular

to the flight line) on the overlay to mark this point.

With the stereoscope at 1.0 magnification, set the two photos into a stereo model and locate the line

just drawn. On the matching photo, mark several points that appear to lie on this line and connect the

points with a straight edge, completing the process of creating end-match lines for this stereo pair.

Continue this process until all photos that cover the study area have end-match lines or SABs. Endmatch lines do not have to be perfectly perpendicular to the flight line; in fact, where two flight lines

meet at a bend in the river, the end-match lines will be angled across the photos. Draw the project

boundary on photos as the work areas are created.

Sidelap Preparation

When all end-match lines are completed, create side-match lines. Locate the end photos in two

adjacent flight lines and mark the SAB on the appropriate photo.

Photos on adjacent flight lines are normally offset from each other, and each photo must be sidematched with two photos in the next flight line. Two cases can occur, as shown in Figure 1.

Creation of the side-match lines will begin differently in each case, but once the process to side-match

the flight line is started, the procedure is identical to the procedure for end-match lines.
4

Figure 2. Sidelap correction

On a light table, place the photo with the lower SAB over the adjacent photo, and line up features in

the overlap area on both photos. In Figure 1, case A, the right-hand photo would be on top of the lefthand photo; in case B, the left-hand photo would be on top of the right-hand photo.

Next, locate the halfway point of the overlap, and draw a line on the overlay along the side of the

photo from where it intersects with the SAB to the intersection with the end-match line.

Set up the two photos into a stereo model and locate the line just drawn. On the matching photo,

mark several points that appear to lie on this line as far as the line appears to go and then connect them

with a straight edge. In Figure 1, case A, the right-hand photo will have a closed side and the left-hand

photo will have a partially closed side. In case B, the left-hand photo will have a closed side and the

right-hand photo will have a partially closed side.

Put aside the lower photo in each case; this photo is completed for the moment. Then place the photo

above the photo just set aside below the remaining photo on the light table (Fig. 2).

After determining where the overlap intersects with the upper end-match line on the top photo (the

point labeled "half overlap"), draw a line from the end of the previously completed side-match line to this

point to correct for variation in sidelap up and down the flight lines.

Set the two photos into a stereo model under the stereoscope and mark the points that appear to lie on

the line on the adjacent photo. Then connect these points with a straight edge. Set aside the lower photo

with a closed edge. Repeat the process described to complete the upper photo.

During this process, draft the numbers of adjacent photos on the margins of all photos so it will be

easy to find these photos when necessary. Progressing up the flight lines, determine the side-match lines

between two adjacent flight lines. When this process is complete, repeat it for the next two adjacent
5

flight lines. The final products are closed polygons drafted on all overlays that cover the center portion

of each photo.

Field Verification

Field verification can be done first, as it is not dependent upon completion of work areas. Field work

is an ongoing process that will occur before, during, and after photointerpretation and whenever new

questions arise.

Inspect the photographs and locate questionable areas easily accessible by land vehicle, boat, or foot. 

Note major signatures (see Standard Operating Procedures for Photointerpretation [Owens and Hop

1995]) and cover types that are also accessible.

Place prints to be field-checked in clear plastic sleeves for protection and annotation. Register sleeves

to the prints by marking the fiducials with a fine-tipped permanent marker. Record the photo number and

the date visited in the field at the top right-hand corner of the sleeve.

At the field sites, note pertinent details about vegetation cover types on the sleeves. These can be

brief notes, using abbreviations for different genera. For example, a willow stand could have a lead line

drawn to it and labeled "SA" for Salix. Lead lines are drawn from the stands to the labels (polygons are

not drawn around stands because these lines obscure details on the photos). Notes are made only for

areas that have been visited or directly observed; extrapolation of signatures should be done in the office

under the stereoscope.

Ground photography helps trigger memories when doing photointerpretation. When taking ground

photos, record the origination point and direction. Record the frame number on the sleeve registered to

the print.

Back in the office, review field notes carefully to verify that all questions have been answered. 

Subsequent field work may be necessary as photointerpretation proceeds.

Photointerpretation 

The land cover/use are classified according to the classification system listed in Appendix C. 

Descriptions of the major classes are in Appendix D.

Photointerpretation is done using a magnifying stereoscope and a light table. A pair of transparencies

is set up as a stereo model under the stereoscope. Interpretation is done on overlays registered to the

photograph using a fine-tipped drafting pen (size 0000 or 0.19 mm).

Features are delineated by identifying signatures, the characteristic appearance of an object on a given

type of imagery. Vegetation signatures vary greatly according to time of day, season, type of

photography, and scale. Signatures are affected by color/tone, texture, pattern, shape, size, and location. 

A single factor may not be sufficient to identify an object, but combinations of these factors will lead to

proper identification. For example, two vegetation types found in different locations may have the same
6

color and texture; conversely, two vegetation types found in the same location may have different colors. 

It is important to learn the combinations of factors that distinguish one vegetation type from another.

To begin photointerpretation, select an area that has been field-checked. A stereo model is set up

under the stereoscope with the transparencies and overlays and viewed at 3x magnification.

Scan the entire work area and determine how the area will be mapped, based on ground information

and the visual clues of color, shape, size, texture, and pattern. Map from the general to the specific. 

First, delineate large areas that may contain smaller islands of different vegetation. Then delineate the

smaller areas, keeping the MMU in mind. Label polygons as soon as they have been delineated. It is

vital that interpretation and delineations of cover types, density modifiers, and height modifiers are

consistent.

Delineation and labeling must be done in a neat, legible manner. Lines should be of uniform width,

following the ground features on the photograph. For example, a forested island surrounded by water

must be delineated at the shoreline as opposed to delineating the overhanging tree canopy. If a mistake

in delineation is made, it should be erased (a wooden skewer or toothpick works well) and redrawn. 

Delineations should be drawn simply, yet in enough detail to accurately reflect the ground features.

Polygons must be closed and labeled. Linears should be used for significant land cover too narrow to

delineate with a polygon (for example, a single row of trees surrounding an emergent wetland). Short

linears (those less than MMU) should not be used. An arrow extends from the label to the linear to

designate its description. Delineations should extend 1/8 inch past the work area. For complex edge ties,

erase a portion of the work area to help clarify the delineations. Place labels within the polygon. If the

polygon is too small, place the label outside the polygon with a lead line drawn from the label and into

the polygon. If the label interferes with the polygon delineation, then the polygon is too small. For

sample delineation and labeling procedures, refer to Appendix E.

After each photo is interpreted, match all lines and labels with the adjacent photos to ensure that edge

ties and labels are accurate and consistent (including side matches). After edge tie is complete, notate

"tied" within the margin of each photo to show its completeness.

When interpretation of a photo is complete, place a clean sheet of white paper between the overlay and

the photo to check for completeness of linework and labeling, as well as for interpretation errors. Then

sign and date the interpreted photograph at the top right-hand corner.

A production log is used to track and record completed work. Logs are essential to record completed

photos, document problems or concerns, and to track progress.

Send the following to the EMTC cartographer: (1) completed overlays registered to the

transparencies, (2) production logs, (3) copies of the indexed topo quads or a flight line index to show

photo location, (4) contact prints, and (5) photo sleeves with field notes. The photos are QC'd and if

approved, the data are transferred and digitized into a geographic information system (GIS). The GIS

data are sent back to the stations when complete.
7

References

Owens, T., and K. D. Hop. 1995. Long Term Resource Monitoring Program standard operating

procedures: Photointerpretation. National Biological Service, Environmental Management

Technical Center, Onalaska, Wisconsin, July 1995. LTRMP 95-P008-1. 7 pp. + Appendixes A and

B.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1992. Operating Plan for the Upper Mississippi River System Long

Term Resource Monitoring Program. Environmental Management Technical Center, Onalaska,

Wisconsin, Revised September 1993. EMTC 91-P002. 179 pp. (NTIS #PB94-160199)
A-1

Appendix A

LTRMP 1989 Flight Line Index Pool 18
B-1

Appendix B

Photointerpretation Materials List

Field-Checking Materials

 Binoculars

 Loupe (hand magnifying glass)

 Clear plastic sleeves

 Fine-tipped, permanent markers (e.g., "Sharpies")

 Clipboard

 Waterproof container for photos, maps, etc. (e.g., cooler)

 Note paper, pencils, pens

Interpretation/Preparation Materials

 Complete set of 9 x 9 color-infrared prints

 Complete set of transparencies

 Complete set of 1:24,000 topo quads

 Magnifying stereoscope

 Light table

 Map of study area boundary

 Masking tape

 Scissors

 Rapidograph drafting pens (sizes 0 and 0000)

 Drafting ink (best is waterproof fast-drying ink dedicated for film only)

 4-mm clear plastic to cut into approximately 9-inch squares

 Straight edge/ruler (preferably with inches divided into tenths)

 Dividers, file folders

 Minimum mapping unit guide

 Wooden skewers or toothpicks (for erasing ink)
C-1

Appendix C

LTRMP Vegetation Classification

Photo Interpreter's List

Version 3.00

3 April 1995

 100 Open Water 409 Nelumbo/Nympheae/Sagittaria/

 101 Lemnaceae submergents

 102 Azolla

 200 Submergents 501 Brasenia

 201 Lemnaceae/submergents 502 Jussiaea

 202 Myriophyllum 503 Nelumbo

 203 Zosterella 504 Nelumbo/Lemnaceae

 204 Vallisneria/Zosterella 505 Nelumbo/Nymphaea

 205 Myriophyllum/Zosterella 506 Nuphar

 206 Vallisneria/Potamogeton 507 Nymphaea

 207 Myrioph/Potamoget/Vallis 508 Nelumbo/Nymphaea/Lemnaceae

 208 Potamoget/Vallis/Zost/Cerat 509 Nymphaea/Lemnaceae

 209 Elodea

 210 Azolla/submergents 600 Rooted Floating Aqua-Emergents

 250 Vallisneria/Potamoget/Heteran 601 Nelumbo/Nymphaea/Sagittaria

 251 Ceratophyllum 602 Nymphaea/Sagittaria

 252 Lemnaceae/Ceratophyllum 603 Nymphaea/Scirpus

 253 Lemna/Ceratophyll/Potamogeton 604 Sagittaria/Nelumbo

 254 Potamogeton

 255 Vallisneria 700 Emergents

 300 Submerg-Rooted Floating Aqua 702 Carex

 301 Brasenia/submergents 703 Cyperus

 302 Nelumbo/Nymphaea/submerg/Lemn

 303 Nelumbo/submergents 704 Decodon

 304 Nelumbo/submergents/Lemnaceae 705 Echinodorus

 305 Nymphaea/Nelumbo/submergents 706 Eleocharis

 306 Nymphaea/submergents 707 Lythrum salicaria

 307 Nymphaea/submergents/Lemnaceae 708 Pontederia

 308 Nymphaea/Myriophyllum 709 Sagittaria

 309 Nelumbo/Myriophyllum 710 Sagittaria/Lemnaceae

 310 Nelumbo/Nymphaea/Myriophyllum 712 Sagittaria/Scirpus/Sparganium

 311 Nymph/Ceratoph/Myriophyl/Lemna 713 Sagittaria/Sparganium

 312 Nymphaea/Ceratophyllum/Lemna 714 Scirpus

 400 Submerg-Rooted Floating-Emerg 716 Scirpus/Sparganium

 401 Nelum/Nymph/Sag/Sparg/sub/Lemn 717 Sedge meadow

 402 Nelum/Nymph/Ponted/sub/Lemn 718 Sparganium

 403 Scirpus/Nelumbo/submergents 719 Typha

 404 Scirpus/Nymphaea/submergents 720 Typha/Sagittaria

 405 Zizania/Nymphaea/Nelumbo/sub 721 Typha/Scirpus

 406 Pontederia/Nymph/Nelumbo/sub 722 Typha/Scirpus/Sparganium

 407 Sagittaria/Ceratophyllum/Lemnaceae 723 Typha/Sparganium

 408 Nelumbo/Sagittaria/submergents 724 Zizania

 500 Rooted Floating Aquatics

 701 Acoris

 715 Scirpus/Sagittaria
C-2

 725 Equisetum 1007 Cephalanthus

 727 Scirpus/Zizania 1008 Forest-mesic (moist soil sp.)

 728 Typha/Sagittaria/Scirpus 1009 Forest-upland (dry soil sp.)

 729 Typha/Sagittaria/Sparganium 1010 Fraxinus

 730 Typha/Sagittaria/Scirpus/ 1011 Plantation

Sparganium 1012 Populus

 800 Emergents-Grasses/Forbs 1014 Salix

 801 Leersia/Carex/Polygonum 1015 Salix and/or Populus

 802 Leersia/Carex/Sagit/Polygonum 1016 Salix and/or Populus - grass

 803 Leer/Phalar/Scirp/Lythr/Phrag 1017 Shrub/grass/forbs

 804 Leersia/Sagittaria 1018 Shrub/Scirpus

 805 Sagittaria/Phalaris 1019 Taxodium

 806 Sagittaria/Polygonum 1020 Taxodium/Nyssa

 807 Sag/Sparg/Typ/Scirp/Leer/Phrag 1021 Ulmus

 808 Scirpus/Leersia 1022 Conifers

 809 Scirpus/Carex/Leersia/Polygon 1023 Juniperus

 810 Scirpus/Phalaris 1024 Populus/Acer/Ulmus/Fraxinus 

 811 Scirpus/Phragmites community

 812 Scirpus/Polygonum 1025 Quercus/Carya community

 813 Scirpus/Typha/Phalaris 1026 Salix community

 814 Sparganium/Leersia 1027 Populus community

 815 Typha/grasses/forbs 1028 Salix/Populus community

 816 Scirpus/grasses/forbs 1029 Quercus/Nyssa/Taxodium

 817 Sagittaria/Scirpus/Leersia community

 900 Grasses/Forbs 1030 Acer/Tilia community

 901 Ambrosia 1031 Upland Forest community

 902 Grass 1032 Cephalanthus community

 903 Hay meadow 1033 Mixed shrubs community

 904 Pasture (heavily grazed areas) 1034 Plantation community

 905 Leersia

 906 Leersia/Polygonum 1100 Agriculture

 907 Meadow

 908 Mixed forbs and/or grasses 1200 Urban/Developed

 909 Nettles 1201 Developed

 910 Phalaris 1202 Developed parks

 911 Phalaris/Polygonum 1203 Industrial pond

 912 Phragmites 1204 Urban

 913 Phragmites/Phalaris 1205 Revetted bank

 914 Polygonum

 915 Polygonum/Nelumbo 1300 Sand/Mud

 916 Rdside-levee/grass/forbs/shrub 1301 Mud

 917 Sand-prairie 1303 Sand

 918 Spartina

 919 Vines as dense overgrowth 1400 No Coverage

 920 Polygonum/Eupatorium

 922 Grass/forbs/shrubs Modifiers:

1000 Woody Terrestrial B 34-67% Vegetation Cover

1001 Acer C 68-90% Vegetation Cover

1002 Acer/Populus and/or Salix D >90% Vegetation Cover

1003 Amorpha

1004 Betula 1. 0-20 Feet Tall 

1005 Brush 2. 21-50 Feet Tall

1006 Carya/Nyssa 3. >50 Feet Tall

1013 Quercus

A 10-33% Vegetation Cover
D-1

Appendix D

Long Term Resource Monitoring Program's

13-Class Generalized Land Cover/Use Data

Open Water: Areas classified as Open Water have <10% vegetation cover and are classified as either water or

duckweed. Note: Duckweed is treated as Open Water due to its mobile tendencies.

Submergents: Land cover types grouped into this class are areas classified as having either submergent

vegetation or submergent vegetation mixed with duckweed.

Submergents-Rooted Floating Aquatics: Land cover types grouped into this class contain mixtures of

submergents combined with American lotus, watershields, and white water lily.

Submergents-Rooted Floating Aquatics-Emergents: Land cover types grouped into this class are mixtures

of submergents combined with American lotus and/or white water lily, along with arrowhead, bulrush, burreed, pickerelweed, or wild rice.

Rooted Floating Aquatics: Land cover types grouped into this class contain either pure stands or mixtures of

American lotus, watershields, water primrose, white water lily, or yellow water lily.

Rooted Floating Aquatics-Emergents: Land cover types grouped into this class contain mixtures of

American lotus and/or white water lily mixed with arrowhead and/or bulrush.

Emergents: Land cover types grouped into this class contain either pure stands or mixtures of arrowhead,

bulrush, burheads, bur-reed, cattail, flat sedge, horsetail, pickerel weed, purple loosestrife, sedges, sedge

meadow, spike rush, sweetflag grass, water-willow, or wild rice.

Emergents-grasses/Forbs: Land cover types grouped into this class contain mixtures or arrowhead, bulrush,

cattail, or purple loosestrife mixed with common reed, cutgrass, reed canary grass, sedges, or smartweed.

Grasses/Forbs: Land cover types grouped into this class contain either pure stands or mixtures of cord grass,

common reed, cutgrass, lowland hay meadow, grass, live stem vines, mixed forbs and/or grasses, nettles,

pasture, ragweed, reed canary grass, roadsides/levees, sand-prairie, smartweed, or upland meadows.

Woody Terrestrial: Land cover types grouped into this class contain either pure stands or mixtures of ash, bald

cypress, birch, buttonbush, conifers, cottonwood, Eastern red cedar, elm, false indigo, hickory, maple, mesic

forests, oaks, plantations, shrubs, sour gum, upland forests, or willow.

Agriculture: Agriculture is used to define any area where the ground is turned with a plow or worked with a

disk.

Urban/Developed: Land cover types grouped into this class are areas that have been developed into

campgrounds, picnic areas, industrial developments, urban developments, or are covered with riprap.

Sand/Mud: Land cover types classified as Sand/Mud have <10% vegetation cover and are classified as either

sand or mud.
E-2

Appendix E

Basic Conventions for Delineation and Labeling

Delineations

Delineations must be of simple origin, following land and vegetative features; overly complex delineations

must be avoided.

Correct Incorrect

Correct Incorrect

All polygons must be closed; avoid dangling segments.

Correct Incorrect
E-3

Delineations must be linear if a polygon is too narrow to delineate correctly; delineation from each side of

polygon may not touch each other.

Correct Incorrect

Polygons adjacent a linear must connect to the linear in the middle of a dashed segment of the linear.

Correct Incorrect

Linears connecting with an adjacent linear must connect in the middle of a dashed segment of the linear.

Correct Incorrect

Add "end breaks" to terminate linears.

Correct Incorrect
E-4

Extend delineations over the work area line (approximately 1/8").

Correct Incorrect

Labeling

Each polygon must have an attribute (label); large and/or complex polygons may have more than one like

attribute.

Correct Incorrect

Each polygon may not have more than one different attribute.

Correct Incorrect
E-5

Adjacent polygons must have different attributes.

Correct Incorrect

Label attribute within the polygon; if polygon is too small, label the polygon with a leadline.

Correct Incorrect

Label linears with an arrow; more than one label may be used for long linears.

Correct

Incorrect
E-6

Label all sections of a linear; add a "break" to show an attribute change along the linear.

Correct

Incorrect
REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved

OMB No. 0704-0188

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data

sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any

other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations

and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-

0188), Washington, D.C. 20503

1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED

August 1995

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS

Long Term Resource Monitoring Program Standard Operating Produres: Field Station Photointerpretation

6. AUTHOR(S)

Thomas Owens and Kevin D. Hop 1 2

7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION

National Biological Service 1

Environmental Management Technical Center

575 Lester Avenue

Onalaska, Wisconsin 54650

St. Mary's University of Minnesota 2

700 Terrace Heights

Winona, MN 55987-1399

 REPORT NUMBER

9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSORING/MONITORING

National Biological Service 

Environmental Management Technical Center 95-P008-2

575 Lester Avenue

Onalaska, Wisconsin 54650

 AGENCY REPORT NUMBER

11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

12a. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT 12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE

Release unlimited. Available from National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161 

(1-800-553-6847 or 1-703-487-4650)

13. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words)

This chapter describes specific procedures that should be followed by Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) Field Station staff when preparing for and

conducting a photointerpretation project. Procedures are provided for photo and work area preparation, scaling, field verification, and interpretation. The procedures are

divided into several steps: 1) photo preparation, 2) scaling photos and determining the minimum mapping unit, 3) work area preparation, 4) field verification, and 5)

photointerpretation. Required materials and equipment are listed and the classification is listed and described. Basic conventions to delineation and labeling are described.

14. SUBJECT TERMS 15. NUMBER OF PAGES

aerial photography, aerial photointerpretation, vegetation mapping 13 pp. + Appendixes A-E

16. PRICE CODE

17. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 18. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 19. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 20. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT

 OF REPORT OF THIS PAGE OF ABSTRACT

Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified
The Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) for the Upper

Mississippi River System was authorized under the Water Resources

Development Act of 1986 as an element of the Environmental Management

Program. The mission of the LTRMP is to provide river managers with

information to maintain the Upper Mississippi River System as a sustainable

large river ecosystem given its multiple-use character. The LTRMP is a

cooperative effort by the National Biological Service, the U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers, and the States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin.