Planning and Conducting 

Route 

Inventories

Technical Reference 9113-1

Travel and 

Transportation 

Management

2006
Editing, layout, and design were provided by the BLM National Science and Technology Center, Branch of Publishing Services

Suggested Citation:

Graves, P., A. Atkinson, and M. Goldbach. 2006. Travel and Transportation Management: Planning and Conducting Route Inventories. 

Technical Reference 9113-1, BLM/WO/ST-06/007+9113, Bureau of Land Management, Denver, Colorado. 51 pp.
Planning and Conducting 

Route 

Inventories

Technical Reference 9113-1

Travel and 

Transportation 

Management

2006

By

Paul Graves

Technical Reference Team Lead–Cartographer

Bureau of Land Management

National Science and Technology Center

Denver, Colorado

Anna Atkinson

Technical Reference Team Member–National Off-Highway Vehicle Coordinator

Bureau of Land Management

National Recreation and Visitor Services Division

Washington, D.C.

Mark Goldbach

Technical Reference Team Member–Senior Outdoor Recreation Specialist

Bureau of Land Management

National Recreation and Visitor Services Division

Washington, D.C.

Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 

Contents

Acknowledgments..................................................................................1

Abstract..................................................................................................3

Route Inventory.................................................................................... 5

The Bureau of Land Management....................................................7

 Land Use and Resource Management Plans...............................7

 Comprehensive Travel Management..........................................7

Data Standards.................................................................................8

 Minimum National Data Standards ..........................................8

 Geospatial Accuracy ..................................................................9

Enterprise Geographic Information System......................................9

 Metadata .................................................................................10

Conclusion.....................................................................................11

Inventory Project Plan ........................................................................13

Purpose..........................................................................................14

Scope.............................................................................................14

Resources.......................................................................................15

Inventory Project Map ...................................................................17

Conclusion ..................................................................................18

Remote Data Collection......................................................................19

Satellite Images ..............................................................................20

Airborne Images.............................................................................21

 National Agriculture Imagery Program....................................21

 National Aerial Photography Program.....................................22

Route Digitization .........................................................................22

Conclusion.....................................................................................23

Field Data Collection ..........................................................................25

Team Briefing.................................................................................26

 Identification...........................................................................26

 Risk Management and Safety ..................................................27

 Communications Plan.............................................................27

 Property Management.............................................................28

Data Collection..............................................................................28

 Tailgate Session .......................................................................28

 Data Standards........................................................................28

 Field Work ..............................................................................29

Team Debriefing ............................................................................29

Conclusion.....................................................................................30

References ............................................................................................31

Unpublished Documents ....................................................................33

Appendix A. Minimum National Data Standards.............................35

Appendix B. Data Dictionary ............................................................37

Appendix C. Glossary.........................................................................41

Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the efforts of several colleagues who supported 

this work. Special appreciation goes to Bill Gibson, Off-Highway Vehicle 

and Travel Management Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management 

(BLM) Arizona State Office, for his insight and practical knowledge of 

this subject. We are particularly indebted to the expert BLM peer review 

members who provided guidance and thoughtful comments throughout 

the course of the project: Matt Bobo, Tom Busch, Shirley Bye-Jech, Tom 

Chatfield, James Cooper, Debra Dinville, Pat Fleming, Larry Gerard, 

Christine J. Hawkinson, Terry Heslin, Martin Hudson, Gary Hurelle, 

Russ Jackson, Gary Long, Cindy Lou McDonald, Paul Rau, and Charisse 

Sydoriak. Many other individuals contributed their time and effort in a 

variety of ways.

Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 

Abstract

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Technical Reference 9100-1 

describes best practices for planning and conducting transportationrelated route inventories. Route inventories identify all existing 

transportation-related linear features, including potential roads, primitive 

roads, trails, and travel-associated linear disturbances within a landscape 

unit. Additional transportation-related linear features, such as airstrips, 

railroads, and rivers, may also be included as necessary. This inventory 

methodology is a tool that may be used to help with land use plan 

development, including the quantification of issues, description of the 

environment, formulation of land use plan alternatives, conducting of 

impact analyses, supporting land use planning decisions, and monitoring 

resource condition changes over time. The BLM has established 

minimum national data standards for transportation-related linear 

features (roads, primitive roads, and trails), including Interagency Trail 

Data Standards (for National Scenic and National Historic Trails) used 

with transportation-related route inventories. The procedures described 

herein represent standard and accepted methods of planning for and 

conducting route inventories by using these minimum national data 

standards. 

Although the primary audience for the present Technical Reference is 

the Field Office resource specialist responsible for conducting inventories 

associated with comprehensive travel management, the content is equally 

useful for engineers, cartographers, geographic information system 

specialists, volunteers, contractors, and students assigned to the data 

collection process.

The purpose of this document is to describe recommended practices 

for planning and conducting transportation-related route inventories. 

The route inventory is a snapshot of the existing transportation network 

within a landscape or planning area as of a specific date. 

The transportation network provides both public and administrative 

access to public lands and contains many features, including roads, primitive roads, and trails—both planned and unplanned (user-created). The 

route inventory is created by using best available information obtained 

from satellite and airborne resources combined with on-the-ground field 

verification and validation. 

A transportation route inventory may be used by the Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM) during the land use planning process to:

• Define current conditions and develop the management situation 

analysis.

• Quantify land use planning issues.

• Formulate land use plan alternatives.

• Describe an affected environment.

• Conduct an impact analysis.

• Implement and support land use plan decisions.

• Monitor change in resource conditions.

Route inventories are an integral part of Land Use Plans (LUPs)/Resource 

Management Plans (RMPs), Land Health Assessments (LHAs), Travel 

and Transportation Management Plans (TTMPs), Facility Maintenance 

Plans (FMPs), and other associated activity level plans. Route inventories 

are used as the basis for implementing land use plan goals, objectives, 

and management actions and can also be used to create a variety of map 

products for Federal, State, and local governments, as well as the visiting 

public.

Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 

Route Inventory
 Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

The following recommendations and best 

practices have been developed by travel and 

transportation managers, recreation managers, database administrators, geographic 

information system (GIS) specialists, photogrammetrists, and cartographers. The 

document does not address how to establish 

Figure 1. Resource Management Planning Process

Identify 

Issues*

Develop

planning

criteria*

Issue Notice

of Intent &

start scoping

Collect

Inventory

Data*

Analyze the

management

situation*

Formulate

alternatives*

Estimate

effects 

of

alternatives

Select the 

preferred

alternative

Issue

Draft

RMP/EIS

Issue

proposed

RMP/Final EIS.

Initiate Governor’s

Consistency 

Review

Sign record

of decision (ROD)

approving the RMP

Resolve protests,

issue notice of

significant change

(if applicable

Sign

ROD

No

Protest

Protest

Implement 

decisions,

and monitor

& evaluate

RMP

Source Water Agreement, Section III.A(3): 

Assessments New 

Info/Need

for Change:

Resourcespecific

priorities

(III.B(1))

feeding into

Integrated

Assessments

(e.g.,SBR)

Collaborative RMP

Implementation Planning

*These steps may be revisited throughout the

planning process and may overlap other steps.

an appropriate route designation, evaluate 

environmental effects, perform a condition 

assessment, or decide when to add or remove 

a route. Rather, the goal of the transportation 

route inventory is to identify and properly 

classify all existing routes, whether planned 

or unplanned (user-created).
Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

The Bureau of Land Management

The BLM is responsible for more than 260 

million acres of surface land and manages 

this valuable public resource for the purpose 

of sustaining the health, diversity, and productivity of the land for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The 

Federal Land Policy and Management Act 

of 1976 (FLPMA) directs that “public lands 

be managed in a manner that protects the 

quality of scientific, scenic, historical, ecological, environmental, air and atmospheric, 

water resource, and archaeological values; 

that, where appropriate, will preserve and 

protect certain public lands in their natural 

condition; that will provide food and habitat 

for fish and wildlife and domestic animals; 

and that will provide for outdoor recreation 

and human occupancy and use” by encouraging collaboration and public participation 

throughout the planning process. 

Land Use and Resource Management Plans

The BLM develops Land Use Plans (LUPs) 

to meet the goals of the FLPMA. Each LUP 

describes a specific land management area 

and contains a record of all use and resource 

decisions. LUP decisions establish the goals 

and objectives for resource management 

(desired outcomes) and the measures 

needed to achieve these goals and objectives 

(management actions and allowable uses). 

The BLM develops a variety of LUPs, but 

the primary plan that directs decisions for a 

BLM Field Office is the Resource Management Plan (RMP). The RMP addresses all 

types of resource uses, including travel and 

transportation management within the area. 

The Resource Management Plan (RMP) 

describes

• Designation of land uses (limited 

vs. restricted vs. exclusive, special 

management, transfers, and others).

• Allowable resource uses and related 

levels of production.

• Resource condition goals and 

objectives.

• Program constraints and general 

management practices.

• Need for areas to be covered by more 

detailed plans.

• Support actions such as resource 

protection, realty, access development, 

and others.

• General implementation sequences.

• Standards for monitoring and 

evaluating the plan.

The RMP provides the management context 

to allow for travel management decisions. 

Travel management decisions are project-level 

decisions that can be part of the RMP or can 

be deferred to a separate travel management 

plan after the Record of Decision (ROD) is 

signed.

Comprehensive Travel Management

Comprehensive travel management 

planning addresses all resource use aspects 

(such as recreational, traditional, casual, 

agricultural, commercial, and educational) 
 Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

and accompanying modes and conditions of 

travel on the public lands. It is not limited to 

motorized or off-highway vehicle activities.

Travel and transportation routes control 

access to public lands and are used to protect 

the resources while providing for recreation 

and occupancy. Travel and transportation 

decisions include allowable types of travel 

(over land, water, and snow, and fly-in) as 

well as modes and conditions of travel on 

public lands. The BLM’s transportation route 

inventory process will

• Meet agency business requirements at 

all levels of the organization.

• Use a systems approach to route 

inventories that adopts a manageable 

landscape unit within the overall 

planning process.

• Ensure that inventories are conducted 

in coordination, cooperation, and 

collaboration among program areas 

and with other agencies, partners, and 

customers. (For example, although 

routes located on private lands or 

portions thereof are considered 

outside the scope of BLM approval 

and route designation efforts, these 

routes may be included in the route 

inventory because of their emergency 

access value.)

• Incorporate scientifically credible 

inventory methodology that meets 

quality control and quality assurance 

standards.

• Define the steps to be taken and 

ensure that those conducting the 

route inventory are provided with the 

necessary equipment and supplies to 

accomplish the tasks.

• Include available information from 

existing maps, orthoimagery, and local 

informants.

Data Standards

Route information is a valuable geospatial 

resource that, if properly managed, can be 

shared with many users. To maximize the 

value of the data and to facilitate information exchange, the BLM has established 

minimum national data standards for route 

inventories and complies with geospatial 

accuracy and metadata guidelines.

Minimum National Data Standards

The need for interagency route data standards stems from an increasing need among 

agencies and partners to take inventory of, 

assess, and create maps of transportation 

routes across multiple jurisdictions throughout the United States. In response to the 

proliferation of nonstandard terminology, 

the BLM has recently identified minimum 

national data standards.

As for transportation-related linear features, the BLM now recognizes three route 

types: road, primitive road, and trail. When 

describing these route types, the BLM has 

identified the same set of required attributes 

for all three types (Appendix A).
Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

The minimum national data standards do 

not preclude the collection of additional 

optional information, if necessary. However, 

when there is a need for a specific optional 

data element to support a local, missionrelated requirement, a formal business case 

must be submitted to justify expending 

Bureau resources to maintain the optional 

information. 

Geospatial Accuracy

The BLM complies with the National Standard for Spatial Data Accuracy (NSSDA), 

endorsed by the Federal Geographic Data 

Committee (FGDC) in 1998. This standard 

defines a statistical and testing methodology 

for establishing the positional accuracy in 

digital geospatial data with respect to georeferenced ground positions of higher accuracy. 

NSSDA refers to digital data that are not 

constrained by scale.

NSSDA established the term radial accuracy, 

which is defined as the radius of a circle of 

uncertainty such that the true or theoretical 

location of points falls within that circle 95% 

of the time. For example, NSSDA specifies a 

maximum permissible horizontal accuracy of 

19.0 feet at 95% confidence level for geospatial data compiled at 1:6000 scale and a 

horizontal accuracy of 38 feet at 95% confidence level for geospatial data compiled at 

1:12,000 scale.

The NSSDA standard supersedes the 

National Map Accuracy Standard (NMAS) 

developed by the Bureau of the Budget in 

1947. This original map accuracy standard 

is still used by the U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS) in the production of topographic 

maps. NMAS is limited by the graphic map 

scales, whereas NSSDA is digital data that 

can be represented at any scale.

Enterprise Geographic Information 

System 

Geospatial data are a shared resource between 

government agencies and the public, and the 

BLM’s enterprise geographic information systems (eGIS) serves as the central repository 

for these data. The BLM eGIS system: 

• Enables Bureau employees and 

stakeholders to access geospatial 

data, information, and knowledge, 

whenever and wherever they are 

needed, to facilitate interaction with 

the agency.

• Provides access to automated, 

maintained, and standardized 

geospatial data.

• Integrates geospatial information into 

agency business processes.

• Transforms business information 

into corporate knowledge that can 

be evaluated through geospatial 

applications, state-of-the-art spatial 

analysis, and visualization tools.

• Supports decision making by allowing 

knowledge derived from spatial 

analysis to be used by managers to 

initiate actions and affect outcomes 

through a defensible decision-making 

process.
10 Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

Within this database, transportation route 

inventory information represents a valuable 

shared resource that affects many agencies, 

as well as future route inventories. The eGIS 

database set is an essential part of the Bureau’s 

all-digital, production workflow plan. It is 

extremely important that data collectors work 

closely with GIS specialists at the State and 

local levels to ensure that the best possible 

information is collected and stored.

When preparing a route inventory, the 

following sources may be useful:

• The National Integrated Land 

System (NILS), a joint project 

between the Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM), U.S. Forest 

Service (USFS), and State, County, 

and private organizations, includes 

interactive maps and reports based 

on the original Public Land Survey 

System (PLSS) arranged by section, 

township, and range. With NILS, 

a user can display a graphic map 

developed in the GeoCommunicator 

application and, with a single mouse 

click, display associated text-based 

information from the Land Survey 

Information System (LSIS). 

• The Facility Asset Management 

System (FAMS), maintained by 

the Land and Resources Project 

Office (L&RPO), includes those 

transportation routes identified as 

facility assets. While these routes 

represent less than 10% of the total 

transportation routes on BLM land, 

the FAMS database presently contains 

records of 82,000 miles of roads and 

16,000 miles of trails. 

• The Recreation Management Information System (RMIS), maintained by 

BLM Renewable Resources and Planning, includes text-based files describing off-highway vehicle (OHV) area 

designations (acres designated as open, 

limited, or closed) for each Field Office.

Metadata

The word metadata is defined as data about 

data and describes the content, quality, 

condition, and characteristics of the data. 

By Executive Order, geospatial data used 

by the Bureau must be: (1) accompanied 

by metadata in the format set forth by 

the Federal Geographic Data Committee 

(FGDC) and (2) accessible to all interested 

parties (http://www.fgdc.gov/).

Metadata are now part of most GIS software 

applications and include such descriptive 

elements as date, time, submitter, section, 

range, township, longitude, and latitude. 

The best time to collect metadata is during 

the data collection process, and the GIS 

specialist typically completes the metadata 

information while processing field data. Most 

current ArcGIS desktop products (ArcView, 

ArcEditor, and ArcInfo) enable qualified 

users to create, manage, and edit metadata in 

the format required by the FGDC.
Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 11 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

Conclusion

The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for millions of surface acres of public 

land and the transportation network provides 

access to these areas. The transportation 

route inventory identifies all existing routes 

and is used in a variety of land and resource 

management documents.

Demand for an all-digital production 

workflow has resulted in the conversion of all 

geographic information into digital format. 

Route inventory information is collected 

and added to the BLM enterprise geographic 

information system (eGIS), then shared 

with Federal, State, and local agencies, as 

well as with the general public. Because this 

is a shared resource, the methods used to 

collect the data, as well as the terminology 

used to describe the data, are important 

considerations in the route inventory process.

The inventory project plan identifies all resources required for the proposed route inventory and the inventory project map is used to plan and 

monitor the status of the project.

Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 13

Inventory Project Plan

Figure 2. Route Inventory Process
14 Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

Purpose

The purpose of a transportation route inventory varies. The inventory may be used to 

formulate or implement a land use plan, to 

assess effects or describe an affected environment, or to monitor changes over time. In 

each situation, there are interested stakeholders, both pro and con, who can affect the 

project outcome. Therefore, the field manager, with the assistance of the public relations officer, should participate in the project 

announcement and subsequent invitations to 

affected agencies and stakeholders. 

Transportation routes are described as either 

planned, known to the BLM, and identified 

on existing maps or unplanned, new usercreated routes not yet identified. The existing 

routes, both planned and unplanned, are 

identified from previous maps or information 

from private land owners and local residents, 

combined with remote data sources (satellite 

and airborne imagery) and on-the-ground, 

field data collection. Whereas the actual 

inventory process is standard, each inventory 

is different.

Interagency and public participation are 

central to BLM’s commitment to collaboration and cooperation. Collaborative meetings 

combined with Internet comment forms 

affect the project success, provide the forum 

for interested stakeholders, and often identify 

additional project resources.

Scope

BLM planning areas are typically large 

(often 1 million acres or more) and complex 

(variable terrain and environmental 

conditions). A common method of 

subdividing these large planning areas into 

manageable landscape units is to define 

Travel Management Areas (TMAs). The 

TMA portion of a larger planning area 

identifies unique travel management (either 

motorized or nonmotorized) circumstances 

that require particular focus and analysis. 

The local field office may use the TMA to 

separate a specific area from the rest of the 

planning area for a variety of reasons including complexity, the need for a higher level 

of public involvement, or special resource 

considerations. Once the area under study 

is identified, image resolution and route 

attributes are two key project variables that 

affect the total cost and time required for the 

route inventory.

Image resolution applies to remote sensing 

data sources and refers to the ability to see 

and identify an object or a linear feature on 

the ground. Satellite and airborne data are 

examples of remote sensing sources and, 

depending on the purpose of the route 

inventory, the image resolution requirements will vary. For example, 3- to 5-meter 

image resolution may be acceptable for a 

road inventory; 1- to 3-meter image resolution may be acceptable for an OHV route 

inventory; but 0.5- to 1-meter resolution 

is necessary for identifying a narrow hiking 

or equestrian trail inventory. The greater 

the required resolution, the higher the total 

price for the remote data.
Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 15 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

Route attributes (also referred to as data elements) refer to the descriptive information 

that must be collected during the inventory. 

Although suspected routes can be identified 

from airborne images, all routes must be 

verified and the associated route attributes 

must be validated by members of the on-theground field crew.

Proper identification of route attributes is an 

important task that requires effective communication between BLM field officers, 

resource planners, GIS specialists, users, and 

stakeholders. The BLM has adopted a set of 

required route attributes to be identified for 

all transportation routes (Appendix A). In 

addition, the BLM complies with the recommendations set forth in the Interagency 

National Trail Data Standards for National 

Scenic Trails and National Historic Trails. If 

possible, the project manager should perform 

a field reconnaissance of the proposed project 

area to clarify boundaries, become familiar 

with the existing transportation network, 

and develop a clearer understanding of the 

terrain and route conditions.

Resources

Resources required for the inventory project are funding, equipment, and personnel. 

One important outcome of interagency and 

public collaboration is the identification of 

suitable resources for the project. In addition 

to locating geospatial data, motor vehicles, 

and technical equipment, collaboration can 

also identify personnel with a vested interest 

in the success of the project. 

The BLM recommends that each of the 

following staffing sources be considered:

• BLM employees

• BLM volunteers

• Specialty contractors

• Students

BLM field office employees familiar with 

the local area can be the most cost-effective 

staffing source for a route inventory project. 

Because these employees have completed the 

required field safety and equipment training, a field office ground crew can be ready 

to participate in the data collection process 

after a brief, 1-day orientation. The National 

Science and Technology Center (NSTC) 

Branch of Resource Technology employs GIS 

specialists, photogrammetrists, and cartographers who are also available to advise and 

assist in the route inventory project.

BLM volunteers are an excellent resource 

for inventorying, monitoring, and patrolling 

routes for resource protection. The most 

successful volunteer programs exhibit a 

serious and continuous commitment by 

field managers and employees; some offices 

pair each volunteer with a BLM employee. 

Volunteers must meet the same safety 

and equipment training as employees and 

contractors, so more time may be required 

to prepare volunteers for route inventory 

projects. Additionally, if volunteers plan 

to operate their personal motor vehicles, 

motorcycles, or all-terrain vehicles during 

field data collection, they must present the 
16 Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

same evidence of operator training that is 

required of employees. The cost of using 

volunteers is usually limited to fuel and 

meal reimbursement and may, under certain 

circumstances, include a per diem allowance. 

Specialty contract crews and GIS specialists 

are being used at some field offices to 

create and update route inventory maps, 

as well as to conduct the actual field data 

collection. A contract crew that is familiar 

with route inventory procedures, the use of 

geospatial technical equipment, and field 

data collection processes can be the best 

available resource, especially when field office 

personnel are unavailable. The contracting 

process is complex and takes time. The 

NSTC staff is available to assist field offices 

with the statement of work, evaluation of 

bids, technical oversight, and inspection of 

deliverables.

Students enrolled at educational institutions 

with a local BLM agreement or participants 

in the Environmental Studies Unit network are also excellent resources. The BLM 

encourages consideration of Historically 

Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) 

and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and 

Universities (HACU). Where attribute verification is more intensive, students from local 

universities and colleges or local environmental groups may be particularly valuable. 

Again, the NSTC staff is available to assist 

field offices interested in using students from 

area educational institutions.

RESOURCE ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

BLM field office employee Low cost: mileage/per diem

Familiar with local area

BLM training current

 IT

 First Aid/CPR

 Field Operations Safety

 Motor Vehicle

 4x4 Safety

 ATV/OHM

Unavailable (sched conflicts)

May need GPS/GIS training

BLM field office volunteer Low cost: mileage, meals or per diem

Familiar with local area

Some BLM training current

May need Volunteer Agreement

May need GPS/GIS training

May need some BLM training

Specialty Contractor GPS/GIS trained

Trained: 

 First Aid/CPR trained

 Motor Vehicle

 4x4 Safety

 Special Equipment

 Field Operations

Unfamiliar with local area

Contract required

Expensive

Students May be familiar with area Good public relations 

Important recruitment tool

May be unfamiliar with area

Needs First Aid/CPR

Needs Field Operations

Needs GPS/GIS

May need IT training

May need Motor Vehicle

May need 4x4 Safety

May need ATV/OHM

Figure 3. Staffing Resources
Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 17 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

Inventory Project Map

The inventory project map is the focal point 

of meetings and planning sessions. At a 

minimum, the project map should identify 

the geographic project boundaries, land 

ownership within the project area, existing 

transportation routes, BLM structures and 

recreation sites, other agency structures and 

sites (such as historic or scenic trails), and 

any other resource data identified by the 

project manager. 

The inventory project map can be informal 

(hand drawn) or formal (containing 

digital geospatial data), depending on the 

available resources. When the previous route 

inventory map is available, then this map 

becomes the current inventory project map. 

However, when there is no previous map, or 

when significant changes have taken place 

since the last inventory, it may be necessary 

to draft a new inventory project map.

Search for all map sources that are available 

through the BLM, other agencies, State and 

local governments, businesses, local residents, 

and interested stakeholders. It is important 

that the project map shows the entire area 

under consideration. As the project nears 

completion, a simple grid overlay converts 

this map into the project status map. 

Project Boundary

AREA THAT NEEDS

TO BE MAPPED

AREA THAT NEEDS

TO BE MAPPED

Project Boundary

7.5 Minute Quad area

that has been mapped.

Figure 4. Inventory Project Map Figure 5. Project Status Map
18 Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

Conclusion

The purpose of the route inventory project 

plan is to balance the project requirements 

against the available resources. The physical 

size of the route inventory area, the cost of 

securing acceptable remote data, the number and complexity of route attributes to be 

identified, and the nature of the terrain to be 

studied are key factors that affect the resource 

requirements.

The actual route inventory can be performed 

by field office employees, volunteers, 

contractors, students, or any combination 

of these. All participants must be properly 

trained to work in an outdoor environment 

typical of BLM public lands.

The inventory project map illustrates 

the entire geographic area to be studied, 

identifies any special areas of ownership 

or jurisdiction, and is used for the initial 

announcement, the collaborative planning 

meetings, and as a status map of the project 

over time.
Figure 6. Remote Data Collection

Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 19

Remote Data 

Collection

As soon as the inventory project plan and inventory project map are 

complete, the route inventory process may begin. The recommended 

best practice is to identify available remote data sources before launching 

on-the-ground, field data collection. Remote data sources and satellite 

and airborne images are available through government and commercial 

sources and, with proper interpretation, this digital geospatial 

information can be used to identify existing transportation routes.
20 Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

The inventory project map describes the 

entire project area under consideration 

and, with a grid overlay, is used as the 

project status map. A common grid overlay 

approximates the area in a traditional USGS 

7.5-minute quadrangle. Each grid unit 

represents an inventory base map used in the 

field for data verification and validation.

The 7.5-minute quadrangle is a common 

unit of measure for geospatial information. 

The Digital Orthophoto Quadrangle 

(DOQ) is an area that approximates a 

standard USGS quadrangle, and the Digital 

Orthophoto Quarter Quadrangle (quarter 

quad or DOQQ), is an area representing 

one quarter of a DOQ. The DOQQ is 

the preferred resolution for most route 

inventories.

DOQs and DOQQs are computer-generated, ortho-corrected photographic images 

where image displacement caused by terrain 

relief and sensor tilt has been removed. These 

digital graphic files are easily transferred to 

any GIS that accepts raster images.

The use of DOQs and DOQQs has spread 

rapidly to all levels of government and 

commercial use and these images typically 

serve as the cartographic base for generating 

and modifying planimetric data. Although 

seamless map images are rapidly becoming 

available, most imagery products are still distributed in the familiar DOQ and DOQQ 

units of measure.

Satellite Images

Digital images obtained by satellite are available through the BLM, other government 

agencies, and private firms. Although once 

considered costly, satellite images can be 

cost-effective for very large project areas or 

when a date-specific image is required.

For an impact analysis project, a satellite can 

be tasked to obtain an image of a certain area 

on a specific date and time. For a monitoring 

project, the most recent satellite image may 

be the best available source of information 

for an area undergoing rapid change.

In general, satellite images are more recent 

than airborne images. However, airborne 

images offer high ground resolution at a 

much lower cost.

Useful government sources include:

• Geospatial One-Stop, an 

intergovernmental project managed 

by the U.S. Department of Interior 

(http://www.geodata.gov).

• National Center for Earth Observation 

and Science (EROS; 

 (http://edc.usgs.gov/).

The Bureau participates in a number of 

geospatial programs that may affect the availability and the cost of certain satellite images. 

Please contact the BLM National Science 

and Technology Center (NSTC), Branch 

of Resource Technology, ST-134, for assistance in the identification of suitable satellite 

image sources (http://www.blm.gov/nstc/).
Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 21 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

SATELLITE DISTRIBUTOR SPATIAL 

RESOLUTION 

PANCHROMATICMULTISPECTRAL

(METERS)

REVISIT 

CYCLE

(DAYS)

SWATH 

WIDTH

(KILOMETERS)

APPROX. 

COST PER 

SQUARE 

MILE* 

(DOLLARS)

QUICKBIRD DIGITALGLOBE 0.61-2.44 Variable 16.5 100.

IKONOS SPACEIMAGING 1-4 Variable 11 47.

EROS McELHANNEY 1.8 (Panchromatic) Variable 3.5 25.

SPOT 5 SPOT IMAGE 2.5 & 5-10 26 60 & 120 6.50

IRS 1C LANDINFO 5.8-23 24 70 to 810 1.50

SPOT 1-4 SPOT IMAGE 10-20 26 20 2.50

LANDSAT 7 EROS DATA

CENTER 15-30 16 185 0.20

* Represents highest available resolution, ortho-corrected data. Cost estimates, Nov. 2005.

Figure 7. Relative Cost of Satellite Imagery

Airborne Images

Standard film frame cameras have been the 

workhorse of the mapping industry for generations. Growing demand for an all-digital 

production workflow combined with orthoimagery and the rapid technological development of airborne digital sensors and cameras 

has changed the industry.

New acquisition, processing, and distribution methods have made DOQs instantly 

accessible. Purchasers now expect the DOQ 

to register with data overlays having a relative 

precision to within one to three screen pixels. 

Basic accuracy statements or specifications 

are usually found in the DOQ metadata files.

National Agriculture Imagery Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 

(USDA) National Agriculture Imagery 

Program (NAIP) acquires digital images 

during the agricultural growing season in 

the continental United States. This program 

has replaced the earlier National Aerial 

Photography Program (NAPP) sponsored 

by the USGS. A primary goal of the NAIP 

program is to enable the availability of 

digital orthophotography within a year of 

acquisition.

NAIP imagery is available at a 1-meter 

ground sample distance (GSD) and is 

delivered as either quarter quad tiles or 

a compressed county mosaic (CCM). A 

quarter quad tile covers approximately a 

5.5 × 5.5-mile area, or 3.75 × 3.75-minute 

quarter quadrangle, plus a 300-meter 

buffer on all four sides. A county mosaic is 

generated by compressing digital quarter 

quadrangle image tiles. All individual tile 

images and the resulting mosaic are rectified 

to the UTM coordinate system, NAD 83, 

and cast into a single, predetermined UTM 

zone.
22 Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

National Aerial Photography Program

The USGS National Aerial Photography 

Program (NAPP) provides a standardized 

set of cloud-free aerial photographs covering the conterminous U.S. that were taken 

over 5- to 7-year cycles. The NAPP archive 

(1987–2003) is still a popular base layer for 

many GIS products. 

NAPP photographs were acquired from an 

altitude of 20,000 feet and are available in 

black and white (B&W) or color infrared 

(CIR), depending on location and date. Each 

photo is centered on a one-quarter section of 

a 7.5-minute USGS quadrangle, and covers 

approximately a 5.5 × 5.5 mile area, or 3.75 

× 3.75-minute area.

All NAPP films are now available as digital 

orthophotos (DOQs or DOQQs). The 

original NAPP aerial film has been delivered 

to the USDA Aerial Photography Field 

Office in Salt Lake City, Utah, which is 

home to a national film vault that archives 

more than 10 million aerial images dating 

from 1955 to the present. 

Route Digitization

Route digitization is the process of identifying transportation routes on a remote image 

using photogrammetry, on-screen digitization, a digitizing tablet, or manual map 

transfer.

Photogrammetry is the most accurate and 

complete method of route identification 

and digitization. This process uses airborne 

images to create three-dimensional representations of the Earth’s surface. Because 

airborne images are available in 1:24,000 

or 1:40,000 scale and are more recent than 

DOQs or DOQQs, this option is most 

appropriate for small or critical areas requiring high accuracy. The NSTC staff can provide photogrammetry services for small areas 

(less than 50 square miles) and will assist 

in locating qualified contractors for larger 

inventory areas.

Figure 8. Digital orthophoto quarter quadrangle 

(DOQQ).

Figure 9. Digital orthophoto quarter quadrangle 

(DOQQ) with digitized routes.
Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 23 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

On-screen digitization is the process of drawing the routes onto a DOQQ, or similar 

digital image, by using a computer screen 

and pointing device. Although less accurate 

than photogrammetry with stereo viewing 

capabilities, this approach requires less time 

and fewer resources than photogrammetry.

A digitizing tablet enables a trained interpreter to draw routes onto a map layer using 

any map source (photograph or printed 

map). Although less accurate than photogrammetry, when a digitizing tablet is 

available this approach can be as effective as 

on-screen digitization. 

Manual map transfer requires a scanner and 

a transparent, map-registered overlay. Using 

line maps or airborne images, the interpreter 

traces routes directly onto the overlay, then 

scans the result to create a digital data set.

Conclusion

Working from the overall project map with 

a grid overlay, each smaller area represents 

an inventory base map. A best practice is to 

identify existing routes within the inventory 

base map by using remote source data 

before launching on-the-ground, field data 

collection. 

The inventory base map is developed by 

trained interpreters using a variety of route 

digitization techniques. The purpose of 

the inventory base map is to identify all 

transportation routes within an area.

7 1/2 Minute USGS

Quad Sheet Boundary

New route found and

digitized on screen

Figure 10. Inventory Base Map with Digitized Routes

As soon as the inventory base map is complete, field data collection may 

begin. The purpose of the field data collection is to verify the existing 

transportation routes and to identify any new, unplanned routes. 

Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 25

Field Data Collection

Figure 11. Remote Data Collection
26 Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

It is important that the field work proceeds in an orderly, systematic way. As with 

the inventory project map, a grid overlay 

is applied to the inventory base map to 

facilitate team assignments and to ensure the 

highest probability of locating unplanned 

(new) transportation routes.

The inventory base map should identify all 

private land within the inventory area and 

include contact information to land owners. Where isolated patches of private land 

parcels are located, field crews should request 

permission to access the land before conducting field data collection.

7 1/2 Minute USGS

Quad Sheet Boundary

7.5 Minute Quad area

that has been inventoried

Figure 12. Inventory Base Map with Status Grid

Team Briefing

Depending on the size of the project area, 

the number of people involved in the field 

work, and the level of experience of the 

members of the crew, the field work briefing 

may require 1 or more days. Host the field 

work briefing at the local field office and 

invite all project coordinators, GIS specialists, and field crew members to attend. 

The field work briefing is an excellent 

opportunity for verifying and updating safety 

training, presenting training regarding data 

standards and Global Positioning System 

(GPS) collection methods, and improving field team communications. A properly 

trained team will generate better field data in 

less time.

Identification

Members of each field crew should be easily 

identifiable. In addition to government identification cards, special project hats or shirts 

may be helpful. When multiple groups are 

involved (employees, contractors, and volunteers), it is especially important that all team 

members can easily recognize other members 

of the team. 

The ground crew includes field supervisors, 

GPS technicians, and GIS specialists. The 

supervisor assigns the daily tasks, troubleshoots problems in the field, and is responsible for the safety and well-being of the 

ground crew.
Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 27 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

The support crew includes field office 

dispatchers, BLM and local law enforcement 

officers, and emergency response teams. 

Every member of the support crew should 

be notified of planned ground crew 

activities and every member of the ground 

crew should be able to contact appropriate 

members of the support crew.

Risk Management and Safety

The BLM uses the Risk Assessment process 

to minimize personal injuries and property damage or loss. Because working in an 

outdoor field environment and traveling to 

and from remote locations can be hazardous, 

the inventory project manager and supervisors prepare a Risk Management Worksheet 

(BLM Form 1112-5) before the project 

begins.

The Risk Management Worksheet identifies 

the potential risk of known task hazards and 

describes best practices to follow to minimize 

this risk. Best practices include a combination of training, personal protective equipment (PPE), supervisory controls and, in 

some situations, avoidance. (For example, if 

the local forecast predicts severe weather, the 

daily field activities may be postponed.)

Supervisors are responsible for verifying that 

all crew members (employees, contractors, 

and volunteers) are properly trained and 

qualified before they are authorized to 

perform hazardous tasks. Employees are 

required to provide evidence of safety 

training, wear BLM-supplied PPE, and 

follow safe working practices.

Recommended training for members of a 

route inventory field team includes:

• First Aid, Cardiopulmonary 

Resuscitation, and Bloodborne 

Pathogens.

• Defensive Driving, including FourWheel Drive Safety.

• Trailer Safety: proper loading, 

balancing, and unloading techniques.

• Off-Highway Vehicle Safety: basic 

operations for ATVs, motorbikes, and 

other vehicles.

• Field Injury Prevention.

All field-going crews are required to wear 

proper field attire and be prepared to wait 

24 hours if lost. The BLM strongly recommends using the buddy system during all 

field operations. For additional information, 

consult BLM Manual Handbook H-1112-2, 

Safety and Health for Field Operations.

Communications Plan

Field crews will follow the local BLM field 

office check-out and check-in procedures and 

verify all communications equipment before 

leaving the office or ware yard. It is extremely 

important that every member of the field 

crew knows the planned return time and the 

specific time when search and rescue efforts 

will be started. 
28 Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

Where there are known radio telecommunications “dead” zones, file a ride plan with the 

local dispatcher. This diagram of the planned 

travel route should identify known dead 

zones and illustrate the direction of travel. 

The ride plan clearly identifies communication points to use before entering and after 

leaving a communications dead zone.

Property Management

BLM property regulations require all 

employees, contractors, and volunteers to 

acknowledge receipt of government property 

such as motor vehicles, ATVs, and motorbikes, telecommunications equipment, GPS 

receivers, and GIS data collection units. 

Each person is responsible for all government 

property issued and must account for the 

property at the end of each project.

Data Collection

The field data collection is accomplished 

by using GPS receivers and associated data 

collection field units, supplemented with 

written field notes and digital photos.

Tailgate Session

Each day, before leaving for the field, the 

supervisor hosts a brief tailgate session with 

members of the ground crew. Typical topics 

include: check-out and check-in procedures, 

vehicle readiness checks, communications 

checks, field attire checks, safety topics, 

weather forecasts, late-breaking local news, 

and search grid assignments.

The choice of proper ground transportation 

to use while gathering field data is unique 

to each project and depends on the area 

designation (Wilderness, Open, Limited, 

and so forth), the terrain, and the available 

resources. 

Basically, the field crew can either walk or 

ride the route to be inventoried and there are 

GPS receivers and collection units to accommodate either situation. In areas open to offhighway vehicles, the field crew may choose 

to ride motorbikes or ATVs and mount 

GPS receivers on the vehicles. In Wilderness 

Areas, or in areas characterized by rough and 

rugged terrain, the field crew may choose 

to hike the route, use pack animals, or ride 

horses and carry GPS gear in a backpack or 

saddlebag. 

Data Standards

To ensure the best quality data, every member of the field crew must understand how to 

correctly apply the route attributes included 

in the project’s data dictionary. The data dictionary is part of the GPS software configuration task and the BLM recommends that 

a summary of the attributes and their definitions be distributed to all members of the 

field data collection team (Appendix B). 

The BLM has published minimum national 

road and trail data standards in the Roads 

and Trails Terminology Team Report (2006) 

and complies with the recommendations of 
Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 29 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

the Interagency Trail Data Standards (2004) 

published by the National Park Service. 

While required attributes are common to all 

route inventories, many attributes are chosen to meet the specific needs of a particular 

inventory project. A clear understanding of 

each attribute in the project data dictionary, 

along with a clear definition of attributes, 

is essential to maintaining a quality route 

inventory.

Field Work

The purpose of field work is to verify and 

classify transportation routes identified on 

the base inventory map, as well as to identify 

and classify user-created, unplanned (new) 

routes discovered in the field. In addition to 

written field notes, photos may be taken at 

strategic locations in the project area to aid 

in current or planned monitoring studies.

GPS receivers and data collection units have 

limited storage capacity and it is often necessary for field crews to meet with GIS specialists to download the data files. The raw data 

downloaded from the GIS collection units 

must be differentially corrected and brought 

to standard projection and datum reference by the GIS specialist before being used 

to update the inventory base map. During 

this process, the GIS specialist may notice 

extraneous vectors and spurs that need to be 

verified by the ground crew.

The ground crew is uniquely qualified to 

resolve any ambiguous information obtained 

from remote data sources. For example, only 

the ground crew can verify the location of a 

trail that is partly obscured by tree cover. Or, 

only the ground crew can properly distinguish a linear feature as either a pipeline or a 

fence line.

Good field notes, digital photos, and timely 

communication between field crews and 

GIS specialists are essential for conducting a 

quality route inventory.

Team Debriefing

When all ground crews have completed their 

assigned grids, the field work is complete. 

When the GIS team completes postprocessing (differential correction and editing), the 

data collection is complete. However, the 

route inventory field work is not complete 

until:

• Each crew member accounts for and 

returns all government property. If 

the property is damaged, a Report of 

Survey may be required (contact the 

Field Office Property Manager for 

direction and assistance). 

• Each supervisor has reported and 

verified any personal injuries sustained 

by employees, contractors, or 

volunteers (contact the Field Office 

Safety Officer for direction and 

assistance). 

• The GIS specialist has identified all 

metadata and transferred the final 

inventory data to the appropriate 

geospatial databases.
30 Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

• The project manager has identified the 

resources required for the total project 

and summarized the lessons learned.

Conclusion

The purpose of field data collection is to 

verify and validate route inventory information identified from remote data sources and 

to locate new, user-created routes within a 

specific area. Only the field crew can determine whether a linear feature is a road or a 

pipeline or classify the route attribute as a 

hiking or equestrian trail.

A properly trained field data collection team 

is an essential component of a successful 

route inventory project. All participants 

must understand the hazards of the outside 

working environment and know how 

to properly classify route attributes in 

accordance with national and interagency 

route data standards.

With the completion of the field data 

collection, the route inventory project comes 

to a close. The project manager is responsible 

for the transfer of all geospatial information 

and field notes, return of all government 

property, project summary reports, and 

delivery of the inventory final maps or maps. 

The inventory final maps will serve as the 

inventory base maps when a future route 

inventory project is conducted.
Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 31

References 

Bureau of Land Management. 1998. Safety and Health for Field 

Operations. BLM Manual Handbook H-1112-2, U.S. 

Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.

Bureau of Land Management. 2001. National Management Strategy for 

Motorized Off-Highway. U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. 

Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.

Bureau of Land Management. 2001. The Federal Land Policy and 

Management Act of 1976 as Amended. U.S. Department of the 

Interior, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.

Bureau of Land Management. 2003. Arizona Route Inventory Data 

Dictionary. U.S. Department of the Interior, Arizona State Office, 

Phoenix.

Bureau of Land Management. [revised March 2005] Land Use Planning 

Handbook. H-1601-1, U.S. Department of the Interior. U.S. 

Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 

Bureau of Land Management. 2005. Travel Management Guidelines for 

the Public Lands in Wyoming. U.S. Department of the Interior, 

Wyoming State Office, Cheyenne.

Bureau of Land Management. 2006. Roads and Trails Terminology. 

U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 

Denver. [In press]

Divine, A. K., and P. E. Foti. 2004. Learning to Live With OffHighway Vehicles: Lessons Learned From the Dixie National 

Forest. Pages 106–111 in Proceedings of the Fourth Social Aspects 

and Recreation Research Symposium, February 4–6, 2004, San 

Francisco, California.

Federal Geographic Data Committee. 2000. Content Standard for 

Digital Geospatial Metadata Workbook. [For use with FGDCSTD-001-1998], Version 2.0.

Forest History Society. 2005. Wilderness and the National Forests. 

Retrieved November 16, 2005, from the World Wide Web at

http://www.lib.duke.edu/forest/Research/usfscoll/policy/Wilderness.
32 Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

Interagency National Trail Data Standards. 2005. Interagency National Trail Data 

Standards Documents. Retrieved December 7, 2005, from the World Wide Web at

http://www.nps.gov/gis/trails/.

Keating, J. B. 1993. The Geopositioning Selection Guide for Resource Management. 

Technical Note 389, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 

Wyoming State Office, Cheyenne.

National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior; Bureau of Land Management, U.S. 

Department of the Interior; and Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

2005. National Trails System Map and Guide. Retrieved November 20, 2005, from 

the World Wide Web at http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/travel/nattrails/trailmap.htm.

Perry, J. T., and J. G. Lateer. 1989. Understanding Oracle. In D. Craig and D. Tauber 

(eds), SYBEX, Inc., Alameda, California.

Ritter, N., and M. Ruth. 2004. GeoTIFF Format Specification. GeoTIFF Revision 0.2, 

Retrieved November, 16, 2005, from the World Wide Web at http://www.geocad.

ru/new/site/Formats/GeoTIFF/geotiff.html.

Rocky Mountain Recreation Initiative. 2002. Off-Road Vehicles in Colorado—Facts, 

Trends, Recommendations. Retrieved November 15, 2005, from the World Wide 

Web at http://www.rmi.org.

Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 

(Public Law 106-554; H.R. 5658), Sec. 515, known as the “Data Quality Act.”

U.S. Department of the Interior. 2001. Information Quality Guidelines pursuant to 

Section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriates Act for Fiscal Year 

2001.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2005. America’s National Wildlife Refuge System—Facts. 

Retrieved November 5, 2005, from the World Wide Web at http://www.fws.gov/

refuges/.

U.S. Forest Service, National OHV Policy and Implementation Team. 2004. Route and 

Area Designation Guide. Originally retrieved October 30, 2005, from the World 

Wide Web. Now available at http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/travelmgt/route_designation_

guide.pdf.
Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 33

Unpublished 

Documents

Bureau of Land Management. 2003. GPS Data Accuracy Standards. 

U.S. Department of the Interior, Oregon State Office, Portland. 

[Draft]

U.S. Forest Service. 2005. Motor Vehicle Route and Area Designation 

Guide. [Draft] 

Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 35

Appendix A. 

Minimum National Data

Standards

To ensure data consistency and information sharing, the BLM has 

adopted three transportation route types: Road, Primitive Road, 

and Trail. The following data elements (route attributes) are required 

for Road, Primitive Road, and Trail route types and their associated 

segments.

Asset1 Data Element (required)

Road, Primitive Road, or Trail Latitude

Longitude

Meridian

Township

Range

Section

Aliquot Part

Functional Class

Congressional District

Locator Code

Easements Needed

Admin State

Geographic State

OR/CA Land

Route Number

Spur Number

Begin Route

Terminus

Year Withdrawn

Segment Begin Mile

Road, Primitive Road, or Trail End Mile

County

Jurisdiction

Maintenance Responsibility

Maintenance Level

Condition (On Main Screen)

Surface Type

Average Width
36 Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

Asset Category Code (On Main Screen)

OR/CA Land

Road Surface/Trail Surface

Congressional District

Meridian

Township

Range

Section

Aliquot Part

1Asset—The Facility Asset Management System (FAMS) includes only those transportation 

routes defined as assets in the BLM transportation system. For continuity, all routes follow 

the FAMS guideline (source: Roads and Trails Terminology Team Report, 2006, Appendix 7. 

Proposed Minimum National Data Standards).
Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 37

Route attributes, also known as data elements, are included in the GPS 

data dictionary. The data dictionary includes all attributes, required and 

optional, that must be identified during the field data collection process. 

The number of attributes in the data dictionary has a direct effect on 

time and total cost to complete the route inventory and should be kept 

simple so that field data collection crews can quickly gather data without 

ambiguity. 

Appendix B. 

Data Dictionary

Appendix Figure. Sample Data Collector Screen
38 Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

Sample Data Dictionary Attributes and Definitions

To improve the quality of data collected during the field inventory, brief descriptions of the 

route attributes should be distributed to field crew teams. For example:

Attribute Description

Route Type: Routes may be classified as one the following types:

1. Primary Paved Road This road provides access between major points and 

includes major and minor highways.

2. Primary Unpaved Road This road is regularly maintained, wide enough for at 

least two vehicles, provides access between major points, 

and serves a large area branching from it.

3. Secondary Paved Road This is a paved road, not a highway, with other roads of 

lesser quality branching from it. It is not usually striped 

and connects primary roads and major points.

4. Secondary Unpaved Road This one-lane road is regularly maintained with other 

roads of lesser quality branching from it. It usually 

connects primary roads and major points.

5. Tertiary Unpaved Road This two-track road may or may not be usable by 

a two-wheel drive vehicle and there is no formal 

maintenance.

6. Single Track This single-track route is often inaccessible to motorized 

traffic because of erosion and excessive vegetation; user 

discretion is necessary to use this route. A single track is 

primarily used as a hiking or biking trail, is less than 1 

meter in width, and is not usable by ATVs or trucks.

Surface: Route surfaces are classified as one of the following:

1. Primary Asphalt.

Concrete.

2. Secondary Gravel.

3. Tertiary Native soil.

Bedrock exposed by erosion.

Use: Use activities may be classified as:

1. 4WD A rough route, unsuitable for two-wheel drive vehicles, 

that is typically eroded or steep. A long-bed pickup 

truck might have trouble here, especially when crossing 

a narrow wash.

2. 2WD A smooth route that presents little or no difficulty for 

high-clearance, two-wheel drive vehicles. This category 

includes all paved roads, most secondary unpaved roads, 

and a few tertiary unpaved roads.
Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 39 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

Attribute Description

 3. Motorcycle A route that is identifiable by the presence of tire tread 

marks and occasional accessories.

4. ATV A route that is identifiable by the presence of unique, 

wide aggressive tire tread marks.

5. Bicycle A route that is identifiable by the presence of narrow 

tire tread marks.

6. Hiking A single-track trail, usually located in a Wilderness 

Area, that is identifiable by the presence of footprints. 

While some motorized trails may be used by hikers, a 

hiking trail is usually rougher than a motorized trail and 

is, therefore, not used by ATVs, motorbikes, or bicycles.

7. Equestrian A route used for horseback riding that is identifiable by 

the presence of dung and hoof marks. 

8. Snowmobile A snow- or ice-covered route that is identifiable by 

the presence of unique, wide-tracked tread marks and 

narrow ski tracks.

9. Cross Country Skiing A snow- or ice-covered route that is identifiable by the 

presence of narrow ski tracks.

Use Level: Four different use levels may be identified:

1. Heavy use A route that has direct or indirect evidence of regular 

use.

2. Light use A route that has clear evidence of infrequent use in light 

of observed environmental factors (e.g., precipitation).

3. Nonexistent A route that has been recently abandoned or is in a state 

of being reclaimed.

4. Undetermined A route that has no clear indicators of use or the level of 

use has been obscured by environmental factors.

Note: The Use Level attribute may require further comment, especially where indicators are 

unclear. It may be helpful to study other route aspects such as whether or not the route is a 

wash. Signs of use in wash routes are erased or relocated by the action of wind and water and 

it is often necessary to depend on physical characteristics to decide whether to include these 

in the route inventory. 

Examples of optional data attributes include: 

Gate

Sign

Gas Well

Campsite

Multiple Route Area

Guard Rail

Cattle Guard

Culvert

Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 41

Appendix C. 

Glossary

7.5-minute Quadrangle: A USGS paper map product at 1:24,000 

scale covering 7.5 minutes of latitude and 7.5 minutes of longitude. 

Features shown include elevation contours, roads, railroads, water bodies, 

buildings, urban developments, and wetlands. This is a basic layer of 

information for many ecological and natural resource applications. An 

automated version of the 7.5-minute quadrangle is called the digital raster 

graphic or DRG. It is informally known as 7.5-minute quad.

Accuracy: Degree of conformity with a standard or accepted value. 

Accuracy relates to the quality of a result and is distinguished from 

precision which relates to the quality of the operation by which the result 

is obtained.

Assessment: The act of evaluating and interpreting data and information 

for a defined purpose. 

Assets: Engineering term used to describe roads, primitive roads, and 

trails that are included in the Facility Asset Management System (FAMS). 

Assets are maintained through the deferred maintenance program.

Base map: An initial map on which information may be placed for 

purposes of comparison or geographical correlation. Photo interpreted 

data are transferred to a base map to rectify and register the data. Route 

inventory base maps usually consist of USGS DOQs or specially made 

orthophotos.

Bench mark: Relatively permanent material object, natural or artificial, 

bearing a marked point whose elevation above or below an adopted 

datum is known.

Cadastral: A Latin term from “cadastre” referring to a registry of lands. 

Cadastral surveying is the process of determining and defining land 

ownership and boundaries.
42 Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

Cadastral map: A map showing boundaries or subdivisions of land for the purpose of 

describing and recording ownership. It may also show culture, drainage, and other features 

relating to land use and value (see also plat).

Cadastral survey: A survey that creates, marks, defines, retraces, or reestablishes the 

boundaries and subdivisions of the public land of the United States.

Cartography: The science and art of making maps and charts.

Closed area: An area designation indicating that the area is not available for a particular 

use or uses. Refers to specific definitions found in law, regulations, or policy guidance for 

application to individual programs. For example, 43 CFR 8364 defines “closed” as it relates 

to closure and restriction orders and 43 CFR 8340.0-5 defines “closed” as it relates to offroad vehicles.

Closed road or closed trail: A route that is restricted from certain types of use during 

certain seasons of the year. The prohibited use and closure period must be specified.

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): The codification of the general and permanent rules 

published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal 

government (http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html). 

Collaboration: A cooperative process in which interested parties, often with widely varied 

interests, work together to seek solutions with broad support for managing public and other 

lands.

Collaborative partnerships: Refers to people working together, sharing knowledge and 

resources, to achieve desired outcomes for public lands and communities within statutory 

and regulatory frameworks.

Contour: An imaginary line on the ground, all points of which are at the same elevation 

above or below a specified reference surface.

Control mapping: Points of established position or elevation, or both, that are used to fix 

references in positioning and correlating map features. Supplemental control points are those 

needed to relate aerial photographs used for mapping with the system of ground control. 

These points must be positively photo identified; that is, the points must be positively 

correlated with their images on the photographs.
Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 43 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

Cooperating agency: Any Federal, State, or local government agency that assists with the 

inventory plan or implementation.

Culture: Features constructed by humans that are under, on, or above the ground that 

are delineated on a map. Culture includes roads, trails, buildings, canals, sewer systems, 

and boundary lines. In a broad sense, culture also applies to all names, legends, and other 

identification on a map.

Data Base Management System (DBMS): A software program used to store geospatial data 

in an organized way so that it can be easily retrieved, modified, and manipulated.

Data: Information—especially information organized for analysis or used as the basis for a 

decision.

Datum: In ordinary survey usage, a defined reference for survey measurements. The plural 

form is datums.

DBMS: Data Base Management System.

Designated roads and trails: Specific roads and trails identified by the BLM (or other 

agencies) where some type of use is appropriate and allowed either seasonally or year-round.

Digital data: Data displayed, recorded, or stored in a digital format.

Digital orthophoto quadrangle (DOQ): A USGS digital product derived from highaltitude aerial photography. These digital images are rectified and registered to locations on 

the earth and correspond to a 7.5-minute quadrangle. DOQs are often used as base maps to 

register the photo-interpreted data in a route inventory program.

A computer-generated, georeferenced image of an aerial photograph where the image 

displacement caused by terrain relief and camera tilt has been removed. A DOQ corresponds 

to a USGS 7.5-minute map.

Digital orthophoto quarter quadrangle (DOQQ): One quarter of a DOQ, which 

corresponds to a USGS 3.75-minute map. 

Digital raster graphic (DRG): A scanned image of a paper USGS topographic map. The 

geographic information is georeferenced in the UTM projection with the accuracy and 

datum of the original map. The minimum scanning resolution is 250 dots per inch. DRGs 

are useful layers in a geographic information system.
44 Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

Digital Versatile Disc (DVD): An optical digital disc used for storing movies and data. 

Introduced in the U.S. in 1997, and developed by both the movie and computer industries, 

the DVD uses the same diameter platter as a CD but holds 4.7GB rather than 700MB. 

Where CDs record on only one side, DVDs record on both sides, as well as in dual layers.

Digitization: The process of converting spatial information, originally compiled on orthophotographic materials or base maps, into digital form for incorporation into a geographic 

information system database. Also refers to the referencing of ground control points or lines 

to a remotely sensed image.

DOQ: Digital orthophoto quadrangle.

DOQQ: Digital orthophoto quarter quadrangle.

DRG: Digital raster graphic.

Enterprise GIS: A system that allows BLM employees and stakeholders to access geospatial 

data, information, and knowledge whenever and wherever it is needed.

Evaluation (plan evaluation): The process of reviewing the land use plan and the periodic 

plan monitoring reports to determine whether the land use plan decisions and NEPA analysis 

are still valid and whether the plan is being implemented.

Facility Asset Management System (FAMS): Database of all BLM assets including those 

routes that make up the BLM transportation system. Although not every route is considered 

part of the transportation system, all route inventories will identify the required data elements included in FAMS

FAMS: Facility Asset Management System.

Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA): Public Law 94-579, 

October 21, 1976, often referred to as the BLM’s “Organic Act,” provides the majority of the 

BLM’s legislated authority, direction policy, and basic management guidance.

FGDC: Federal Geographic Data Committee.

Fine-scale data: Fine-scale data sets support local information needs and represent the highest thematic detail and spatial accuracy. Data at this scale are intended for project-specific 

planning, monitoring, and evaluation, and would typically be represented at the 1:24,000 

map scale.
Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 45 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

FLPMA: Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.

Geographic Information System (GIS): A system of computer hardware, software, 

data, people, and applications that capture, store, edit, analyze, and graphically display a 

potentially wide array of geospatial information.

GIS: Geographic Information System.

GLIS: Global Land Information System.

Global Positioning System (GPS): A navigational and positioning system by which 

the location on or above the Earth can be determined by a special receiver at that point 

interpreting signals received simultaneously from several constellations of special satellites.

Goal: A broad statement of a desired outcome; usually not quantifiable and may not have 

established time frames for achievement.

GPS: Global Positioning System.

Ground truthing: Verification and validation of geospatial data through field work.

Guidelines: Actions or management practices that may be used to achieve desired outcomes, 

sometimes expressed as best management practices.

HBCU: Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Implementation plan: As related to land use planning, an area or site-specific plan 

written to implement decisions made in the Land Use Plan (LUP). There are two types of 

implementation plans—activity plans and project plans.

Inventory: The systematic acquisition and analysis of resource information needed for 

planning and management purposes.

IRS: Indian Remote Sensing satellite.

ITDS: Interagency Trail Data Standards.

Land cover: The biophysical materials covering the surface of the land, including soil, water, 

vegetation, and human cultural activities.
46 Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

Land Use Plan (LUP): A set of decisions that establish management direction for land 

within an administrative area, as prescribed under the planning provisions of FLPMA, an 

assimilation of land-use-plan-level decisions developed through the planning process outlined 

in 43 CFR 1600, regardless of the scale at which the decisions were developed. The LUP 

addresses resource management and includes a defined travel management system of areas, 

roads, primitive roads, and trails.

Landmark: Monument of material mark or fixed object used to designate a land boundary 

on the ground. Any prominent object on land that may be used to determine a location or a 

direction in navigation or surveying.

Landscape: A heterogeneous land area with interacting ecosystems that are repeated in 

similar form throughout. 

Landscape Block: A specific landscape unit used in analysis (for example, a drainage).

Landscape Features: The land and water form, vegetation, and structures that compose the 

characteristic landscape.

Limited: Route designation restricting use by season or mode of transportation.

Line map: Map composed of lines as distinguished from a photomap created from a 

photographic image.

Linear disturbances: The term used to identify human-made linear features that are not 

part of the Bureau’s transportation system. Linear disturbances may include engineered 

(planned) as well as unplanned single- and two-track linear features that are not designated as 

part of the Bureau’s transportation system.

Linear features: Linear features represent the broadest category of physical disturbance 

(planned and unplanned) on BLM land. Transportation-related linear features include 

engineered roads and trails, as well as user-defined, nonengineered roads and trails created as 

a result of the public use of BLM land. Linear features may include roads and trails identified 

for closure or removal, as well as those that make up the Bureau’s defined transportation 

network.

LSIS: Land Survey Information System.

Management decision: A decision made by the BLM to manage public lands. Management 

decisions include both land use plan decisions and implementation decisions.
Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 47 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

Map: A conventional representation, usually on a plane surface and at an established scale, 

of the physical features (natural, artificial, or both) of a part or the whole of the Earth’s 

surface. Features are identified by means of signs and symbols, and geographical orientation 

is indicated.

Map digitization: The process of converting map data from graphic to digital form.

Midscale-data: Usually 1:100,000 scale, the “midscale” dataset supports information 

needs at scales between the local and State or regional levels. Typical usage includes land use 

planning, rangeland monitoring, and assessment.

Monitoring (plan monitoring): The regular collection of data over time to evaluate the 

effectiveness of land use planning decisions.

MrSID: Multi-Resolution Seamless Image Database.

NAD27: North American Datum of 1927.

NAD83: North American Datum of 1983.

NAIP: National Agriculture Imagery Program.

NAPP: National Aerial Photography Program.

National Map Accuracy Standards (NMAS): Specifications promulgated by the U.S. 

Office of Management and Budget to govern the accuracy of topographic and other maps 

produced by Federal agencies.

NEPA: National Environmental Policy Act.

NHT: National Historic Trails.

NMAS: National Map Accuracy Standards.

NSDI: National Spatial Data Infrastructure.

NSSDA: National Standards for Spatial Data Accuracy.

NST: National Scenic Trail.

NTC: National Training Center.
48 Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

Open: Generally denotes that an area is available for a particular use or uses. Refer to 

specific program definitions found in law, regulations, or policy guidance for application to 

individual programs. For example, 43 CFR 8340.0-5 defines the specific meaning of “open” 

as it relates to off-highway vehicle use.

Orthoimage: A digital image that has been ortho-rectified, eliminating displacement caused 

by perspective, sensor tilt, or terrain relief. (Also known as an ortho.)

Ortho-rectification: The process of eliminating displacement caused by perspective, camera 

or sensor tilt, and terrain relief. (See also orthophotograph.)

Overlay: Printing or drawing on a transparent or translucent medium intended to be placed 

in register on a map or other graphic and that shows details not appearing or requiring 

special emphasis on the base map.

Photogrammetry: the art and science of obtaining reliable measurements or information 

from photographs or other sensing system.

Photomap (photographic map): A map made by adding marginal information, descriptive 

data, and a reference system to a photograph or assembly of photographs.

Planimetric map: A map that presents only the horizontal positions for features 

represented, often referred to as a line map.

Plat: A diagram drawn to scale showing all essential data pertaining to the boundaries and 

subdivisions of a tract of land, as determined by survey or protraction.

PLSS: Public Land Survey System.

Primitive road: A type of transportation-related linear feature that is used by four-wheel 

drive or high-clearance vehicles. Primitive roads do not customarily meet any Bureau road 

design standards.

Public land: Land or interest in land owned by the United States and administered by the 

Secretary of the Interior through the Bureau of Land Management without regard to how the 

United States acquired ownership, except lands located on the Outer Continental Shelf and 

land held for the benefit of Indians, Aleuts, and Eskimos.

RDBMS: Relational Data Base Management System.
Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 49 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

Relational Data Base Management System (RDBMS): A set of programs used to store 

data in related tables. The tables are related to each other through items known as primary 

and secondary keys. Data updating, retrieval, and manipulation is much more efficient in a 

RDBMS.

Remote sensing: Collecting information about an object without being in actual contact 

with the object.

Resolution: A measure of the finest detail distinguished in a geospatial image. High 

resolution (1-meter detail) versus low resolution (15-meter detail).

Resource Management Plan (RMP): A BLM planning document, prepared in accordance 

with Section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), that presents 

systematic guidelines for making resource management decisions for a planning area. An 

RMP is based on an analysis.

Resource use level: The level of use allowed within an area, based on the desired outcomes 

and land use allocations from the Land Use Plan (LUP). Targets or goals for resource use 

levels are established on an areawide or broad watershed level in the LUP. Site-specific 

resource use levels are usually determined at the implementation level, on the basis of sitespecific resource conditions and needs as determined through resource monitoring and 

assessments.

RMA: Recreation Management Area.

RMIS: Recreation Management Information System.

RMP: Resource Management Plan.

Road: A linear route declared a road by the owner, managed for use by low-clearance 

vehicles having four or more wheels, and maintained for regular and continuous use.

Root Mean Square (RMS): A standard used to measure map accuracy representing the 

square root of the average value of the sum of the squares of the differences between the 

values in a set and the corresponding values that have been accepted as correct.

Satellite Probatoire d’Observation de la Terre (SPOT): A civilian Earth observation 

program, sponsored by the French government with support from Belgium and Sweden. 
50 Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

A single SPOT satellite provides complete coverage of the Earth every 26 days and produces 

images with a resolution of as much as 10 meters. Image products from SPOT are handled 

commercially by SPOT-Image Corp.

Scale: The relation between a distance on a map, chart, or photograph and the 

corresponding distance on the Earth.

Soil Erosion: The phenomenon of detachment and transport of soil from the land surface 

by the action of wind, water, or ice.

SPOT: Satellite Probatoire d’Observation de la Terre.

SQL: Sequential Query Language.

Strategic plan (DOI strategic plan): A plan that establishes the overall direction for 

all DOI Bureaus, including the BLM. This plan is guided by the requirements of the 

Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, covers a 5-year period, and is updated 

every 3 years. It is consistent with FLPMA and other laws affecting the public lands.

Survey: To determine area, elevation, boundaries, and features of land or structures on the 

earth’s surface by means of measuring angles and distances.

Topographic map: A map that presents the horizontal and vertical positions of the features 

represented; it is distinguished from a planimetric map by the addition of relief in measurable 

form.

Trail: A linear route managed for human-powered, stock, or off-highway vehicle forms of 

transportation or for historical or heritage values. Trails are not generally managed for use by 

four-wheel drive or high-clearance vehicles.

Transportation network: The total of all transportation-related linear features (roads, 

primitive roads, and trails) found on public lands.

Transportation system: The roads, primitive roads, and trails designated as facility assets 

and maintained by the BLM.

Travel management areas: Polygons or delineated areas where a rational approach has 

been taken to classify areas open, closed, or limited, and that have identified or designated 

networks of roads, primitive roads, and trails that provide for public access and travel across 
Planning and Conducting Route Inventories Technical Reference 9113-1 51 Tr a v e l a n d Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n M a n a g em e n t

the planning area. All designated travel routes within travel management areas should have a 

clearly identified need and purpose, as well as clearly defined activity types, modes of travel, 

and seasons or time frames for allowable access or other limitations.

TTMP: Travel and Transportation Management Plan.

USDA: U.S. Department of Agriculture.

USFS: U.S. Forest Service.

USFWS: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

USGS: U.S. Geological Survey.

UTM: Universal Transverse Mercator.

WA: Wilderness Area.

WSA: Wilderness Study Area.

The mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use 

by the Federal government.