Identification_Information:
  Citation:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator:
        United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural
        Statistics Service, Research and Development Division, Geospatial
        Information Branch, Area Frame Section
      Publication_Date: 1988
      Title: Stratification of Massachusetts 1988
      Publication_Information:
        Publication_Place: Fairfax, Virginia
        Publisher: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service
      Online_Linkage: <http://www.nass.usda.gov/research>
  Description:
    Abstract:
      The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National
      Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) area sampling frame is a
      delineation of all parcels of land for the purpose of later sampling the
      parcels.  The area frame is constructed by visually interpreting satellite
      imagery to divide a state into homogenous land use areas (strata) based
      on percent cultivated.  The strata are typically defined as low, medium or
      high percent cultivated, non-agricultural land, urban use, agri-urban, or
      water.  The boundaries of the strata usually follow identifiable features
      such as roads, railroads and waterways.  The strata boundaries do not
      coincide with any political boundaries, with the exception of state
      boundaries.
    Purpose:
      These data are intended for geographic display and analysis at the state
      level.  The data should be displayed and analyzed at a scale of
      1:100,000 or smaller (e.g., 1:250,000, etc.).  The strata data are
      provided "as is".  USDA/NASS does not warrant results you may obtain
      using the strata data.
    Supplemental_Information: N/A
  Time_Period_of_Content:
    Time_Period_Information:
      Single_Date/Time:
        Calendar_Date: 1988
    Currentness_Reference: N/A
  Status:
    Progress: Complete
    Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: Irregular
  Spatial_Domain:
    Bounding_Coordinates:
      West_Bounding_Coordinate: -73.50
      East_Bounding_Coordinate: -69.96
      North_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.89
      South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.24
  Keywords:
    Theme:
      Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus:
        National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of
        Agriculture, 1987, Area Frame Design for Agricultural Surveys,
        Washington, D.C., NASS/USDA.
      Theme_Keyword: Stratification
      Theme_Keyword: Area sampling frame
      Theme_Keyword: Land use classes (strata)
    Place:
      Place_Keyword_Thesaurus:
        U.S. Department of Commerce, 1987, Codes for the Identification of the
        States, the District of Columbia and the Outlying Areas of The United
        States, and Associated Areas (Federal Information Processing Standard
        5-2):  Washington, D.C., National Institute of Standards and Technology.
      Place_Keyword: United States
      Place_Keyword: USA
      Place_Keyword: Massachusetts
  Access_Constraints: None
  Use_Constraints:
    None.  Acknowledgment of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National
    Agricultural Statistics Service would be appreciated in products derived
    from these data.
  Point_of_Contact:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Person_Primary:
        Contact_Person: Matt Deaton
        Contact_Organization: USDA/NASS/RDD/AFS
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing address
        Address: 3251 Old Lee Highway, Suite 301
        City: Fairfax
        State_or_Province: VA
        Postal_Code: 22030
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: 703-877-8000
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: HQ_RD_OD@nass.usda.gov
  Data_Set_Credit: Area Frame Section staff
  Native_Data_Set_Environment: Environmental Systems Research Institute ArvView 3.0 Shapefile

Data_Quality_Information:
  Logical_Consistency_Report: Checks for topological consistency were performed on this data set.
  Completeness_Report:
    There are known gaps and overlaps.  This data set includes the area in
    square miles and number of acres for each strata.  Boundaries may not be
    coincident with strata boundaries of adjacent states.
  Positional_Accuracy:
    Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:
      Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:
        The sources used for digitizing strata boundaries are 1:100,000 scale
        Digital Raster Graphics
      Quantitative_Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment:
        Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Value: See below
        Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation:
          Not more than 10 percent of the test points shall be in error by more than 1/50
          of an inch on origial topo map.
  Lineage:
    Source_Information:
      Source_Citation:
        Citation_Information:
          Originator: U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS)
          Publication_Date: 1979 - 1991
          Title: USGS Topographic Quadrangles
          Publication_Information:
            Publication_Place: Reston, VA
            Publisher: U.S. Geologic Survey
      Source_Scale_Denominator: 100000
      Type_of_Source_Media: On-line
      Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
        Time_Period_Information:
          Range_of_Dates/Times:
            Beginning_Date: 1978
            Ending_Date: 1990
        Source_Currentness_Reference: Publication date
      Source_Citation_Abbreviation: TopoDRG100
      Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
    Source_Information:
      Source_Citation:
        Citation_Information:
          Originator: Farm Service Agency
          Publication_Date: 1982 and 1983
          Title: National High Altitude Photography (NHAP)
          Publication_Information:
            Publication_Place: Salt Lake City, UT
            Publisher: Aerial Photography Field Office (APFO)
      Source_Scale_Denominator: 1:80,000 (2 meter resolution)
      Type_of_Source_Media: Paper
      Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
        Time_Period_Information:
          Single_Date/Time:
            Calendar_Date: 1982
          Single_Date/Time:
            Calendar_Date: 1983
        Source_Currentness_Reference: Source photography date
      Source_Citation_Abbreviation: NHAP
      Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
    Source_Information:
      Source_Citation:
        Citation_Information:
          Originator: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
          Publication_Date: 1979 - 1991
          Title: USGS Topographic Quadrangles
          Publication_Information:
            Publication_Place: Reston, VA
            Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey
      Source_Scale_Denominator: 24000
      Type_of_Source_Media: On-line
      Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
        Time_Period_Information:
          Range_of_Dates/Times:
            Beginning_Date: 1978
            Ending_Date: 1990
        Source_Currentness_Reference: Publication date
      Source_Citation_Abbreviation: TopoDRG24
      Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
    Source_Information:
      Source_Citation:
        Citation_Information:
          Originator: NASA
          Publication_Date: 1985 & 1986
          Title: Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper Imagery
          Publication_Information:
            Publication_Place: Lanham, MD
            Publisher: Space Imaging
      Source_Scale_Denominator: 1:250,000
      Type_of_Source_Media: Paper
      Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
        Time_Period_Information:
          Single_Date/Time:
            Calendar_Date: 1985
          Single_Date/Time:
            Calendar_Date: 1986
        Source_Currentness_Reference: Scene date
      Source_Citation_Abbreviation: TM5
      Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
    Source_Information:
      Source_Citation:
        Citation_Information:
          Originator: National Agricultural Statistics Service
          Publication_Date: 1997
          Title: Area Frame Design for Agricultural Surveys
          Publication_Information:
            Publication_Place: Washington, DC
            Publisher: NASS/USDA
      Type_of_Source_Media: Paper
      Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
        Time_Period_Information:
          Single_Date/Time:
            Calendar_Date: 1987
        Source_Currentness_Reference: Publication date
      Source_Citation_Abbreviation: AFSPaper
      Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information
    Process_Step:
      Process_Description:
        The area sampling frame for Massachusetts was constructed for use in 1988
        and was based on USGS 1:24,000 and 1:100,000 scale topographic maps,
        1:250,000 scale Landsat imagery, and 2 meter resolution NHAP imagery.
        Individual county files were merged into single statefile. The coordinates
        for the strata polygons are unprojected to geographic latitude and longitude
        (decimal degrees).  The spatial data file format is Environmental Systems
        Research Institute's ArcView shapefile format. Gaps and overlaps were corrected
        within and ESRI personal geodatabase.



      Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: TopoDRG100
      Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: NHAP
      Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: TopoDRG24
      Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: TIGER
      Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: TM5
      Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: AFSPaper
      Process_Date: 1997


Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
  Indirect_Spatial_Reference:
    U.S. Department of Commerce, 1990, Counties and Equivalent
    Entities of The United States, Its Possessions, and
    Associated Areas (Federal Information Processing Standard
    6-4): Washington, D.C.  National Institute of Standards and
    Technology.
  Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector
  Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:
    SDTS_Terms_Description:
      SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: G-Polygon
      Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 1,379


Spatial_Reference_Information:
  Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
    Geographic:
      Latitude_Resolution: Decimal Degrees
      Longitude_Resolution: Decimal Degrees
    Planar:
      Planar_Coordinate_Information:
        Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: row and column
        Coordinate_Representation:
          Abscissa_Resolution: 30
          Ordinate_Resolution: 30
        Planar_Distance_Units: Meters
    Geodetic_Model:
      Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983
      Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference 80
      Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.00
      Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257
Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
  Detailed_Description:
    Entity_Type:
      Entity_Type_Label: Land Use Strata
      Entity_Type_Definition: Homogeneous land use area based on percent cultivated
      Entity_Type_Definition_Source:
        U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics
        Service
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Strata
      Attribute_Definition: Land use category based on percent cultivated
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
        U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics
        Service
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 14
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: 25% OR MORE CULTIVATED
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
            "1987 Area Frame Design Information, Implementation Years of
            Current NASS Area Frames", NASS Area Frame Section, 1987.
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 31
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: AGRI-URBAN: > 100 HOME PER SQ. MILE
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
            "1987 Area Frame Design Information, Implementation Years of
            Current NASS Area Frames", NASS Area Frame Section, 1987.
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 32
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: COMMERCIAL: > 100 HOME PER SQ. MILE *
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
            "1987 Area Frame Design Information, Implementation Years of
            Current NASS Area Frames", NASS Area Frame Section, 1987.
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 40
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: < 25% CULTIVATED
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
            "1987 Area Frame Design Information, Implementation Years of
            Current NASS Area Frames", NASS Area Frame Section, 1987.
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 50
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: NON AGRICULTURAL
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
            "1987 Area Frame Design Information, Implementation Years of
            Current NASS Area Frames", NASS Area Frame Section, 1987.
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Sum_area
      Attribute_Definition: The stratum area in square miles.
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
        U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics
        Service
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 59.72 (actual value, not range)
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 6,267.68
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Sum_acres
      Attribute_Definition: The amount of acres in a stratum.
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
        U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics
        Service
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 38,221 (actual value, not range)
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 4,011,312 (actual value, not range)


Distribution_Information:
  Distributor:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Organization_Primary:
        Contact_Organization: USDA/NASS/RDD/GIB/AFS
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing address
        Address: 3251 Old Lee Highway, Suite 301
        City: Fairfax
        State_or_Province: VA
        Postal_Code: 22030
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: 703-877-8000
      Contact_Instructions: N/A
  Distribution_Liability:
    Users of the strata data are solely responsible for interpretations made
    from the product.  The strata data are provided "as is".  USDA/NASS does
    not warrant results you may obtain by using the strata data.  Feel free to
    contact our staff at (HQ_RD_OD@nass.usda.gov) if technical questions arise
    in the use of the strata data.
  Standard_Order_Process:
    Digital_Form:
      Digital_Transfer_Information:
        Format_Name: ESRI Shapefile
      Digital_Transfer_Option:
        Online_Option:
          Computer_Contact_Information:
            Network_Address:
              Network_Resource_Name: <http://www.nass.usda.gov/research>
    Fees: There is no charge for the online option.
    Ordering_Instructions: N/A


Metadata_Reference_Information:
  Metadata_Date: 20140116
  Metadata_Contact:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Person_Primary:
        Contact_Person: Matthew Deaton
        Contact_Organization: USDA/NASS/RDD/GIB/AFS
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing address
        Address: 3251 Old Lee Highway, Suite 301
        City: Fairfax
        State_or_Province: VA
        Postal_Code: 22030
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: 703-877-8000 x151
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: HQ_RD_OD@nass.usda.gov
  Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
  Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
  Metadata_Security_Information:
    Metadata_Security_Classification_System: None
    Metadata_Security_Classification: Unclassified
    Metadata_Security_Handling_Description: None