The Unit examined how to make the land cover map into a vegetation classification map with full vegetation classifications. Field sampling included driving and airborne video. To tackle the difficult issue of vegetation classification, the project has adopted the Brown, Lowe, and Pace system of ecological classification and cross-walked to the National Classification System. Error estimates were calculated at different scales and for different biomes. Another important issue is the lack of edge-matching among states.
States develop classification systems independently.
The data sets will be available initially as whole coverages, but eventually users will be able to download portions of the coverage. Metadata is being produced for all the data sets. The FGDC standard is being followed to produce the metadata. Dave Bortnem announced the availability of status maps for USGS products. Santiago has a PDF file of the status graphics.