U.S. Geological Survey - National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program : Acadia National Park, Maine

Lubinski, Sara; Hop, Kevin; Gawler, Susan

Following is part of the Summary included in the report: '... Acadia NP was selected as one of several pilot parks to develop and refine the methodology and standards for the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program. The three basic components of this project are vegetation classification, vegetation mapping, and map accuracy assessment. Classifying and mapping the vegetation proceeded simultaneously as directed by the VMP, hoping to shorten the overall duration of the project. Accuracy assessment followed classifying the mapping, and gives indication [to] the shortcomings to classifying and mapping in a parallel method.' 'In Acadia NP, as in other national parks mapped for the VMP, extensive field sampling was conducted to understand the local expression of vegetation types of the park. Samples from 179 vegetation sampling plots were collected during 1997-99 field seasons throughout the project area and subsequently analyzed with previously collected plot data. Fifty-three natural/semi-natural vegetation communities (associations of the NVCS) are recognized and described in detail in this report.' 'The 53 vegetation communities are represented with 33 map classes. Fifty-eight map classes, including land use/land cover and park specific categories, were used to map Acadia NP and environs. Color infrared aerial photographs, collected in late May 1997 at a scale 1:15,840, were used for photointerpretation. Spring photography was chosen so fieldwork and mapping could begin that same year. Using spring photography limited the ability to map some NVCS vegetation types accurately. Photointerpretation data were manually transfererred to orthophoto quadrangle maps (1:12,000-scale) and then digitally automated for use in geographic information systems (GIS).' 'The VMP standard for map accuracy of vegetation themes is 80%. Field data for accuracy assessment of the vegetation map were collected during the 1999 field season using a stratified random design based on map classes. Overall thematic map accuracy of the Acadia NP vegetation map is 80%; however, some individual map classes fell below the 80% accuracy requirement. Several factors contributed to low accuracy, of which the most critical were (1) map classes were developed before we had an understanding of corresponding vegetation types, resulting in confusing relations between the map classes and the vegetation associations; (2) not enough time in the field with the ecologists; (3) spring photography limited our ability to discern some vegetation types from others; and (4) Acadia NP abounds with compositionally heterogeneous communities with broad ecotones, and would be difficult to map regardless of the process. We provide several recommendations addressing these problems in the hope that future projects may proceed with greater efficiency and accuracy.' 'Products developed for th Acadia NP VMP include the following: This final project report, with includes methods, descriptions of vegetation types, vegetation key, map accuracy assessment results and contingency table, and map class description and visual guide. Spatial database coverages of the vegetation map, observation points, vegetation field plots, accuracy assessment sites, flight line index, and other supportive GIS data. Digital data files and hard copy data sheets of fieldwork including observation points, vegetation field plots, and accuracy assessment sites. Aerial photographs of the project area (one transparency set and two contact print sets) and their corresponding interpreted overlays. Hard copy flight line index of the project's aerial photographs. Representative ground photos of each vegetation community Graphics of all spatial database coverages, and map composition of the vegetation map. (Abstract continued in Notes)