Field data for the Vegetation Mapping Inventory Project of Shenandoah National Park

This reference is an assemblage of field data collected as part the baseline vegetation inventory for the park unit. Typical files here are vegetation plot data, accuracy assessment data, field photos, PDF showing locations of vegetation plots and accuracy assessment data, and other data for this type. We classified 34 vegetation communities at the association level of the National Vegetation Classification System within Shenandoah National Park. Three community types were newly classified and described. We mapped vegetation communities to the association level using AVIRIS spring 2000 and summer 2001 imagery, and we filled in missing areas with Landsat TM imagery. We validated the results using internal cross validation and through an accuracy assessment conducted at 224 field plots in the summer of 2004, and at 68 field plots in 2005. Results of accuracy assessment range from 88% overall accuracy from internal validation to 67% overall accuracy from field validation. As a whole, statistical analysis indicated that bedrock parent material, soil fertility, elevation, and topographic position are the most important, interrelated environmental factors influencing major vegetation patterns in Shenandoah National Park. In addition, vegetation communities occurred across a number of environmental types as categorized into ecological land unit types.