Field data for the Vegetation Mapping Inventory Project of Appalachian National Scenic Trail

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. The mappers and classifiers proceeded with field reconnaissance in the SBR project area during 2010, the CAP project area during 2011, the LNE project area during 2012, and the NAP project area during 2013. Field reconnaissance efforts were initiated to prepare for mapping vegetation types in APPA. Mappers and classifiers visited the AT corridor by APPA project areas and compared, with the aid of weatherized field computers, the ground conditions to their aerial signatures on the digital 4-band (true-color and color-infrared) imagery that was obtained for the APPA vegetation mapping project. Vegetation classification was determined by the appropriate APPA project area vegetation field key and a classifier. Field reconnaissance also allowed mappers to become familiar with the local ecology of vegetation types in each APPA project area because ecologic concepts may differ. Where mappers discovered limitations to interpreting vegetation types by using digital aerial imagery, environmental models were tested to determine if vegetation types could be consistently separated by environmental elements. In APPA, the history of disturbance (both man-made and natural) that pervades the AT corridor prevented models from being a reliable tool for aerial-imagery interpretation.