'Provisional' Southwest Regional Landcover Data

September, 2004

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Landcover

Multi-season satellite imagery (Landsat ETM+) from 1999-2001 were used in conjunction with digital elevation model (DEM) derived datasets (e.g. elevation, landform, aspect, etc.) to model natural and semi-natural vegetation. Landcover classes are drawn from NatureServe’s Ecological System concept, with 109 of the 125 total classes mapped at the system level. For the majority of classes, a decision tree classifier was used to discriminate landcover types, while a minority of classes (e.g. urban classes, sand dunes, burn scars, etc.) were mapped using other techniques. Twenty mapping areas, each characterized by similar ecological and spectral characteristics, were modeled independently of one another. These mapping areas, which included a 4 km overlap, were subsequently mosaicked to create the regional dataset. An internal validation for modeled classes was performed on a withheld 20% of the sample data. Results of the validation will be presented in the project final report and are not available at this time. While the modeling area encompassed these 5 southwestern states (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah) the actual GIS dataset downloaded from this site may be a subset of the 5-state region.

 

NEW Click here to download the Landcover Final Report (PDF) NEW

 

Recommended citation for this land cover dataset:

USGS National Gap Analysis Program. 2004. Provisional Digital Land Cover Map for the Southwestern United States. Version 1.0. RS/GIS Laboratory, College of Natural Resources, Utah State University.