The files linked to this reference are the geospatial data created as part of the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Current format is ArcGIS file geodatabase but older formats may exist as shapefiles.

Instrumental to the photo interpretive effort was the use of the GPS located vegetation plots collected by the field crew. These plots provided an idea of what the signatures of the individual map units should look like. In addition to the tablular data associated with each vegetation plot were five photographs collected at each plot. These photographs helped not only in identifying the immediate area but also provided us with a “look” at the areas surrounding the vegetation plot which might be a different map unit. These photographs may be “hyperlinked” within ArcMap to the salient vegetation observation point for a better concept of on the ground conditions.All interpreted mylar layers were scanned at 300 dpi. Each scanned mylar was then rectified to the NAIP base layer using recognizable ground features as registration points. The resulting scan produced a raster image that was subsequently vectorized. Each vectorized output was then extensively edited to produce clean digital vector lines. From the digitized vectors we created polygons by building topology in the GIS program. Finally, we created labels for each polygon and used these to add the attribute information. Attribution for all the polygons at CHIC included information pertaining to map units, NVC associations, Anderson land-use classes, and other relevant data. Attribute data were taken directly from the interpreted photos or were added later using the orthophotos as a guide.