This reference contains the imagery data used in the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Orthophotos, raw imagery, and scanned aerial photos are common files held here.

The classification was developed based on observations during a reconnaissance trip in fall of 1996 by combined teams of aerial photo interpreters and ecologists. This reconnaissance trip clarified both the nature of the classification units and their aerial photo signatures. A minimum mapping unit of 0.5 ha guided decisions about how to treat various units as complexes or mosaics. Based on the reconnaissance trip, the aerial photo team attempted to identify all of the different aerial photo signatures that might correspond to the vegetation types. By the spring of 1997, mapping protocols were sufficiently stabilized to permit the aerial photo team to begin delineating polygons throughout the park. The full set of airphoto overlays for the park were delivered to the field team in mid-July 1997, and they were then used to locate polygons for plot sampling. Once polygon photosignatures were reviewed and updated by the aerial photo interpretation team, an accuracy assessment was conducted. The number of polygons visited per type depended on how common the type was, from 24 polygons for widespread types to 2 for rare types. Points were stratified to be equitably distributed across the island. The target number of polygons to be sampled for each community was split into two groups, one for a team working the northeast half of the park (east team), and one for the team working the southwest half of the park (west team).