LANDFIRE Existing Vegetation Products

Existing Vegetation Products Theme Overview LANDFIRE’s (LF) vegetation products comprise vegetation raster layers and a point-based vegetation reference database. Existing Vegetation Products describe the following elements: Existing Vegetation Type - Ecological Systems (EVT-ES), Existing Vegetation Type - National Vegetation Classification (EVT-NVC), Existing Vegetation Cover (EVC), and Existing Vegetation Height (EVH). These layers are created using predictive landscape models based on extensive field-referenced data, satellite imagery and biophysical gradient layers using classification and regression trees. The LF Reference Database (LFRDB) is also a crucial part in creating existing vegetation products by categorizing and describing field plots throughout the country. All LF products are available at landfire.gov, and the full suite of vegetation products are available at https://landfire.gov/vegetation while the LFRDB can be found at https://landfire.gov/reference. Existing vegetation products are released as they are completed throughout the year with regional areas released first (if applicable) and full extent mosaics of the regional areas released when complete. These products are described below. EVC represents the vertically projected percent cover of the live vegetation lifeform for a 30-m cell. EVC is generated separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous cover lifeforms using training data and other geospatial layers. Percentage tree, shrub, and herbaceous canopy cover training data are generated using plot-level ground-based visual assessments and lidar observations. Once the training data are developed, relationships are then established separately for each lifeform between the training data and combination of Landsat or Harmonized Landsat Sentinel imagery and ancillary data. Each of the derived data layers (tree, shrub, herbaceous) has a potential range from 0-100 percent which are merged into a single composite EVC layer with the dominant lifeform cover for each pixel included in the final raster layer. Disturbance data is used to filter plot data as well as to ensure that disturbances from recent years are accounted for in EVC. EVH represents the average height of the dominant vegetation for a 30-m cell. Vegetation height is generated separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms using training data and other geospatial layers. EVH is determined by the average height weighted by species cover and based on the EVT lifeform. Decision tree models using field reference data, lidar, Landsat, Harmonized Landsat Sentinel, and ancillary data are developed separately for each lifeform. Decision tree relationships are used to generate lifeform specific height class layers, which are merged into a single composite EVH layer depicting the average height value for the dominant lifeform of each pixel. Disturbance data is used to filter plot data as well as to ensure that disturbances from recent years are accounted for in EVH. EVT-ES represents the current distribution of the terrestrial ecological systems classification, developed by NatureServe for the western hemisphere, through 2016. A terrestrial ecological system is defined as a group of plant community types (associations) that tend to co-occur within landscapes with similar ecological processes, substrates, and/or environmental gradients. EVT-ES also includes ruderal or semi-natural vegetation types from the U.S. National Vegetation Classification. The LF Ruderal NVC Groups Descriptions for CONUS provides descriptions for each ruderal NVC Group including species, distribution, and classification information. EVT-ES is mapped using decision tree models, field data, Landsat imagery, Harmonized Landsat Sentinel imagery, elevation, and biophysical gradient data. Decision tree models are developed separately for each of the three lifeform - tree, shrub, and herbaceous and are then used to generate lifeform specific EVT layers. EVT-NVC is an existing vegetation layer created and delivered as a separate spatial data layer for the first time with LF 2016 Remap. It represents the current distribution of vegetation groups within the U.S. National Vegetation Classification. These groups are defined as combinations of relatively narrow sets of diagnostic plant species, including dominants and co-dominants, broadly similar composition, and diagnostic growth forms. LF 2016 Remap used U.S. NVC 2.0, an FGDC standard, to map LF EVT-NVC. The LF Natural NVC Groups Descriptions for Western US and LF Natural NVC Groups Descriptions for Eastern US provides descriptions for each natural NVC Group including species, distribution, and classification information. The LF EVT-NVC product also includes ruderal or semi-natural vegetation types. The LF Ruderal NVC Groups Descriptions for CONUS provides descriptions for each ruderal NVC Group including species, distribution, and classification information. NVC groups were initially mapped using decision tree models informed by field reference data, Landsat imagery, elevation/topographic, and biophysical gradient inputs. Decision tree models were developed separately for each life-form including tree, shrub, herbaceous, and sparse vegetation. LF EVT-NVC was reconciled through QA/QC measures to ensure lifeform is synchronized with both Existing Vegetation Cover and Existing Vegetation Height. When modeled results were poor for modeled NVC classes, rectification and/or cross-walking from existing ancillary datasets or Ecological Systems was performed to improve the quality of the product. The LANDFIRE Reference Database (LFRDB) is the last key piece to the Existing Vegetation Products. The Public LFRDB contains a subset of the data and attributes used for LF National and LF Remap production. Some plot reference data is controlled unclassified information; therefore, it is not available in the Public LFRDB, but is still used as training data for mapping. The Public LFRDB includes vegetation and fuel data that were largely amassed from existing information resources such as the USFS Vegetation and Fuel Plot Data, USGS National Gap Analysis Program (GAP), NPS Inventory and Monitoring (I and M), and State Inventory Data. Data archived in the Public LFRDB include vegetation natural community occurrences, estimates of canopy cover and height per plant taxon, measurements of individual trees, occurrence of exotics plants, fuel biomass estimates of downed woody material, depth or biomass estimates of litter and duff layers, and percentage cover and height of shrub and herb layers.

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