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Geospatial data for the Vegetation Mapping Inventory Project of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Published by National Park Service | Department of the Interior | Metadata Last Checked: January 25, 2026 | Last Modified: 2010-07-01T00:00:00Z
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. The mapping component of the BLCA project used a combination of methods to interpret and delineate vegetation polygons. Initial line work was prepared by USBOR photointerpreters who delineated the most contrasting signatures, e.g., water bodies, exposed shoreline, unvegetated geology, land use types, and vegetation at the physiognomic level. The project photo interpreter used this baseline mapping and refined it by examining digital orthophotos in stereo. The stereo photography was used as needed to distinguish fine scale vegetation patterns. Ancillary datasets such as plot and observation point data and classification and local descriptions of plant associations were used by the photointerpreter to assist with map class definitions and manual delineations. Polygons were drawn on Mylar overlays of printed orthophotos that were later scanned, or were drawn digitally on a computer screen. Heads-up digitizing consisted of delineating map class polygons on an electronic version of the digital orthophotos at a computer workstation. Digitizing was performed using vector editing in ArcGIS.

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