833 acres of prairie, hill, and riverine environments at Fort Laramie National Historic Site were mapped for vegetation cover in July 1995. The National Park Service and U.S. Geological Survey created this baseline dataset using stereoscopic aerial photo interpretation supported by field sampling. This data documents upland woodland, prairie grassland, riverine woodland, and wetland vegetation types according to the 1995 National Vegetation Classification System.
Use Cases
- Classify vegetation cover types like upland woodland or prairie grassland from geospatial signatures and slope data.
- Establish a 1995 baseline for change detection analysis of prairie grassland and riverine woodland boundaries.
- Assess the accuracy of photointerpretation procedures for wetland and hill environment delineation.
- Model relationships between vegetation units and collateral data on hydrology and geography.
Strengths
- Covers 833 acres within a defined prototype park study area.
- Vegetation units determined through a standardized national classification system from October 1995.
- Data creation involved stereoscopic aerial photo interpretation supported by field sampling and ecological analysis.
Limitations
- Data reflects conditions only from July 1995, with no subsequent updates.
- The description acknowledges an inherent margin of error in using aerial photography for vegetation delineation.
- Sample size and specific row/column counts for the spatial data are unknown.
Provenance
- Source
- National Park Service (NPS) and Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
- Collection Method
- Stereoscopic interpretation of July 1995 aerial photographs, supported by field sampling and ecological analysis, following a standardized protocol.
- Time Range
- 1995-07
- Freshness
- 1995-07-15
- Geography
- Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Wyoming, USA, including 833 acres of the park and adjacent Bureau of Land Management plots.