SERM Forest Cover Data Layers of the SSA in Vector Format Summary This data set was prepared by the SERM-FBIU. The data include information on forest parameters and cover the area in and near the BOREAS SSA, excluding the PANP. Note that several files of this data set on the BOREAS CD-ROMs have been compressed using the Gzip program. See section 8.2 for details. Table of Contents * 1 Data Set Overview * 2 Investigator(s) * 3 Theory of Measurements * 4 Equipment * 5 Data Acquisition Methods * 6 Observations * 7 Data Description * 8 Data Organization * 9 Data Manipulations * 10 Errors * 11 Notes * 12 Application of the Data Set * 13 Future Modifications and Plans * 14 Software * 15 Data Access * 16 Output Products and Availability * 17 References * 18 Glossary of Terms * 19 List of Acronyms * 20 Document Information 1. Data Set Overview 1.1 Data Set Identification SERM Forest Cover Data Layers of the SSA in Vector Format 1.2 Data Set Introduction The forest cover data provided by Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management, Forestry Branch - Inventory Unit (SERM-FBIU) are basically a digital version of its 1:12,500 scale forest cover polygon maps. As a digital archive, however, changes within forest stands can be updated more readily. All the same time, it should be kept in mind that most of these digital forest cover data were acquired in 1993, and the data set has been static since that time. 1.3 Objective/Purpose These data are provided as part of the BOReal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS) Staff Science Geographic Information System (GIS) Data Collection Program which included the collection of pertinent map data in both hardcopy and digital form. This data set can be used for modeling or for comparison purposes. 1.4 Summary of Parameters There are seven layers of information available for each 10-km x 10-km map unit or tile. The number of layers associated with each tile varies, but in all cases the most important layer for this data set, FPOLY, is always included. The potential data layers are: FPOLY polygon layer, full tiles (not filled with lakes) usually have between 1,000 and 1,500 polygons. FLINK linear features; power line, trails, bridges DATAP point information; photo centers, sampling plots ANNOT annotation; road and lake names, towns, etc. SPOLY special polygons for plotting; sand beaches, reefs UTMGR 1-km x 1-km grid for Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) location determination SHELL the tile neatline, 10-km x 10-km except on UTM zone boundary tiles Each of these layers has an associated list of codes or items to help the user decipher the map information. See Section 7.3. 1.5 Discussion The forest cover data provided by SERM-FBIU, is basically a digital version of its 1:12,500 scale forest cover polygon maps. SERM-FBIU maintains a digital data base of the forests in a GIS primarily for use by forest managers for silvicultural purposes. 1.6 Related Data Sets BOREAS Forest Cover Data Layers of the NSA-MSA in Raster Format BOREAS Forest Cover Data Layers of the SSA-MSA in Raster Format SERM Forest Fire Chronology of Saskatchewan in Vector Format SERM Forest Cover Data of Saskatchewan in Vector Format Prince Albert National Park Forest Cover Data in Vector Format 2. Investigator(s) 2.1 Investigator(s) Name and Title BOREAS Staff 2.2 Title of Investigation BOREAS Staff Science GIS Data Collection Program 2.3 Contact Information Contact 1 ---------- Fern Gruszka Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management Prince Albert, SK CANADA (306)953-2360 gruszka@larix.derm.gov.sk.ca Contact 2 ---------- Jaime Nickeson NASA/GSFC Greenbelt, MD (301) 286-3373 (301) 286-0239 (fax) Jaime.Nickeson@gsfc.nasa.gov 3. Theory of Measurements SERM-FBIU maintains in its inventory unit a GIS of forest inventory information for Saskatchewan forested lands. This inventory is maintained primarily for use by forest managers for silvicultural purposes and it contains a wealth of information that can be of use in Earth resources analyses and ecosystem modeling. 4. Equipment 4.1 Sensor/Instrument Description These data were digitized from 1:12,500-scale forest cover maps. The maps were derived from black-and-white 1:12,500-scale infrared aerial photography and field reconnaissance notes. No information is known about the original digitizing equipment or procedures and criteria used in the digitizing process. 4.1.1 Collection Environment These original vector data were acquired as ARC/INFO vector coverages or in ARC/INFO export format. The data were produced by SERM-FBIU. No specific information other than the scale of the resulting photography is known about the aircraft flights or the equipment that was used to collect the aerial photography. 4.1.2 Source/Platform Unknown. 4.1.3 Source/Platform Mission Objectives Unknown. 4.1.4 Key Variables The key variables of this data set are the seven data layers described in Sections 1.4 and 7.3. 4.1.5 Principles of Operation Unknown. 4.1.6 Sensor/Instrument Measurement Geometry Unknown. 4.1.7 Manufacturer of Sensor/Instrument Unknown. 4.2 Calibration 4.2.1 Specifications Unknown. 4.2.1.1 Tolerance Unknown. 4.2.2 Frequency of Calibration Unknown. 4.2.3 Other Calibration Information None. 5. Data Acquisition Methods SERM personnel created the forest cover maps by transcribing information from aerial photography. Stereographic pairs of black-and-white infrared aerial photographs acquired at a scale of 1:12,500 was interpreted with a stereoscope and used in conjunction with previously mapped data as well as field reconnaissance notes. Timber cruising data, silvicultural data, timber harvesting records, and fire history information may have also been incorporated. 6. Observations Not applicable. 6.1 Data Notes None. 6.2 Field Notes The field notes used in compiling the original forest cover data are available from the SERM-FBIU. See Section 2.3. 7. Data Description 7.1 Spatial Characteristics 7.1.1 Spatial Coverage This data set covers three geographic blocks of the BOREAS Southern Study Area (SSA), but it excludes the area of Prince Albert National Park (PANP). Multiple map tiles are contained in each geographic block. One map tile covers an area of 10 km x 10 km. The data were acquired on three separate occasions during the course of planning and execution of BOREAS. As a result, there are three geographic blocks of map tiles, one of which overlaps slightly with another. These blocks of data are referred to as Nipawin (or SSA-Modeling Sub-Area (MSA)), North of PANP, and East of PANP. PANP personnel maintain their own forest inventory data base, which is not covered by these data. Nipawin is the largest block, containing a block of 129 map tiles, 11 in the E-W direction and 12 N-S, as well as encompassing the SSA-MSA. Three tiles at the bottom of the Nipawin block are excluded because they are over an area of agriculture. North of PANP is an area adjacent to and north of PANP, containing a block of 20 map tiles, 4 in the E-W direction and 5 N-S. East of PANP is an area adjacent to and east of PANP, containing a block of 27 map tiles, 4 in the E-W direction and 7 N-S. In addition, this block of data contains one map tile from the south near PANP that contains the Nesbit Forest. This one tile from the south appears to contain only the polygon layer. The East of PANP block duplicates the Nipawin block along its eastern edge. 7.1.2 Spatial Coverage Map The North American Datum 1927 (NAD27) UTM coordinates of the data blocks within UTM zone 13 are: UTM UL UTM LR Data Block easting northing easting northing ----------- ---------------- ---------------- Nipawin 460000 6050000 570000 5930000 North of PANP 390000 6070000 430000 6020000 East of PANP 430000 6000000 470000 5930000 Note that in the coverage files there is a y-shift of 6,000,000 (presumably to save storage space). This means that the y coordinates in the coverages need to have 6,000,000 added to them to get correct UTM coordinates. This shift needs to be handled properly when performing spatial transformations or reprojections of the data. If using ARC/INFO, you may wish to run the PROJECTDEFINE function. 7.1.3 Spatial Resolution The scale of the maps from which these data were digitized was 1:12,500. 7.1.4 Projection The geographic coordinates for the data are given as UTM within zone 13, under NAD27. 7.1.5 Grid Description Not applicable. 7.2 Temporal Characteristics 7.2.1 Temporal Coverage Most of the data used for this product were acquired by BOREAS Information System (BORIS) personnel in 1993. The maps from which the data are derived are completely reinventoried on a 10- to 20-year cycle by SERM, except for disturbed areas, which are updated annually. BORIS acquired the data in 1993; the forest cover layers have not yet had any inventory updates. These data were produced from aerial photography taken as recently as 1988. The data maintained by SERM are updated as needed based on fires, cutting, or other disturbances. 7.2.2 Temporal Coverage Map Not available. 7.2.3 Temporal Resolution As noted, the original maps are completely reinventoried by SERM personnel on a 10- to 20-year cycle, except for disturbed areas which are updated annually. The photographs and other information used to create the original vector data set most likely covered the 10- to 20-year period prior to 1988 and any updates made from then to 1993, when the data were acquired. 7.3 Data Characteristics 7.3.1 Parameter/Variable The data contain polygon and linear features with attributes. Although there are many attributes, the attributes of most interest are probably those in the FPOLY layer and include: MAP (The 7-digit map ) FID (A 4-digit stand number) OWNER (The stand's ownership code) CZONE (The stand's survey zone) SOURCE (Source for the stand attributes) SYR (Source year) SA (Species Association) SP10 (Primary species #1) SP11 (Primary species #2) SP12 (Primary species #3) SP20 (Secondary species #1) SP21 (Secondary species #2) U1 (Understory species #1) U2 (Understory species #2) HGT (Height class code) D (Crown closure code) YOO (DecadAl year of stand origin) SP12 (Primary species #3) MLEVEL (Management Level) YSP (Year of silvicultural activity) R1 (Regenerating species #1 R2 (Regenerating species #2) DRAIN (Soil drainage rating) TEXT (Soil texture code) DIST (Disturbance type) DYR (Year of disturbance) NP (Nonproductive stand code) OLDST (Location to retain original 4-digit stand number) 7.3.2 Variable Description/Definition The following is information that is included as files in the data dictionary directory in the archive for the Nipawin and North of PANP archive. File name: LAYERS.LIST ANNOT - annotation; roads and lake names, towns, etc. DATAP - point information; photo centers, PSP plots FLINK - linear features; power lines, trails, bridges FPOLY - polygon layer, all of 10-km x 10-km tile falls within a polygon - full tiles usually have between 1,000 to 1,500 polygons in FPOLY SHELL - the tile neatline, 10 km x 10-km except on zone boundary tiles SPOLY - special polygons for plotting; sand beaches, reefs UTMGR - 1-km x 1-km grid for UTM location determination File name: FPOLY.CODES Saskatchewan Parks and Renewable Resources Attribute file items ITEM COL ITEM NAME WIDTH DESCRIPTION ---- --- --------- ----- ----------- 1 1 MAP 7 MAP NUMBER 2 8 FID 4 STAND NUMBER 3 12 OWNER 2 OWNERSHIP CODE 4 14 CZONE 3 SURVEY ZONE CODE 5 17 SOURCE 1 INFORMATION SOURCE 6 18 SYR 4 YEAR OF COLLECTION 7 22 SA 2 SPECIES ASSOCIATION 8 24 SP10 2 PRIMARY SPECIES #1 9 26 SP11 2 PRIMARY SPECIES #2 10 28 SP20 2 SECONDARY SPECIES #1 11 30 HGT 2 HEIGHT CLASS 12 32 D 1 DENSITY 13 33 YOO 2 YEAR OF STAND ORIGIN 14 35 SP12 2 PRIMARY SPECIES #3 15 37 SP21 2 SECONDARY SPECIES #2 16 39 U1 2 UNDERSTORY SPECIES #1 17 41 U2 2 UNDERSTORY SPECIES #2 18 43 MLEVEL 3 MANAGEMENT LEVEL CODE 19 46 YSP 4 YEAR OF SILVIC TREATMENT 20 50 R1 2 REGENERATING SPECIES #1 21 52 R2 2 REGENERATING SPECIES #2 22 54 DRAIN 3 SOIL DRAINAGE RATING 23 57 TEXT 4 SOIL TEXTURE CODE 24 61 DIST 3 DISTURBANCE TYPE 25 64 DYR 4 YEAR OF DISTURBANCE 26 68 NP 4 NONPRODUCTIVE CODE 27 72 OLDST 4 STORAGE OF NONLOCATIONAL # (FUTURE USE) Forest Inventory GIS Polygon Coverage Attribute Codes ----------------------------------------------------- 1/ MAP: The 7-digit map identifier (1347596) 2/ FID: A 4-digit stand number (9999) 3/ OWNER: The stand's ownership code, as follows: Code Ownership type Code Ownership type ---- -------------- ---- -------------- 11 Prov. Park - Historic 42 Federal Crown 12 Prov. Park - Recreation 43 National Park 13 Prov. Park - Natural Env. 51 Air Weapons Range 14 Prov. Park - Wilderness 61 Indian Reserve 15 Prov. Park - Protected 71 Regional Park 16 Prov. Park - Rec. Site 81 Provincial Crown 19 Prov. Park - Unknown 82 Provincial Reserve 21 Hamlet/Town/Village 91 Provincial Forest 22 Resort Village 92 Retained Forest Land 31 Patented Land 97 Out Of Province 41 Federal Reserve 99 Not Typed 4/ CZONE: The stand's survey zone, as follows: Code Survey Zone Code Survey Zone ---- ----------- ---- ----------- 210 Porcupine-Pasquia Hills 250 Nisbet-Wappekka Hills 211 Duck Mountain Prov. Park 260 Dore-Divide 212 Moose Mountain Prov. Park 261 Big River 220 Cumberland Lowlands 270 Peter Pond 230 Suggi Wetlands 280 Cypress Hills Prov. Park 240 Lac LaRonge - Churchill 5/ SOURCE: Source for these stand attributes, as follows: Code Description ---- ----------- P SPRR - aerial photography (standard) W Weyerhaeuser digital (photo based) F SPRR - field information 6/ SYR: Source year, in 4- digit format (1976) 7/ SA: Species association, as follows: Code Description ---- ----------- S Pure softwood stand ( S >= 75% ) SH Mixed softwood stand ( 75% > S > 50% ) HS Mixed hardwood stand ( 75% > H > 50% ) H Pure hardwood stand ( H >= 75% ) 8/ SP10: Primary species #1, as follows: Code Softwood species Code Hardwood species ---- ---------------- ---- ---------------- WS White Spruce TA Trembling Aspen BS Black Spruce BP Black Poplar JP Jack Pine WB White Birch BF Balsam Fir WE White Elm TL Tamarack GA Green Ash LP Lodgepole Pine MM Manitoba Maple BO Burr Oak 9/ SP11: Primary species #2, codes as in SP10 above 10/ SP20: Secondary species #1, codes as in SP10 above 11/ HGT: Height class code, as follows: Code Height Class ---- -------------------- 5 2.5m < HGT <= 7.5m 10 7.5m < HGT <= 12.5m 15 12.5m < HGT <= 17.5m 20 17.5m < HGT <= 22.5m 25 22.5m < HGT 12/ D: Crown closure code, as follows: Code Density ---- ---------------- A 10% < D <= 30% B 30% < D <= 55% C 55% < D <= 80% D 80% < D 13/ YOO: Year of stand origin, in decadal format, as follows: Code Year Range Code Year Range ---- ------------ ---- ------------ 84 1836 - 1845 92 1916 - 1925 85 1846 - 1855 93 1926 - 1935 86 1856 - 1865 94 1936 - 1945 87 1866 - 1875 95 1946 - 1955 88 1876 - 1885 96 1956 - 1965 89 1886 - 1895 97 1966 - 1975 90 1896 - 1905 98 1976 - 1985 91 1906 - 1915 99 1986 - 1995 14/ SP12: Primary species #3, codes as in SP10 15/ SP20: Secondary species #2, codes as in SP10 16/ U1: Understory species #1, codes as in SP10 17/ U2: Understory species #2, codes as in SP10 18/ MLEVEL: Management Level, codes as follows: Code Management Level ---- ----------------------------------------- Unmanaged or unknown (forested productive) ANR Assessed natural regeneration EXP Experimental Area FG Fire guard OP Unmanaged or unknown (nonforested productive) PB Prescribed Burn PLA Plantation SDA Seeded area SIL Silvicultural activity (archaic) SPM Site prepared - mechanical SPO Site prepared - other SPS Site prepared - scarification STD Stand tending 19/ YSP: Year of silvicultural activity (1975) 20/ R1: Regenerating species #1, as in SP10, plus codes GR (grassland) and SB (scrub brush) 21/ R2: Regenerating species #2, as in R1 22/ DRAIN: Soil drainage rating, coded as follows: Code Drainage Description ---- -------------------- VR Very rapidly drained VRR Very rapidly - rapidly drained R Rapidly drained RW Rapidly - Well drained W Well drained WM Well - Moderately well drained MW Moderately well drained MWI Moderately well - imperfectly drained I Imperfectly drained IP Imperfectly - poorly drained P Poorly drained PVP Poorly - very poorly drained VP Very poorly drained 23/ TEXT: Soil texture code, as follows: Code Texture Description ---- ------------------- C Coarse CMC Coarse - moderately coarse MC Moderately coarse MCMF Moderately coarse - moderately fine MF Moderately fine F Fine O Organic 24/ DIST: Disturbance type, as follows: Code Disturbance Type ---- ---------------- SCO Summer cut-over WCO Winter cut-over OCO Other cut-over SPC Summer partial cut WPC Winter partial cut OPC Other partial cut BO Burn over 25/ DYR: Year of disturbance (1975) 26/ NP: Nonproductive stand code, as follows: Code NonProductive Type ---- ------------------- 3100 Treed muskeg 3200 Treed rock 3300 Clear muskeg 3400 Clear rock 3500 Brushland 3600 Meadow 3700 Clearing 3800 Sand 3900 Nonproductive burn-over 4000 Pasture 5100 Flooded land 5200 Water - unknown surface 5210 Water - lake surface 5220 Water - river surface 9000 Not typed 27/ OLDST: Location to retain original 4-digit stand number when it is replaced by 4-digit x-y locational stand number. Presently empty. (9999) File name: MISC.CODES CODE TYPE DESCRIPTION LAYER COMMENTS ---- ---- ----------- ----- -------- 170 ARC NATIVE LAND ENTITLEMENT BOUNDARY FPOLY 211 ARC DOUBLE SIDED RIVER SHORELINE FPOLY 365 ARC SHORELINE BUFFER OUTLINE FPOLY 366 ARC PROVINCIAL FOREST BUFFER OUTLINE FPOLY 367 ARC INDIAN RESERVE BUFFER FPOLY 111 ARC TWP/RNG GRID REFERENCE ANNOT FOUND OUTSIDE TILE NEATLINE 800 ARC POINTER ARROW FOR ANNOTATION ANNOT USED AT DIGITIZERS DISCRETION 221 ARC WATERCOURSE - (NONPOLY BOUNDARY) FLINK WAS INTERMITTENT STREAM 230 ARC RAPIDS FLINK 231 ARC FALLS FLINK 240 ARC DAM FLINK 312 ARC TRAIL OR CUTLINE FLINK 313 ARC PORTAGE FLINK 314 ARC UNVERIFIED SEISMIC LINE FLINK NEW CODE - DEC. 1990 320 ARC ROAD BRIDGE FLINK 321 ARC RAILROAD BRIDGE FLINK 340 ARC FERRY CROSSING RIVER FLINK 341 ARC FERRY CROSSING LAKE FLINK 350 ARC POWER TRANSMISSION LINE FLINK 351 ARC TELEPHONE LINE FLINK 352 ARC OIL/GAS PIPELINE FLINK NEW CODE - DEC. 1990 360 ARC AIRSTRIP OUTLINE FLINK 361 ARC CEMETERY OUTLINE FLINK 362 ARC DEPRESSION OUTLINE FLINK DEPRESSION TO RIGHT 363 ARC ESKER CENTERLINE FLINK 368 ARC CFS/EXP. PLOT AREA OUTLINE FLINK 370 ARC OUT OF STUDY WETLANDS FLINK INTERMITTENT SHORELINE(NTS50) 410 LABEL FERRY CROSSING CENTER FLINK 412 LABEL HISTORIC SITE FLINK 413 LABEL FIRE TOWER FLINK 414 LABEL OTHER TOWER FLINK 415 LABEL MINE SITE FLINK 416 LABEL GRAVEL PIT FLINK 417 LABEL REEF OR SUBMERGED ROCK FLINK 418 LABEL ROADSIDE PICNIC SITE FLINK 419 LABEL SAWMILL FLINK 420 LABEL OIL/GAS WELL FLINK SIMILAR TO MINE SITE (415) 450 LABEL HIGHWAY ROUTE MARKER FLINK 500 LABEL SMALL NONPRODUCTIVE POLYGON FLINK NEW CODE - OCT. 17, 1990 510 LABEL TREED MUSKEG FLINK 511 LABEL TREED ROCK SYMBOL FLINK 512 LABEL CLEAR ROCK SYMBOL FLINK 513 LABEL CLEAR SWAMP SYMBOL FLINK 514 LABEL BRUSHLAND SYMBOL FLINK 515 LABEL MEADOW SYMBOL FLINK 516 LABEL CLEARING SYMBOL FLINK 518 LABEL PASTURE/CROP LAND SYMBOL FLINK 520 LABEL BARN - NOT TO SCALE FLINK 0° 521 LABEL BARN - NOT TO SCALE FLINK 22.5° 522 LABEL BARN - NOT TO SCALE FLINK 45° 523 LABEL BARN - NOT TO SCALE FLINK 67.5° 524 LABEL BARN - NOT TO SCALE FLINK 90° 525 LABEL BARN - NOT TO SCALE FLINK -67.5° 526 LABEL BARN - NOT TO SCALE FLINK -45° 527 LABEL BARN - NOT TO SCALE FLINK -22.5° 530 LABEL BUILDING - NOT TO SCALE FLINK 0° 531 LABEL BUILDING - NOT TO SCALE FLINK 22.5° 532 LABEL BUILDING - NOT TO SCALE FLINK 45° 533 LABEL BUILDING - NOT TO SCALE FLINK 67.5° 9999 LABEL FOREST INVENTORY POLYGON FPOLY UNIQUE $ID 120 ARC PROVINCIAL BOUNDARY FPOLY 121 ARC PROVINCIAL FOREST BOUNDARY FPOLY PROVINCIAL FOREST TO RIGHT 122 ARC SURVEY ZONE BOUNDARY FPOLY 123 ARC PROV. FOREST RESERVE BOUNDARY FPOLY PARKS REC SITE ETC. 124 ARC FEDERAL CROWN BOUNDARY FPOLY 125 ARC INDIAN RESERVE BOUNDARY FPOLY INDIAN RESERVE TO RIGHT 127 ARC CORPORATE LIMIT BOUNDARY FPOLY 150 ARC DRAINAGE/TEXTURE BOUNDARY FPOLY 160 ARC FOREST COVER TYPE BOUNDARY FPOLY 210 ARC SHORELINE FPOLY 212 ARC LAKE/RIVER POLYGON INTERFACE FPOLY 213 ARC RESERVOIR OR DUGOUT FPOLY 220 ARC WATERCOURSE - (POLY BOUNDARY) FPOLY 310 ARC PRIMARY ROAD FPOLY 311 ARC SECONDARY ROAD FPOLY 330 ARC RAILROAD FPOLY 331 ARC ABANDONED RAILROAD FPOLY 371 ARC BUILT-UP AREA OUTLINE FPOLY 1 ARC TILE NEATLINE SHELL SOFTWARE GENERATED 245 ARC DOCK SPOLY ADDED MAY 3, 1990 250 ARC SAND BAR OUTLINE SPOLY 260 ARC SAND BEACH OUTLINE SPOLY ADDED MAY 3, 1990 364 ARC SCALE BUILDING OUTLINE SPOLY 601 LABEL BACKGROUND POLYGON SPOLY 610 LABEL SANDBAR IN WATER SPOLY 612 LABEL SAND BEACH (NONPRODUCTIVE) SPOLY ADDED MAY 2, 1990 620 LABEL SCALE BUILDING SPOLY 110 ARC UTM GRID LINES UTMGR SOFTWARE GENERATED File name: DATAP.CODES CODE POINT_TYPE ---- ---------- 7000 Data Points 7000 - 7999 7021 Height of Land 7100 SPRC Controlled Data Points 7100 - 7199 7111 PHOTO CENTER LEADING 7112 PHOTO CENTER TRAILING 7113 UPDATE PHOTO CENTER LEADING 7114 UPDATE PHOTO CENTER TRAILING 7151 Provincial PSP - active 7152 Provincial PSP - abandoned 7200 CFS Controlled Data Points 7200 - 7299 7300 MacMillan Bloedel Controlled 7300 - 7399 7351 1978-81 Growth & Yield 7352 1978-81 Growth & Yield (abandoned) 7400 Weyerhaeuser Canada Controlled 7400 - 7499 7431 Silviculture Trials 7441 Mother/Super Tree (White Spruce) 7442 Expt. Areas / Clone Banks 7443 Family Trials 7444 Seed Production Areas 7451 Growth Assessment Plots (GAP) File name: DATAP.ITEMS POINT_TYPE CODE ATT ITEMS ---------- ---- --- ----- Data Points 7000 - 7999 7000 Height of Land 7021 4I ELEVATION SPRC Controlled Data Points 7100 - 7199 7100 PHOTO CENTER LEADING 7111 2C 4C 4I YEAR FLT_LINE PHOTO_NO PHOTO CENTER TRAILING 7112 2C 4C 4I YEAR FLT_LINE PHOTO_NO UPDATE PHOTO CENTER LEADING 7113 2C 4C 4I YEAR FLT_LINE PHOTO_NO UPDATE PHOTO CENTER TRAILING 7114 2C 4C 4I YEAR FLT_LINE PHOTO_NO Provincial PSP - active 7151 4I 2C PLOT_NO SURVEY_SPECIES Provincial PSP - abandoned 7152 4I 2C PLOT_NO SURVEY_SPECIES CFS Controlled Data Points 7200 - 7299 7200 MacMillan Bloedel Controlled 7300 - 7399 7300 1978-81 Growth & Yield 7351 4I 4I PLOT_NO PLOT_NO 1978-81 Growth & Yield (abandoned) 7352 4I 4I PLOT_NO PLOT_NO Weyerhaeuser Can. Controlled 7400 - 7499 7400 Silviculture Trials 7431 5C PLOT_ID Mother/Super Tree (White Spruce) 7441 3C PLOT_ID Expt. Areas / Clone Banks 7442 3C PLOT_ID Family Trials 7443 3C PLOT_ID Seed Production Areas 7444 3C PLOT_ID Growth Assessment Plots (GAP) 7451 5C PLOT_ID 7.3.3 Unit of Measurement See specific attributes described in Section 7.3.2. 7.3.4 Data Source The original data were acquired as ARC/INFO coverages or export files from: Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management Forestry Branch - Inventory Unit 800 Central Ave Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Canada S6V 6G1 7.3.5 Data Range See specific attributes described in Section 7.3.2. 7.4 Sample Data Record Not applicable. 8. Data Organization 8.1 Data Granularity The smallest amount of obtainable data is one geographic block of data for the Nipawin, North of PANP, or East of PANP areas as defined in Section 7.1.1. 8.2 Data Format(s) 8.2.1 Uncompressed Data Files The data exist on tape as tar format archives of either ARC/INFO coverages or as ARC/INFO export files. There is a similar naming convention whether you are dealing with the export files or the directory structure. Export files may have file names such as l1349596.e00 for the linear layer or p1349596.e00 for the polygon layer, whereas with the directory structure you will find a directory name such as z1349596 with FPOLY and link subdirectories (for polygon and linear layers, respectively. There may be additional subdirectories for those blocks containing several layers. The 1349596 number refers to the UTM 10-km x 10-km block, where 13 refers to the UTM zone, 49 refers to the lower left corner of the 10,000-m UTM block easting (e.g., 490,000), and 596 refers to the lower left corner of the 10,000-m UTM block northing (e.g. 5,960,000). The Nipawin data block is written as a tar archive of the ARC/INFO directory structure of all 129 map tiles, with 7 separate layers (coverages) per map and containing all the associated ARC/INFO files for each coverage. This ends up being well over 100 files per map or tile; therefore, it is recommended that the tar file contents be listed before being extracted. The East of PANP data block is written as a tar archive of the linear and polygon layer export files for the 27 map block adjacent to PANP and one additional polygon layer near PANP that contains the Nesbit forest. The North of PANP data block is also written as a tar archive of the ARC/INFO directory structure of the 20 map tiles within it and 7 layers per map tile. Restoring this archive will create the ARC/INFO directory structures as they appeared on the original system, and they will be ready for use without importing as with the Nipawin block. It is also recommended with this data set that the tar file is listed before it is extracted. 8.2.2 Compressed CD-ROM Files On the BOREAS CD-ROMs, each of the files listed above have been compressed with the Gzip compression program (file name *.gz). These data have been compressed using gzip version 1.2.4 and the high compression (-9) option (Copyright (C) 1992-1993 Jean-loup Gailly). Gzip (GNU zip) uses the Lempel-Ziv algorithm (Welch, 1994) used in the zip and PKZIP programs. The compressed files may be uncompressed using gzip (-d option) or gunzip. Gzip is available from many websites (for example, ftp site prep.ai.mit.edu/pub/gnu/gzip-*.*) for a variety of operating systems in both executable and source code form. Versions of the decompression software for various systems are included on the CD-ROMs. 9. Data Manipulations 9.1 Formulae None. 9.1.1 Derivation Techniques and Algorithms None. 9.2 Data Processing Sequence 9.2.1 Processing Steps Copy and compress the files for release on CD-ROM. 9.2.2 Processing Changes None. 9.3 Calculations 9.3.1 Special Corrections/Adjustments Note that in the coverages there is a y-shift of 6,000,000 (presumably to save storage space). To get correct UTM northing coordinates, add 6,000,000 to each of the existing coordinates. This shift needs to be handled properly when performing spatial transformations or reprojections of the data. If using ARC/INFO, you may wish to run the PROJECTDEFINE function. 9.3.2 Calculated Variables None. 9.4 Graphs and Plots None. 10. Errors 10.1 Sources of Error There is the possibility of coding errors in the attributes, transcription errors from original sample data, and photo-interpretation errors. 10.2 Quality Assessment 10.2.1 Data Validation by Source Unknown. 10.2.2 Confidence Level/Accuracy Judgment No information is known about the procedures and equipment used to create these data. Within the bounds of what BORIS staff know about the data, the data are of good quality. 10.2.3 Measurement Error for Parameters Unknown. 10.2.4 Additional Quality Assessments None. 10.2.5 Data Verification by Data Center Problems were encountered with the following export files/coverages rendering them unreadable: the fpoly coverage located in the Z1341603 directory of the north of Panp data block, the line export file l1343595.e00 in the east of Panp data block, and the polygon export file p1346598.e00 in the east of Panp data block. Note: the data that would have been found in the east of Panp data block, tile p1346598 can be found in the Nipawin data block, directory z1346598, fpoly coverage. 11. Notes 11.1 Limitations of the Data BORIS acquired these data in 1993; therefore, areas subjected to logging activity or other disturbance, such as fire, will appear much different today as compared to the forest cover data. 11.2 Known Problems with the Data See Section 10.2.5. 11.3 Usage Guidance Saskatchewan Parks and Renewable Resources does not accept any liability for decisions action taken on the basis of these data. Before uncompressing the Gzip files on CD-ROM, be sure that you have enough disk space to hold the uncompressed data files. Then use the appropriate decompression program provided on the CD-ROM for your specific system. 11.4 Other Relevant Information Saskatchewan Parks and Renewable Resources also maintains stand and stock tables and possibly some permanent sample plots in this area. Aerial photographic prints and negatives are also available. Contact the agency directly if you are interested in such information or if you wish to acquire these data. 12. Application of the Data Set This data set would provide good reference information for assessing spectral image data classification techniques over the area and serve as an initial baseline data set for analyzing land cover and vegetation change. 13. Future Modifications and Plans None. 14. Software 14.1 Software Description The Enviromental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) ARC/INFO (Version 7.0) package was used to perform the data manipulation and processing. Questions about the software should be directed to: Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. 380 New York Street Redlands, CA 92373-8100 Gzip (GNU zip) uses the Lempel-Ziv algorithm (Welch, 1994) used in the zip and PKZIP commands. 14.2 Software Access ARC/INFO is a commercial package; contact ESRI for details. Gzip is available from many websites across the net (for example) ftp site prep.ai.mit.edu/pub/gnu/gzip-*.*) for a variety of operating systems in both executable and source code form. Versions of the decompression software for various systems are included on the CD-ROMs. 15. Data Access 15.1 Contact for Data Center/Data Access Information These BOREAS data are available from the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOS-DIS) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC). The BOREAS contact at ORNL is: ORNL DAAC User Services Oak Ridge National Laboratory (865) 241-3952 ornldaac@ornl.gov ornl@eos.nasa.gov 15.2 Procedures for Obtaining Data BOREAS data may be obtained through the ORNL DAAC World Wide Web site at http://www-eosdis.ornl.gov/ or users may place requests for data by telephone, electronic mail, or fax. 15.3 Output Products and Availability Requested data can be provided electronically on the ORNL DAAC's anonymous FTP site or on various media including, CD-ROMs, 8-MM tapes, or diskettes. The complete set of BOREAS data CD-ROMs, entitled "Collected Data of the Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study", edited by Newcomer, J., et al., NASA, 1999, are also available. 16. Output Products and Availability 16.1 Tape Products The data can be made available on 8-mm, DAT, or 9-track tapes at 6250 or 1600 BPI. 16.2 Film Products None available from BORIS. See Other Relevant Information, Section 11.4. 16.3 Other Products These data are available on the BOREAS CD-ROM series. 17. References Lindenas, D. G. June 1985. Forest Inventory Interpretation and Mapping Manual - Specifications for the Interpretation and Mapping of Aerial Photographs in the Forest Inventory Section. Saskatchewan Parks and Renewable Resources. 17.1 Platform/Sensor/Instrument/Data Processing Documentation ARC/INFO User's Guide (Version 7). 1994. Redlands, CA. Welch, T.A. 1984, A Technique for High Performance Data Compression, IEEE Computer, Vol. 17, No. 6, pp. 8 - 19. 17.2 Journal Articles and Study Reports Sellers, P., and F. Hall. 1994. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: Experiment Plan. Version 1994-3.0, NASA BOREAS Report (EXPLAN 94). Sellers, P., and F. Hall. 1996. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: Experiment Plan. Version 1996-2.0, NASA BOREAS Report (EXPLAN 96). Sellers, P., F. Hall, and K. F. Huemmrich. 1996. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: 1994 Operations. NASA BOREAS Report (OPS DOC 94). Sellers, P., F. Hall, and K. F. Huemmrich. 1997. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: 1996 Operations. NASA BOREAS Report (OPS DOC 96). Sellers, P., F. Hall, H. Margolis, B. Kelly, D. Baldocchi, G. den Hartog, J. Cihlar, M. G. Ryan, B. Goodison, P. Crill, K. J. Ranson, D. Lettenmaier, and D. E. Wickland. 1995. The boreal ecosystem-atmosphere study (BOREAS): an overview and early results from the 1994 field year. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 76(9):1549-1577. Sellers, P.J., F.G. Hall, R.D. Kelly, A. Black, D. Baldocchi, J. Berry, M. Ryan, K.J. Ranson, P.M. Crill, D.P. Lettenmaier, H. Margolis, J. Cihlar, J. Newcomer, D. Fitzjarrald, P.G. Jarvis, S.T. Gower, D. Halliwell, D. Williams, B. Goodison, D.E. Wickland, and F.E. Guertin. 1997. BOREAS in 1997: Experiment overview, scientific results, and future directions. Journal of Geophysical Research 102(D24):28,731-28,769. 17.3 Archive/DBMS Usage Documentation None. 18. Glossary of Terms None. 19. List of Acronyms BOREAS - BOReal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study BORIS - BOREAS Information System DAAC - Distributed Active Archive Center EOS - Earth Observing System EOSDIS - EOS Data and Information System GAP - Growth Assessment Plots GSFC - Goddard Space Flight Center GIS - Geographic Information System MSA - Modeling Sub-Area NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration NSA - Northern Study Area ORNL - Oak Ridge National Laboratory PANP - Prince Albert National Park SERM - Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management SERM-FBIU - SERM-Forestry Branch Inventory Unit SSA - Southern Study Area URL - Uniform Resource Locator (a World Wide Web address) UTM - Universal Transverse Mercator 20. Document Information 20.1 Document Revision Dates Written: 01-Aug-1994 Last Updated: 23-Jan-1998 20.2 Document Review Dates BORIS Review: 15-May-1997 Science Review: 20.3 Document ID 20.4 Citation The original data were provided by SERM-FBIU. The vector data were processed and gridded by BORIS staff. The contribution of the vector data by SERM and the processing of the data by BORIS staff are greatly appreciated. 20.5 Document Curator 20.6 Document URL Keywords FOREST COVER FORESTRY FOREST INVENTORY GIS SSA_For_Cov_Vector.doc 04/17/98