Data Dictionary for
EVSC 362 - MLBS homework
project datasets
David Richardson, Instructor
Summer 2007
The following datasets are available for students of EVSC 362 : GIS Methods to use as part of their class homework projects. The filename and format of each dataset along with a brief metadata description of the contents is provided. See the metadata associated with each individual file, or additional text files included with homework datasets, for more information.
LIST OF DATASETS AND THEIR FILE FORMATS
Boundaries (in mlbsBounds directory) :
quadclip_u83 - ArcInfo vector Coverage
quads6_u83 - ArcInfo vector Coverage
mlbsproperty2 - shapefile
MLBS Infrastructure (in mlbsSITE_PLAT, _OTH, and _RES directories):
Buildings_fp2a - shapefile
Pond - shapefile
Spring - shapefile
Water_Storage - shapefile
Weather_Station - shapefile
GolfCourse - shapefile
Mlbsstru.dwg - AutoCAD Drawing
gps5avg_u83 - ArcInfo vector Coverage
prelim_trail1 - shapefile
MLBS Specific Research Areas (in mlbsSITE_RES and mlbsGPS directories):
research1a - shapefile
Conrad_2004 - shapefile
Gillette2001 - shapefile
Pedersen2002 - shapefile
Wang_A-D_2004 - shapefiles
Scanned Image of USGS Quadrangle Maps (in mlbsDRGs directory):
eggDRG.tif, .tfw - TIFF image and geolocated worldfile
intDRG.tif, .tfw - TIFF image and geolocated worldfile
lindDRG.tif, .tfw - TIFF image and geolocated worldfile
newDRG.tif, .tfw - TIFF image and geolocated worldfile
pearDRG.tif, .tfw - TIFF image and geolocated worldfile
waitDRG.tif, .tfw - TIFF image and geolocated worldfile
USGS Digital Elevation Models (in mlbsDEMs directory):
egg10mdem83 - ArcInfo raster Grid
int10mdem83 - ArcInfo raster Grid
lind30mdem83 - ArcInfo raster Grid
new10mdem83 - ArcInfo raster Grid
pear10mdem83 - ArcInfo raster Grid
wait30mdem83 - ArcInfo raster Grid
also see mlbsTOPO30 directory for mosaiced regional DEM
and other derived GIS layers.
Topographic Data derived from DEM (in mlbsTOPO30 directory):
mlbs_elev - ArcInfo raster Grid
mlbs_slope - ArcInfo raster Grid
mlbs_aspect16 - ArcInfo raster Grid
mlbs_aspect8 - ArcInfo raster Grid
mlbs_aspect4 - ArcInfo raster Grid
contours - shapefile
basins - shapefile
watershed - shapefile
streamnet - shapefile
Additional Hydrological Data (in Homework4 exercises):
dlr_subbasins - shapefile
dlr_sb_strms - shapefile
dlr_troutstrms - shapefile
USGS Digital Orthophoto Quarter-Quadrangle Aerial Photos
(in mlbsDOQs directory):
egglestonNE.sid, .sdw, .hdr, .html - MrSID image, worldfile, and metadata
interiorSE.sid, .sdw, .hdr, .html - MrSID image, worldfile, and metadata
newportNW.sid, .sdw, .hdr, .html - MrSID image, worldfile, and metadata
waitevilleSW.sid, .sdw, .hdr, .html - MrSID image, worldfile, and metadata
Satellite Imagery (in mlbsSPOTTM directory):
mlbs_landsat83.img, .rrd - ERDAS Imagine image file and header file
mlbs_spot83.img, .rrd - ERDAS Imagine image file and header file
Regional Landuse/Landcover (in mlbsNLCD and mlbsGAP
and mlbsMorton directories):
mlbsNLCD/mlbs_nlcd92 - ArcInfo raster Grid
mlbsNLCD/nlcdcodes.txt - ascii metadata (what the grid cell values mean)
mlbsGAP/mlbs_vagapu83 - ArcInfo raster Grid
mlbsGAP/mlbs_wvgapu83 - ArcInfo raster Grid
mlbsGAP/VAWVMDlc_codes.xls - MS excel metadata (what the grid cell values mean)
mlbsMorton/mlbs_landcov - ArcInfo raster Grid
mlbsMorton/MortonLCcodes.txt
- ascii metadata (what the
grid cell values mean)
VDOT regional transportation, utilities, and surface hydrology
(in mlbsVDOT directory):
mlbsvdot_bnd - ArcInfo vector Coverage
mlbsvdot_brd - ArcInfo vector Coverage
mlbsvdot_rds - ArcInfo vector Coverage
mlbsvdot_utl - ArcInfo vector Coverage
mlbsvdot_wat - ArcInfo vector Coverage
US Census regional data (in Tiger_clipped
directory):
citytown - shapefile
lmark_scc - shapefile
lmark_oth - shapefile
railroads - shapefile
roads - shapefile
streams - shapefile
utilities - shapefile
waterbody - shapefile
USFS Jefferson National Forest data (in USFS_clipped
directory):
bfd_AT - shapefile
bfd_roadless - shapefile
bfd_trails - shapefile
bfd_wilderness - shapefile
jnf_counties-c - shapefile
jnf_districts-c - shapefile
jnf_geology-c - shapefile
jnf_oldgrowth-c - shapefile
jnf_own-c - shapefile
jnf_roads-c - shapefile
jnf_soils-c - shapefile
jnf_stands-c - shapefile
jnf_streams-c - shapefile
jnf_trails-c - shapefile
jnf_streams-c - shapefile
jnf_troutstrm-c - shapefile
jnf_util-c - shapefile
jnf_water-c - shapefile
jnf_wetlands-c - shapefile
Projection Information
All datasets in this MLBS collection, unless otherwise noted, are in the same horizontal coordinate system using identical projections and spheroid models. This preferred coordinate/projection/spheroid system is:
Projection: UTM zone 17, units: meters
Spheroid: GRS80 - Geodetic Reference System 80
Datum: NAD83 - North American Datum 1983
BOUNDARIES:
quadclip_u83 - ArcInfo vector Coverage
This dataset was created from the "usgs75quads" shapefile of USGS quadrangle boundaries (see the STATES metadata dictionary for details). The six quadrangles surrounding Mountain Lake Biological Station and surrounding USFS lands where many research projects are located (a 3x2 box) were subset out, their internal boundaries removed, and the resulting box containing the so-called “Greater-Mountain-Lake-Study-Region” (for lack of a better name) was transformed into the preferred (UTM zone 17, nad83) coordinate system.
quads6_u83 - ArcInfo vector Coverage
Same as “quadclip_u83” above except that internal boundaries and individual USGS quadrangle names were retained (Pearisburg, Eggleston, Newport, Lindside, Interior, and Waiteville)
Additional Attributes:
Quadname : USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle name [text string]
mlbsproperty2 - shapefile
Property boundary of the University of Virginia’s Mountain Lake Biological Station, as obtained from MLBS (spring 2005), with the northern boundary adjusted to match USFS boundaries from MLBS gps data and USFS gis layers, then transformed into preferred (UTM zone 17, nad83) coordinate system.
MOUNTAIN LAKE INFRASTRUCTURE:
Buildings_fp2a - shapefile
This polygon shapefile shows the outlines of the various buildings and major structures located at MLBS as of 2005. Derived from the “Mlbsstru.dwg“ CAD survey plat data obtained from MLBS (spring 2005), edited for closure, and then converted into the preferred (UTM zone 17, nad83) projection system.
Additional Attributes:
Blg_name : building name or description [text string]
See Laura DeLarche’s “Metadata Report.htm” for more data
creation details.
Mlbsstru.dwg - AutoCAD Drawing
This AutoCAD Drawing File contains polygon, line, and point information showing a variety of information (buildings, water and power lines, contours, rock outcrops, roadways, tree locations, and other engineering information) from the official topographic survey of the MLBS property conducted in spring of 1991. Note that data is from the final plat or blueprint document such that labeling breaks or overlaps in lines and edges cause discontinuities in the underlying shapes. Data obtained from MLBS in Spring 2005 and unaltered, remains in original UTM zone 17, nad27 projection.
See Laura DeLarche’s “Metadata Report.htm” and Homework
#2’s Appendix 2 for more data creation details.
Pond - shapefile
This polygon shapefile shows the location of the station’s permanent constructed pond (not THE “Mountain Lake” that is outside of the MLBS property). Obtained as “Station/Other_Features/Pond.shp” from MLBS (spring 2005) and noted as “work-in-progress” by Eric Nagy (July 2004), and then converted into the preferred (UTM zone 17, nad83) projection system.
Spring - shapefile
This point shapefile shows the spring that supplies the station’s freshwater. Obtained as “Station/Other_Features/Spring.shp” from MLBS (spring 2005) and noted as “work-in-progress” by Eric Nagy (July 2004), and then converted into the preferred (UTM zone 17, nad83) projection system.
Water_Storage - shapefile
This point shapefile shows the location of the station’s water storage tanks. Obtained as “Station/Other_Features/Water_Storage.shp” from MLBS (spring 2005) and noted as “work-in-progress” by Eric Nagy (July 2004), and then converted into the preferred (UTM zone 17, nad83) projection system.
Weather_Station - shapefile
This polygon shapefile shows the location of the station’s weather station. Obtained as “Station/Other_Features/Weather_Station.shp” from MLBS (spring 2005) and noted as “work-in-progress” by Eric Nagy (July 2004), and then converted into the preferred (UTM zone 17, nad83) projection system.
GolfCourse - shapefile
This line shapefile shows the outside boundary of the nearby golfcourse used in some forest edge population studies. Obtained as “Station/Other_Features/Golfcourse.shp” from MLBS (spring 2005) and noted as “work-in-progress” by Eric Nagy (July 2004), and then converted into the preferred (UTM zone 17, nad83) projection system.
gps5avg_u83 – ArcInfo coverage
This point coverage contains the GPS locations of various research areas, trails, and other points of interest as collected by various MLBS researchers. For those locations recorded multiple times and thus having multiple clustered locations, the “average” location (minus any obvious outlying errors) was used as the single “final” location. Created from GPS points shapefiles and MS excel files obtained from MLBS (2005) and described in Laura DeLarche’s “Metadata Report.htm”, and then converted into the preferred (UTM zone 17, nad83) projection system (which down to the submeter scale is the same as the WGS 1984 coordinate system used by all GPS satellites and receivers).
Additional Attributes:
Feature : GPS benchmark/monument name [text string]
Elev : Elevation of benchmark/monument in meters above sea level [number]
Comment : Description of feature, often including associated trail names [text string]
See Laura DeLarche’s “Metadata Report.htm” for more data
creation details.
prelim_trail1 - shapefile
This line shapefile shows the location of various trails within and extending out of the MLBS station property and used to access various research areas. Data is based on the MLBS GPS network (from “gps5avg_u83” average-location GPS coverage above, MLBS, spring 2005), visible traces on DOQQs, and paper USGS quad maps. Data still needs to be field checked; until then some drawn trails may be very inaccurate or non-existant. As one test, a few trails digitized or acquired from the Blacksburg R.D. as part of the MLBS-USFS GIS project line up well with the traced lines (traced independently of the data from Blacksburg).
See Laura DeLarche’s “Metadata Report.htm” for more data
creation details.
MLBS SPECIFIC RESEARCH AREAS:
research1a - shapefile
This point shapefile shows the location of many of the research sites at MLBS as recorded using GPS by various MLBS researchers. This is a subset of the “gps5avg_u83” average-location GPS coverage above and contains only listed research sites, not the full GPS/trail network.
Additional Attributes:
Feature : GPS benchmark/monument name [text string]
Elev : Elevation of benchmark/monument in meters above sea level [number]
Comment : Description of feature [text string]
Focus : General topic of research associated with site [text string]
Contact : Name of contact person concerning project and data details [text string]
See Laura DeLarche’s “Metadata Report.htm” and included “resdesc.txt” for more data
creation details.
Conrad_2004 - shapefile
This point shapefile shows the location of salamander plots set up by Mark Grover and Erikka Conrad, UVA, in 2004. Obtained from MLBS (spring 2005) and noted as “work-in-progress” by Eric Nagy (July 2004), and then converted into the preferred (UTM zone 17, nad83) projection system.
Additional Attributes:
Comment : Description (point-ID) of feature [text string]
Focus : General topic of research associated with site [text string]
Contact : Name of contact person concerning project and data details [text string]
See included “resdesc.txt” for more data creation
details.
Gillette2001 - shapefile
This polygon shapefile shows the location of salamander plots set up by Jennifer Gillette, UVA, in 2001. Obtained from MLBS (spring 2005) and noted as “work-in-progress” by Eric Nagy (July 2004), and then converted into the preferred (UTM zone 17, nad83) projection system.
Additional Attributes:
Comment : Description (plot #) of feature [text string]
Focus : General topic of research associated with site [text string]
Contact : Name of contact person concerning project and data details [text string]
See included “resdesc.txt” for more data creation
details.
Pedersen2002 - shapefile
This polygon shapefile shows the location of small mammal grids plots set up by Amy Pedersen, UVA, in 2002. Obtained from MLBS (spring 2005) and noted as “work-in-progress” by Eric Nagy (July 2004), and then converted into the preferred (UTM zone 17, nad83) projection system.
Additional Attributes:
Comment : Description (grid #) of feature [text string]
Focus : General topic of research associated with site [text string]
Contact : Name of contact person concerning project and data details [text string]
See included “resdesc.txt” for more data creation
details.
Wang_A-D_2004 - shapefiles
These four point shapefiles show the location of research transects set up in 2004. Obtained from MLBS (spring 2005) and noted as “work-in-progress” by Eric Nagy (July 2004), and then converted into the preferred (UTM zone 17, nad83) projection system.
Additional Attributes:
Comment : Description (point-ID) of feature [text string]
See included “resdesc.txt” for more data creation
details.
SCANNED USGS QUADRANGLE MAPS:
eggDRG - TIFF image and accompanying geolocated TFW worldfile
Color image of the Eggleston, VA, USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle map (1965, photorevised 1985). This image was aquired from UVA’s Geospatial and Statistical Data Center and was originally created by the USGS. Detailed metadata available at “http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/gis/vagaz/”. Image was later transformed from UTM zone17, NAD27, meters into preferred UTM zone17, NAD83, meters coordinate system.
intDRG - TIFF image and accompanying geolocated TFW worldfile
Color image of the Interior, VA-WV, USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle map (1965, photorevised 1983). Details same as “eggDRG” above.
lindDRG - TIFF image and accompanying geolocated TFW worldfile
Color image of the Lindside, WV-VA, USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle map (1965, photorevised 1979). Details same as “eggDRG” above.
newDRG - TIFF image and accompanying geolocated TFW worldfile
Color image of the Newport, VA, USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle map (1965, photorevised 1985). Details same as “eggDRG” above.
pearDRG - TIFF image and accompanying geolocated TFW worldfile
Color image of the Pearisburg, VA, USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle map (1965, photorevised 1985). Details same as “eggDRG” above.
waitDRG - TIFF image and accompanying geolocated TFW worldfile
Color image of the Waiteville, WV-VA, USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle map (1965, photorevised 1985). Details same as “eggDRG” above.
USGS DIGITAL ELEVATION MODELS (DEMs):
also see mlbsTOPO30 directory for mosaiced regional DEM
and other derived GIS layers.
egg10mdem83 - ArcInfo raster Grid
USGS DEM for Eggleston, VA Quadrangle. 10m horizontal (grid cell) resolution, vertical units = meters, Vertical Datum: NGVD 1929, vertical resolution to the nearest meter. This dataset was acquired from UVA’s Geospatial and Statistical Data Center and was originally created by the USGS. Detailed metadata available at “http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/ gis/vagaz/”. Grid was later transformed from UTM zone17, NAD27, meters, into preferred UTM zone17, NAD83, meters coordinate system.
int10mdem83 - ArcInfo raster Grid
new10mdem83 - ArcInfo raster Grid
pear10mdem83 - ArcInfo raster Grid
USGS DEMs for Interior, VA-WV / Newport, VA / Pearisburg, VA Quadrangles. Details same as “egg10mdem83” above.
lind30mdem83 - ArcInfo raster Grid
USGS DEM for Lindside, WV-VA Quadrangle. 30m horizontal (grid cell) resolution, vertical units = meters, Vertical Datum: NGVD 1929, vertical resolution to the nearest meter. This dataset was acquired from the West Virginia GIS Technical Center at West Virginia University (http://wvgis.wvu.edu//data/data.php) and was originally created by the USGS. Note that 10m DEMs were not available for the two majority WV quadrangles. Grid was later transformed from UTM zone17, NAD27, meters, into preferred UTM zone17, NAD83, meters coordinate system.
wait10mdem83 - ArcInfo raster Grid
USGS DEM for Waiteville, WV-VA Quadrangle. Details same as “lind30mdem83” above.
TOPOGRAPHIC DATA DERIVED FROM DEM:
mlbs_elev - ArcInfo raster Grid
Composite 30m horizontal (grid cell) resolution DEM of all six USGS quadrangles in “greater” MLBS area. Vertical units = meters, Vertical Datum: NGVD 1929, vertical resolution to the nearest meter. All internal sinks “filled” prior to release. Data was acquired from MLBS (2005). The only alteration was converting to the preferred projection.
See Laura DeLarche’s “Metadata Report.htm” for more data
creation details.
See “mlbsgridnotes.txt” for a list of known problems.
mlbs_slope - ArcInfo raster Grid
DEM-derived slope (in degrees) based on the 30m
resolution composite MLBS-area DEM “mlbs_elev” cited above. Data was acquired from MLBS (2005). The only alteration was converting to the
preferred projection.
See Laura DeLarche’s “Metadata Report.htm” for more data
creation details.
See “mlbsgridnotes.txt” for a list of known problems.
mlbs_aspect16 - ArcInfo raster Grid
DEM-derived aspect (in degrees 0-360, -1 = flat) based on
the 30m resolution composite MLBS-area DEM “mlbs_elev” cited above. Data was acquired from MLBS (2005). The only alteration was converting to the
preferred projection.
See Laura DeLarche’s “Metadata Report.htm” for more data
creation details.
See “mlbsgridnotes.txt” for a list of known problems.
mlbs_aspect4, mlbs_aspect8 - ArcInfo raster Grids
DEM-derived aspect based on the 30m resolution composite
MLBS-area DEM “mlbs_elev” and “mlbs_aspect16” cited above. Data was created by Dave Richardson (2005).
Additional Attributes:
mlbs_aspect4 was coded to
lump into blocks those areas where the aspect faced primarily north
(315°-45°),
east (45°-135°), south (135°-225°), or west (225°-315°) and coded as 1, 2, 3,
or 4 respectively (or as -1 = flat).
mlbs_aspect8 was coded into 8 rather than 4 blocks of areas where the aspect faced primarily
N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW and coded 1 through 8 respectively (or as -1 = flat).
contours - shapefile
DEM-derived contour lines based on the 30m resolution
composite MLBS-area DEM “mlbs_elev” cited above. Vertical contour spacing is in 20m-intervals. Data was acquired from MLBS (2005). The only alteration was converting to the preferred
projection.
See Laura DeLarche’s “Metadata Report.htm” for more data
creation details.
See “mlbsgridnotes.txt” for a list of known problems.
basins - shapefile
DEM-derived “river basins” (areas that all drain to the
same “exit point” off of the grid) based on the 30m resolution composite
MLBS-area DEM “mlbs_elev” cited above.
Data was acquired from MLBS (2005) and is based on Laura DeLarche’s work
using ArcGIS hydrological functions.
Many small “edge” basins present that may ultimately join up into the
same “true” river basin outside of the study area. The only alteration was converting to the preferred projection.
See Laura DeLarche’s “Metadata Report.htm” for more data
creation details.
See “mlbsgridnotes.txt” for a list of known problems.
watershed - shapefile
DEM-derived “watersheds” (areas that all drain to/past
the same point within a river basin, essentially subbasins) based on the 30m
resolution composite MLBS-area DEM “mlbs_elev” cited above. Data was acquired from MLBS (2005) and is
based on Laura DeLarche’s work using ArcGIS hydrological functions. Every stream segment in the “streamnet”
shapefile has its own (one or many) watershed(s). The only alteration was converting to the preferred projection.
See Laura DeLarche’s “Metadata Report.htm” for more data
creation details.
See “mlbsgridnotes.txt” for a list of known problems.
streamnet - shapefile
DEM-derived “stream paths” (not actual perennial flowing
streams, but close) that trace the theoretical downslope overland flow paths
based on the 30m resolution composite MLBS-area DEM “mlbs_elev” cited
above. Data was acquired from MLBS
(2005) and is based on Laura DeLarche’s work using ArcGIS hydrological
functions. Minimum contributing area
prior to inclusion as a “stream cell” is unknown. The only additional alteration was converting to the preferred
projection.
See Laura DeLarche’s “Metadata Report.htm” for more data
creation details.
See “mlbsgridnotes.txt” for a list of known problems.
ADDITIONAL HYDROLOGICAL DATA:
dlr_subbasins – shapefile
A polygon shapefile showing the major drainage basin watersheds of the major creeks surrounding MLBS: Stony Creek, Dry Branch, Little Stony Creek, Doe Creek, Sinking Creek, Johns Creek, and those bits of land with small streams that drain directly into the New River without first flowing into one of the above creeks. Based on “mlbs_elev” 30m DEM and original USGS quadrangle maps.
Additional Attributes:
Basinname1: local watershed name (Stony Creek, Dry Branch, Little Stony Creek, Doe Creek,
Sinking Creek, Johns Creek, or New River Banks)
Drainage1: name of major river drainage (James River Watershed or New River Watershed)
dlr_sb_strms – shapefile
A line shapefile showing all the streams that fall within “dlr_subbasins”. All streams have been assigned to a stream CLASS coded by letter to represent Perennial, Spring-fed, Intermittent, and Ephemeral streams. This includes all those streams surveyed by GPS and classified in the field by USFS personnel (the jnf_streams-c shapefile that can be found in the “streamwork” directory), but also includes streams and creeks not included in that dataset because they fell outside JNF lands. These streams were augmented with streams found in the TIGER dataset, plus streams that could be derived from hydrological analysis of the 30m DEM based on minimum flow accumulations of 20, 50, 75, and 100 “upstream” contributing area pixels. The values used were chosen by comparison with how well they agreed with the Ephemeral and Intermittent stream classes within the JNF dataset. All data was combined and edited by a repetitive process of buffering to assign attribute values, coincidence and intersection of the lines, and manually cleaning up and recoding the streams so that those areas outside the JNF approximate in detail and pattern those found inside the JNF. This was so that a coherent dataset could be used for class purposes… research purposes would require field checking to validate or replace the generated streams and their attributes.
dlr_troutstrms – shapefile
A line shapefile showing those streams where there are populations of trout present. In a similar fashion as with dlr_sb_strms, the surveyed streams of JNF were augmented with additional (usually downstream) streams chosen to duplicate the pattern of trout streams found in the JNF dataset. No coding of attribute data here is important; ALL streams in the dataset are assumed to contain trout.
USGS DIGITAL ORTHOPHOTO QUARTER-QUADRANGLES:
egglestonNE, interiorSE, newportNW, waitevilleSW – MrSID images with worldfiles
False-color infrared aerial photos of each of the four quadrangle quarters that surround MLBS (which sits near and crosses out of the NE corner of the Eggleston quadrangle), produced by USGS. 1 meter horizontal resolution. Images remain in the orginal distributed UTM zone 17, meters, NAD83 projection. Note that in false color infrared photography, lush green vegetation appears red, dry bare soil appears pale to white, grass pink, bodies of water appear blue to black, many paved or developed surfaces appear gray, and shadows are also still visible. These images were aquired from UVA’s Geospatial and Statistical Data Center and were originally created by the USGS and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. Detailed metadata available at “http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/gis/vagaz/”. Dates for photos are as follows: Newport NW = 12 April 1998 (SE was 1963); Interior SE = 27 March 1997; Waiteville SW = 27 March 1997; Eggleston NE = unknown (SW was 12-4-98, others unknown).
SATELLITE IMAGERY:
mlbs_landsat83 – ERDAS Imagine image file and header file.
This image is a multiband 30m resolution Thematic Mapper image from the NASA Landsat satellites and is the result of clipping an original landsat scene to the USFS/VA Tech study region. Original LANDSAT imagery obtained from the digital library at the Virginia Tech Fish & Wildlife Information Exchange; clipped image obtained from MLBS in 2005. Date of LANDSAT image unknown. The only additional alteration was converting the projection units from NAD27 to NAD83. NOTE: to display the image as a “Natural Color Image” (the way the human eye would see the surface), you need to display the image as a natural-color composite using bands 1 (blue), 2 (green), and 3 (red). To display it as a False-Color Infrared image, use bands 2 (blue), 3 (green), and 4 (red).
See Laura DeLarche’s “Metadata Report.htm” for more data
creation details.
mlbs_spot83 – ERDAS Imagine image file and header file.
This image is a black and white 10m resolution SPOT Panchromatic (PN) single-band image that is the result of the combination of two SPOT scenes that were combined and then clipped within the USFS/VA Tech study region. Original SPOT imagery obtained from the digital library at the Virginia Tech Fish & Wildlife Information Exchange; combined image obtained from MLBS in 2005. Date of SPOT images unknown. The only additional alteration was converting the projection units from NAD27 to NAD83.
See Laura DeLarche’s “Metadata Report.htm” for more data
creation details.
REGIONAL LANDUSE/LANDCOVER:
mlbs_nlcd92 - ArcInfo raster Grid
This raster grid shows the dominant broadly generalized vegetative communities (or dominant land use in developed and agrarian systems) in the “greater” MLBS area. Examples of landcover types include "decideous forest", “swamp”, and “open water”. Examples of land use include “row crops”, “pastures”, and “high intensity development”. Data acquired from UVA’s Geospatial and Statistical Data Center (see “http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/gis/nlcd/ index.html”) for the following three VA counties that cover most of the regional study area: Giles, Craig, and Montgomery Cos. WV statewide data (Monroe Co. in study area) was obtained from the West Virginia GIS Technical Center at West Virginia University (http://wvgis.wvu.edu/ data/data.php). County data was combined and then cropped using “quadclip_u83” greater study region boundary and finally reprojected into the preferred coordinate system. VA Dataset reflects ground condition during the 1986-1994 period, WV for 1992.
Additional Attributes:
mlbs_vagapu83, mlbs_wvgapu83 - ArcInfo raster Grids
These raster grids show the dominant generalized vegetative communities (or dominant land use in developed and agrarian systems) in the “greater” MLBS area. Examples of landcover types include "mixed central hardwood forest", “montane mesic coniferous forest”, and “coastal shrub”. Examples of land use include “fields”, “recent clearcut”, and “residential”. VA, WV, and MD data originally acquired from state GAP distribution sites, currently available from the national archive (see “http://gapanalysis.nbii.gov/”). State data was not combined but was cropped using “quadclip_u83” greater study region boundary and finally reprojected into the preferred coordinate system. VA dataset reflects ground condition during the 1986-1994 period, 1992-1994 for WV, 1991-1993 for MD/DE/NJ.
Additional Attributes:
mlbs_landcov - ArcInfo raster Grid
This raster grid shows the dominant broadly generalized vegetative communities (or dominant land use in developed and agrarian systems) in the “greater” MLBS area. Landcover classifications were derived from Dave Morton's 1997 Masters thesis data, and was obtained from the digital library at the Virginia Tech Fish & Wildlife Information Exchange. Data was reprojected into the preferred coordinate system.
Additional Attributes:
See Laura DeLarche’s “Metadata Report.htm” for more data
creation details.
VDOT REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION, UTILITIES, AND SURFACE
HYDROLOGY:
mlbsvdot_bnd - ArcInfo vector Coverage
This polygon coverage contains the VDOT administrative districts for the “greater” MLBS area. Data acquired from UVA’s Geospatial and Statistical Data Center (see “http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/gis/vdotbase/”) in 2005 and then clipped using the “quadclip_u83” greater study region boundary and reprojected into the preferred coordinate system. Districts current as of as of December 31, 1997.
Additional Attributes:
Boundary-att: name of VDOT administrative district [text string]
mlbsvdot_brd - ArcInfo vector Coverage
This line coverage contains the VDOT maintained bridges in the “greater” MLBS area. Data acquired from UVA’s Geospatial and Statistical Data Center (see “http://fisher.lib. virginia.edu/collections/gis/vdotbase/”) in 2005 and then clipped and reprojected as above. Bridges current as of as of December 31, 1997.
Additional Attributes:
mlbsvdot_rds - ArcInfo vector Coverage
This line coverage contains the VDOT maintained roads in the “greater” MLBS area. Data acquired from UVA’s Geospatial and Statistical Data Center (see “http:// fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/gis/vdotbase/”) in 2005 and then clipped and reprojected as above. Roads current as of as of December 31, 1997. When using this coverage, BE SURE to use the LINE feature with their attributes and NOT the polygons (which are areas between roads and do not show “dead-end” internal lines!!!
Additional Attributes:
Route-name: highway name (ex. interstate I-81, US 340, county road SC 636)
Route: highway number (ex. 81, 340, 636)
mlbsvdot_utl - ArcInfo vector Coverage
This line coverage contains the railroads, long-distance electrical transmission lines, airports, and/or possibly some large gas pipelines in the “greater” MLBS area. Data acquired from UVA’s Geospatial and Statistical Data Center (see “http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/ collections/gis/vdotbase/”) in 2005 and then clipped and reprojected as above. Utilities current as of as of December 31, 1997.
Additional Attributes:
mlbsvdot_wat - ArcInfo vector Coverage
This coverage contains both line and polygon features. The polygons represent large bodies of open water, either lakes, ponds, reservoirs, or wide rivers. The lines represent streams and rivers, plus the banks of large rivers and lakes. Data acquired from UVA’s Geospatial and Statistical Data Center (see “http:// fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/gis/vdotbase/”) in 2005 and then clipped and reprojected as above. Water bodies current as of as of December 31, 1997.
Additional Attributes:
US CENSUS REGIONAL DATA:
citytown – shapefile
Polygon shapefile showing boundaries of incorporated towns (Blacksburg, Pearisburg, Pembroke) from the 1995 TIGER data from the US Census Bureau (obtained from MLBS 2005 and UVA-Geostat 2005).
Additional Attributes:
Name : name of city or town [text string]
lmark_scc, lmark_oth - shapefiles
Point shapefiles showing the location of schools, churches, cemeteries, and other landmarks within the 6-quad study region. Majority of the data is from the 1995 TIGER data from the US Census Bureau (obtained from MLBS 2005 and UVA-Geostat 2005), but additional features visible on USGS DRGs not in TIGER data were screen digitized and added in for consistency and inclusiveness. Schools, churches, and cemeteries in the “_scc” shapefile, assorted other landmarks in the “_oth” shapefile. (Note: 104 points in MLBS’s version of the census data, 135 in this points-added version. Mostly added cemeteries, hiking shelters, river gauging stations, post offices, and theaters).
Additional Attributes:
Feature : name or type of landmark [text string]
Cfcc : TIGER census feature code [text string], see “cfcc_redme.txt” for code descriptions
railroads – shapefile
Line shapefile showing railroads from the 1995 TIGER data from the US Census Bureau (obtained from MLBS 2005 and UVA-Geostat 2005).
Additional Attributes:
Name : name of rail line (owner) [text string]
Cfcc : TIGER census feature code [text string], see “cfcc_redme.txt” for code descriptions
roads – shapefile
Line shapefile showing streets and roads from the 1995 TIGER data from the US Census Bureau (obtained from MLBS 2005 and UVA-Geostat 2005).
Additional Attributes:
Streetname : name of street or road [text string]
Type : street, road, lane, circle, etc. [text string]
Cfcc : TIGER census feature code [text string], see “cfcc_redme.txt” for code descriptions
streams – shapefile
Line shapefile showing perennial streams and rivers from the 1995 TIGER data from the US Census Bureau (obtained from MLBS 2005 and UVA-Geostat 2005).
Additional Attributes:
Name : name of stream or river [text string]
Cfcc : TIGER census feature code [text string], see “cfcc_redme.txt” for code descriptions
utilities – shapefile
Line shapefile showing long-distance electrical transmission lines from the 1995 TIGER data from the US Census Bureau (obtained from MLBS 2005 and UVA-Geostat 2005).
Additional Attributes:
Name : name (unnamed) [text string]
Cfcc : TIGER census feature code [text string], see “cfcc_redme.txt” for code descriptions
waterbody – shapefile
Polygon shapefile showing outlines (banks) of large rivers and lakes from the 1995 TIGER data from the US Census Bureau (obtained from MLBS 2005 and UVA-Geostat 2005).
Additional Attributes:
Name : name of river or lake [text string]
Cfcc : TIGER census feature code [text string], see “cfcc_redme.txt” for code descriptions
USFS JEFFERSON NATIONAL FOREST DATA:
jnf_counties-c – shapefile
Polygon shapefile showing state and county political boundaries from the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests GIS system (obtained from MLBS 2005 and the GWNF & JNF GIS data homepage (http://www.fs.fed.us/gwjnf/ gisdatadictionary.html) 2005). Data have been CLIPPED to include just that data within the six-quad “greater MLBS study region” and reprojected into the preferred coordinate system.
Additional Attributes:
County_Nam : county name [text string]
State_Name : state name [text string]
Name : county or town name [text string]
jnf_districts-c – shapefile
Polygon shapefile showing national forest and ranger district administrative boundaries from the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests GIS system (obtained from MLBS 2005 and the GWNF & JNF GIS data homepage (http://www.fs.fed.us/gwjnf/gisdatadictionary .html) 2005). Data have been CLIPPED to include just that data within the six-quad “greater MLBS study region” and reprojected into the preferred coordinate system.
Additional Attributes:
Admin_fore : administering forest unit [text string]
Ranger_dis : ranger district [text string]
Region : USFS region (8 = southern region) [number]
Proclaimed : National Forest (Jefferson or George Washington) [text string]
jnf_own-c – shapefile
Polygon shapefile showing areas under Jefferson National Forest ownership (obtained from MLBS 2005 and the GWNF & JNF GIS data homepage (http://www.fs.fed.us/gwjnf/ gisdatadictionary.html) 2005). Data have been CLIPPED to include just that data within the six-quad “greater MLBS study region” and reprojected into the preferred coordinate system.
Additional Attributes:
jnf_roads-c – shapefile
Line shapefile showing roads within the Jefferson National Forest and surrounding areas (obtained from MLBS 2005 and the GWNF & JNF GIS data homepage (http://www.fs.fed.us/ gwjnf/gisdatadictionary.html) 2005). Data have been CLIPPED to include just that data within the six-quad “greater MLBS study region” and reprojected into the preferred coordinate system. Note that this “roads” coverage contains many more roads within the national forest than does the U.S. Census’s TIGERfile roads but also does not contain a few found within the TIGERfile roads. Both include roads not maintained by VDOT and are thus both much more extensive.
Additional Attributes:
jnf_geology-c – shapefile
Polygon shapefile showing geologic formations and their characteristics underlying the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests (obtained from MLBS 2005 and the GWNF & JNF GIS data homepage (http://www.fs.fed.us/gwjnf/gisdatadictionary.html) 2005). Data have been CLIPPED to include just that data within the six-quad “greater MLBS study region” and reprojected into the preferred coordinate system.
Additional Attributes:
Fmsymbol : Formation Symbol [text string]
Fmname : Formation Name [text string]
Period : geologic period of formation (age) [text string]
Primary_li : primary lithology – rock type [text string]
Secondary_ : secondary lithology – rock type [text string]
Tertiary_l : tertiary lithology – primary rock type [text string]
Acid_dep_s : Susceptibility to acid deposition [text string], ex. a high level of susceptibility
results from a lack of buffering ability (acid neutralizing capacity) and can leave soil and
streams vulnerable to becoming more highly acidified due to acid rain, mine discharge,
and soil disturbance-related increased weathering processes that may introduce water
with increased acidity into the streams.
jnf_soils-c – shapefile
Polygon shapefile showing soil units and characterizations from County Soil Surveys for stands within the Jefferson National Forest (obtained from MLBS 2005 and the GWNF & JNF GIS data homepage (http://www.fs.fed.us/gwjnf/ gisdatadictionary.html) 2005). Data have been CLIPPED to include just that data within the six-quad “greater MLBS study region” and reprojected into the preferred coordinate system. Note that besides the soilunit code, most other attribute data is missing, AND that despite USFS note that soilunit code abbreviations match abbreviations from County Soil Surveys, they in fact do NOT match codes looked up in the Giles and Montgomery Survey Maps.
Additional Attributes:
Soilunit : soil unit code [text string], note that PVT = private land, uncategorized by USFS
jnf_stands-c – shapefile
Polygon shapefile showing forest stands within the Jefferson National Forest (obtained from MLBS 2005 and the GWNF & JNF GIS data homepage (http://www.fs.fed.us/gwjnf/ gisdatadictionary.html) 2005). Data have been CLIPPED to include just that data within the six-quad “greater MLBS study region” and reprojected into the preferred coordinate system. Additional Attributes:
Age_Year : year of stand initiation (post-disturbance) [number]
For_Type : forest type code [number], note that 0 = private land, uncategorized by USFS
Land_Class : land use classification code [number], incl. timber management suitability and
areas reserved primarily for wildlife and recreation.
jnf_oldgrowth-c – shapefile
Polygon shapefile showing stands of (probable) old growth timber surveyed within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests (obtained from MLBS 2005 and the GWNF & JNF GIS data homepage (http://www.fs.fed.us/gwjnf/gisdatadictionary.html) 2005). Data have been CLIPPED to include just that data within the six-quad “greater MLBS study region” and reprojected into the preferred coordinate system.
Additional Attributes:
bfd_wilderness – shapefile
Polygon shapefile showing wilderness areas within the Jefferson National Forest from the Blacksburg Ranger District GIS system (obtained from MLBS 2005). Data have been CLIPPED to include just that data within the six-quad “greater MLBS study region” and reprojected into the preferred coordinate system.
Additional Attributes:
Area_Name : name of designated wilderness area [text string]
bfd_roadless - shapefile
Polygon shapefile showing proposed roadless areas within the Jefferson National Forest from the Blacksburg Ranger District GIS system (obtained from MLBS 2005). Data have been CLIPPED to include just that data within the six-quad “greater MLBS study region” and reprojected into the preferred coordinate system.
Additional Attributes:
Area_Name : name of proposed roadless area [text string]
jnf_water-c – shapefile
Polygon shapefile showing ponds and lakes within the Jefferson National Forest (obtained from MLBS 2005 and the GWNF & JNF GIS data homepage (http://www.fs.fed.us/ gwjnf/gisdatadictionary.html) 2005). Data have been CLIPPED to include just that data within the six-quad “greater MLBS study region” and reprojected into the preferred coordinate system.
Additional Attributes:
WB_type : type of water body [number]
WB_name : name of water body [text string], note that many ponds do not have names.
jnf_wetlands-c – shapefile
Polygon shapefile showing permanent wetlands within the Jefferson National Forest (obtained from MLBS 2005 and the GWNF & JNF GIS data homepage (http://www.fs.fed.us/ gwjnf/gisdatadictionary.html) 2005). Data have been CLIPPED to include just that data within the six-quad “greater MLBS study region” and reprojected into the preferred coordinate system.
Additional Attributes:
jnf_streams-c – shapefile
Line shapefile showing streams within the Jefferson National Forest (obtained from MLBS 2005 and the GWNF & JNF GIS data homepage (http://www.fs.fed.us/gwjnf/ gisdatadictionary.html) 2005). Data have been CLIPPED to include just that data within the six-quad “greater MLBS study region” and reprojected into the preferred coordinate system. Note that the degree of detail varies from area to area, with many more small ephemeral and intermediate streams recorded in the northeast and north central portions of the study area.
See also description of “dlr_sb_strms” in “additional hydrologic data” above.
Additional Attributes:
jnf_troutstrm-c – shapefile
Line shapefile showing streams within the Jefferson National Forest that serve as trout habitat (obtained from MLBS 2005 and the GWNF & JNF GIS data homepage (http://www. fs.fed.us/gwjnf/gisdatadictionary.html) 2005). Data have been CLIPPED to include just that data within the six-quad “greater MLBS study region” and reprojected into the preferred coordinate system. Note that while almost all other line type attribute fields are present, there is no “trout specific” attributes associated with this shapefile... just that if a line is in this shapefile, trout are assumed present. See also description of “dlr_ troutstrms” in “additional hydrologic data” above.
jnf_trails-c – shapefile
Line shapefile showing trials within the Jefferson National Forest (obtained from MLBS 2005 and the GWNF & JNF GIS data homepage (http://www.fs.fed.us/gwjnf/ gisdatadictionary.html) 2005). Data have been CLIPPED to include just that data within the six-quad “greater MLBS study region” and reprojected into the preferred coordinate system. Note that the degree of detail varies from area to area, with many more small ephemeral and intermediate streams recorded in the northeast and north central portions of the study area.
See also description of “dlr_sb_strms” in “additional hydrologic data” above.
Additional Attributes:
Trail_no : trail ID number [text string]
Trail_name : trail name [text string], note that many trails do not have names nor other use nor
condition data.
bfd_trails – shapefile
Line shapefile showing trails within the Jefferson National Forest from the Blacksburg Ranger District GIS system (obtained from MLBS 2005). Data have been CLIPPED to include just that data within the six-quad “greater MLBS study region” and reprojected into the preferred coordinate system.
Additional Attributes:
bfd_AT - shapefile
Polygon shapefile showing areas set aside, managed for, or associated with the Appalachian Trail within the Jefferson National Forest from the Blacksburg Ranger District GIS system (obtained from MLBS 2005). Data have been CLIPPED to include just that data within the six-quad “greater MLBS study region” and reprojected into the preferred coordinate system. Note the AT itself and many other trails are located in the “bfd_trails” shapefile above.
Additional Attributes:
jnf_util-c – shapefile
Line shapefile showing utility corridors within the Jefferson National Forest (obtained from MLBS 2005 and the GWNF & JNF GIS data homepage (http://www.fs.fed.us/gwjnf/ gisdatadictionary.html) 2005). Data have been CLIPPED to include just that data within the six-quad “greater MLBS study region” and reprojected into the preferred coordinate system.
Additional Attributes:
Line_type : type of utility (power lines, gas pipelines, etc.) [text string]