Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS

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4 Accuracy Assessment and Additional Map Classes The Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC) team completed the vegetation map database by coordinating field collection of accuracy assessment observations; developing the accuracy statistics for the base map classes; developing the group, macrogroup, and management map classes; and developing accuracy assessment statistics for those map schemas. In this step, the team used the accuracy assessment guidelines and protocols developed by the USGS- NPS Vegetation Mapping Program (Environmental Systems Research Institute et al. 1994). They developed the accuracy assessment by comparing the performance of base map class polygons, as mapped, with field-collected data at the location of those polygons. 4.1 Methods To conduct the accuracy assessment, the team: (1) developed a sampling design, (2) collected field data with on-theground field sampling (reference data), and (3) developed map performance statistics. As is common practice when measuring uncertainty in mapped classes, a sample of polygon locations representing each map class (the sample data) was compared to the reference data. The higher-level group, macrogroup, and management map classes consisted of aggregations of base map classes. They were assessed using the same reference data as for the base map. Finally, the team developed summary statistics describing the characteristics of the base, group, macrogroup, and management map classes. 4.1.1 Field Sampling Design The map database, with base map classes, was made available to the SBSC team for accuracy assessment in two separate shapefiles. The initial shapefile represented the northern half of the park, and the final shapefile consisted of the entire park, including the southern half. Although it is ideal to develop a sampling design using a complete map database, the full map database was not available until the late summer months. Prior to developing the sample design, the SBSC team checked the topology and data structure of each map section for node and label errors. The team generally limited accuracy assessment sampling to within the park boundaries. With the approval of park managers, the team did not field assess land use and non-vegetated map classes. These map classes are well known and often easier to identify on the aerial photography than the vegetated classes, and the field team had limited fieldseason time to sample the vegetated map classes. All vegetated map classes, including park specials and those based on photointerpretation alone, were included in the accuracy assessment sampling design. The SBSC team used the “scenario” table recommended by the Vegetation Mapping Program (ESRI et al. 1994) to estimate the number of sample sites needed for each map class in order to achieve a statistical measure of class accuracy with a confidence level of 90% and an acceptable sample error of 10%. Each scenario was based on the number of polygons and total area of a map class. The team assigned each map class to one of five different scenarios to determine the target number of sampling sites needed (table 9). Depending upon its scenario assignment, a map class could include between 1 and 30 sampling sites. The team developed the sampling design for the park in two stages. To compensate for the northern half containing only a portion of all park polygons, the team reduced the initial number of sample sites for that section by multiplying the portion of the total map that the section represented by the target number of sample sites determined through the scenario table. This allowed 33
Vegetation Classification and Distribution Mapping Report: Petrified Forest National Park Table 9. Sampling design scenarios used to determine the target number of field accuracy assessment observation sites. Scenario Class Area Number of Polygons Sample Size A Abundant > 50 ha >= 30 30 B Relatively Abundant > 50 ha < 30 20 C Relatively Rare < 50 ha > 30 20 D Rare < 50 ha > 5 but < 30 5 E Very Rare < 50 ha
Page 1 and 2: National Park Service U.S. Departme
Page 3 and 4: Vegetation Classification and Distr
Page 5 and 6: The National Park Service, Natural
Page 10 and 11: Acronyms and Abbreviations AA ac AP
Page 12 and 13: Executive Summary The classificatio
Page 14: Acknowledgments Behind the authors
Page 31 and 32: Axis 3 Axis 2 Vegetation Classifica
Page 35 and 36: 20 Table 5. continued Plant communi
Page 47: Vegetation Classification and Distr
Page 55 and 56: 40 Table 13. Base map class summary
Page 61 and 62: 46 Table 16. Summary statistics for
Page 71 and 72: 56 Table 22. Summary statistics for
Page 75 and 76: Literature Cited ties: Terrestrial
Page 89 and 90: B2 Appendix B Plant Community 2003
Page 91 and 92: B4 Appendix B .continued Plant Comm
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Appendix C: Global and local plant
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Appendix D Plant species list The s
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D3 Appendix D continued Scientific
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Appendix E Plant community and map
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Appendix E: Plant community and map
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Appendix F Plant community and map
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F3 Appendix F continued Plant commu
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Appendix F continued Plant communit
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Vegetation Classification and Distr
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G4 B1 Cottonwood / Rubber Rabbitbru
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G6 B3 Blue Sage Dwarf-Shrubland Fig
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G8 B5 Copperweed - Alkali Sacaton S
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G10 B7 Drummond Goldenweed - Gallet
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G12 B9 Greasewood / New Mexico Salt
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G14 B11 Iodine Bush Shrubland Figur
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G16 B13 Sandsage Colorado Plateau S
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G18 B15 Tamarisk Shrubland Figure.G
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G20 B17 Winter-fat / Blue Grama Dwa
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G22 B19 Alkali Sacaton - Blue Grama
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G24 B21 Blue Grama Herbaceous Veget
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G26 B23 Galleta - Alkali Sacaton He
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G28 B25 New Mexico Saltbush / Alkal
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G30 B27 Russian Thistle Sand Dune V
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G32 B29 Arizona Siltbush Sparse Veg
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G34 B31 Slender Buckwheat Sparse Ve
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G36 B33 Airstrip Figure.G65..Photos
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G38 B35 Barren Wash Figure.G68..Gro
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G40 B37 Park Sites Figure.G71..Phot
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G42 B39 Residences Figure.G73..Phot
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G44 B41 Run-off Control Feature Fig
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G46 B43 Stock Ponds Figure.G77..Pho
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G48 B45 Vegetated Wash Complex Figu
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Appendix H: Accuracy Assessment Dat
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Table H-4. Contingency table: Manag
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The Department of the Interior prot
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