Geospatial data for the Vegetation Mapping Inventory Project of Pipe Spring National Monument

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 PISP project used a combination of methods to interpret and delineate vegetation polygons. The initial set of polygons was drawn and annotated in the field on a 1:3500-scale print of the base orthoimagery. The lines were transferred to a digital environment in an ArcMap personal geodatabase by means of on-screen digitizing. The Monument and an area of environs surrounding it were interpreted and mapped to the same level of detail. Each polygon was assigned a map class number, alpha code and name, Anderson land use class, and vegetation density, pattern, and height attributes. In order to improve the utility of the map and related data, the spatial database was moved into a geodatabase format. This format allows text and image information to be incorporated and linked to spatial coordinates.