Landscape & Habitat Assessment:  Information/Tools

Information and tools are organized into categories (listed below).  Within each category there are several entries.  Each entry contains information corresponding to one or more forms listed in the legend.  Many entries listed on this page point to websites that contain downloadable spatial datasets or tabular data that can be used as attribute information within a GIS.  Also, while data linked from this page are packaged and formatted in various ways, a large majority of this information pertains to national (i.e., U.S.) datasets or regions within the United States.  Entries with international or global datasets are indicated as such.

Note: when accessing sites containing interactive map viewers, please be sure to enable pop-up windows.

Information Types

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Climate

DAYMET:  Daymet is a model that generates daily surfaces of temperature, precipitation, humidity, and radiation over large regions of complex terrain.  Daymet was developed at the University of Montana, Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group (NTSG), to fulfill the need for fine resolution, daily meteorological and climatological data necessary for plant growth model inputs  Using a digital elevation model and daily observations of minimum and maximum temperatures and precipitation from ground-based meteorological stations, an 18 year daily data set (1980 - 1997) of temperature, precipitation, humidity and radiation has been produced as a continuous surface at a 1 km resolution. A wide range of summary and point daily data over the conterminous United States are now available.  No other data at this temporal and spatial resolution exists.  The data currently are being distributed, free of charge, from the NTSG lab through its outreach component, the EOS Training Center Natural Resource Project.
http://www.daymet.org 

PRISM:  The PRISM (Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model) website provides access to the highest-quality spatial climate data sets currently available.  These data sets were created using the PRISM climate mapping system, developed by Dr. Christopher Daly, PRISM Group director.  PRISM is unique in that it incorporates a spatial climate knowledge base that accounts for rain shadows, temperature inversions, coastal effects, and more in the climate mapping process.  Graphics High-quality graphics documents suitable for printing or including on other documents are available for all climate parameters for the period 1997-Present.  These documents are best printed in a Landscape format.   Data grids in ArcInfo ASCII format are available for all base climate parameters for the period 1895-Present.  Use the data in your own GIS application to perform your own analysis or calculations.  Explorer The PRISM Data Explorer is an Internet Mapserver application that allows you to browse and query the PRISM database.  Pan/Zoom functions allow you to zero-in on a particular region of interest. A query function lets you extract a time-series of data at a given gridcell.
http://www.ocs.oregonstate.edu/prism/index.phtml

SCRAM Meteorological Data:  EPA's Support Center for Regulatory Atmospheric Modeling provides information regarding wind speed and direction, vertical mixing, temperature and atmospheric moisture.  The information is downloadable from the SCRAM website and is generally put into two categories.  The first, observational data, includes direct (instrumentation) measurements of temperature, dew point, wind direction, wind speed, cloud cover, cloud layers, ceiling height, visibility, current weather, and precipitation.  While much of this information is available directly from the National Weather Service, the SCRAM website provides easier navigation to specific datasets (for purchase) by measurement type.  The observational data also include an archive of surface meteorological data (1984-1992) which can be downloaded as ZIP files (one per station) and is organized by state.  The other category of information available from SCRAM consists of meteorological grid models which can be used, for example, to simulate changes in temperature over time for a specific area of interest.  The models are available for download (with documentation) and include U.S. or continental-scale data.  The MM5 (mesoscale) model, for example, includes various terrain data on elevation, landuse, soil and vegetation.
http://www.epa.gov/scram001/metdataindex.htm 

NOAA Climate Products:  Among several sites and datasets made available by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the climate data center (now known as the Climate Analysis Branch) of NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory provides a public web portal for downloading free climate data.  The database, referred to as Public Summary Data (PSD) is a large collection of gridded atmospheric and surface datasets which have been converted to a common format for ease of use.  Individual datasets include various precipitation statistics, soil moisture, air temperature, solar radiation, snow cover and others.  Some web-based tools that analyze and plot the data are also available.
http://www.cdc.noaa.gov/PublicData 

NOAA Regional Climate Centers:  National data are frequently too coarse in scale for landscape analyses and, while NOAA data are frequently available down to station level, it is often preferable and more efficient to begin at the regional level when looking for data.  NOAA currently has six regional climate centers.  Each center has their own unique (although similar) way of accessing online climate information and data.  The data often include historical climate summaries, precipitation and temperature maps, station inventories and descriptions, monthly and seasonal data, as well as state-by-state narratives and data archives.  NOAA's NCDC website (linked below) includes a clickable map page designed for users to easily navigate to the respective regional climate centers.  Each regional climate center is also listed below with a direct link to the corresponding center's homepage.  Most are affiliated (i.e., hosted) through a university or state agency office.
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/regionalclimatecenters.html  
Western | High Plains | Midwestern | Northeast | Southern | Southeast

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Ecoregions

Ecological Subregions of the United States:  This geospatial data representing these ecological subregions presents the National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units (ECOMAP 1993) for the Southern United States with section boundaries adjusted to whole counties, facilitating integration of county-referenced information with areas of uniform ecological potential.  Included are maps illustrating county-scaled ecological subregion boundaries by division, province, and section; and numeric codes by Federal Information Processing Standard and USDA-FS Resources Planning Act region.  The corresponding framework documentation provides a standardized method for classifying, mapping, and describing ecological units at various geographic planning and analysis scales.  The information captures a wide range of environmental, biological, and cultural characteristics of ecosystems at the subregion scale.
http://www.fs.fed.us/land/pubs/ecoregions  
http://fsgeodata.fs.fed.us
http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/sustain/data/ecocnty/index.htm

Ecoregion Maps of North America:  Ecoregions denote areas of general similarity in ecosystems and in the type, quality, and quantity of environmental resources.  They are designed to serve as a spatial framework for the research, assessment, management, and monitoring of ecosystems and ecosystem components.  By recognizing the spatial differences in the capacities and potentials of ecosystems, ecoregions stratify the environment by its probable response to disturbance.  These ecoregions are critical for structuring and implementing ecosystem management strategies across federal agencies, state agencies, and non-government organizations that are responsible for different types of resources within the same geographical areas.  The ecoregion maps were developed by James Omernik and are available for most of North America at different scales (levels one through five) through this site.
http://www.epa.gov/wed/pages/ecoregions.htm

IGBP Land Ecosystem Classification:  This land ecosystem classification product is a 1-minute, global dataset distributed by MODIS Atmosphere and developed using the IGBP (International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme) classification scheme.  The dataset is generated from the official MODIS land ecosystem classification dataset (MOD12Q1) for year 2000, day 289.  This dataset is used to generate spatially complete albedo maps and statistics, but is also a stand-alone product designed for general use by the ecological community.
http://modis-atmos.gsfc.nasa.gov/ecosystem/browse.html
http://modis-atmos.gsfc.nasa.gov/ecosystem/acquiring.html

USFS (Bailey’s) Eco-Regions:  This dataset was originally produced in 1978 to provide a general description of the ecosystem geography of the Nation.  The technique of mapping ecoregions was subsequently expanded to include the rest of North America (Bailey and Cushwa 1981) and the for ecoregions of the world (Bailey 1989).  In 1993, as part of the Forest Service's National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units (ECOMAP 1993), ecoregions were adopted for use in ecosystem management and ecological assessments.  The data show ecoregions at four levels of detail to show a hierarchy of ecosystems.  The larger ecosystems (domains and divisions) are groups of related climates differentiated based on precipitation and temperature.  Divisions are subdivided into provinces (e.g., Laurentian Mixed Forest Province) which are differentiated based on vegetation or other natural land covers.  Province descriptions include the size of the delineated area as well as the corresponding climate, land-surface form, vegetation, soils and fauna.  The finest level of detail is described by subregions (sections) which are based on terrain features.  Also identified are mountainous areas that exhibit different ecological zones based on elevation.  The U.S. Forest Service and National Atlas have collaborated to deliver downloadable GIS data in ArcView (shapefile) and ARC/INFO export formats.
http://fsgeodata.fs.fed.us  
http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/analytics/publications/ecoregions_information.html  
http://uvb.nrel.colostate.edu/UVB/jsp/uvb_climate_network.jsp

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Elevation and Topography

Elevation Derivatives for National Application:  The Elevation Derivatives for National Application (EDNA) is a multi-layered database derived from a version of the National Elevation Dataset (NED), which has been ‘hydrologically conditioned’ for improved hydrologic flow representation.  The seamless EDNA database provides 30-m resolution raster and vector data layers including: aspect, contours, filled DEM, flow accumulation, flow direction, reach catchments, shaded relief, sinks, slope, and synthetic streamlines.  When completed EDNA will integrate two USGS national databases, NED and the National Hydrologic Dataset (NHD).  Enhancements to both databases will be expected as the quality control procedures used in the development of the EDNA provide feedback to both NED and NHD.  The NHD will be further enhanced by consistency with the EDNA.  Elevation-derived streamline and basin parameters can be transferred onto the NHD following conflation (i.e., the process of transferring attributes from a source line layer based on one level of accuracy and precision to a target line layer of a different precision and accuracy) with the EDNA.
http://edna.usgs.gov

Global 30 Arc-Second Elevation Data Set (GTOPO30) is a global raster Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with a horizontal grid spacing of 30 arc seconds (approximately 1 kilometer).  GTOPO30, completed in late 1996, was developed over a three year period through a collaborative effort led by the USGS with assistance from NASA, USAID and others.  GTOPO30 was derived from a variety of raster and vector sources.  The data is expressed in geographic coordinates (latitude/longitude) and is referenced to the World Geodetic Survey system of 1984 (WGS84).  GTOPO30 has been divided into tiles for easier distribution; distribution format, data sources, production methods and accuracy are provided on the corresponding website (refer to readme documentation).  The files are available in generic binary (16-bit signed integer) format and are distributed on DVD and via File Transfer Protocol (FTP).
http://eros.usgs.gov/products/elevation/gtopo30.html

National Elevation Dataset:  The National Elevation Dataset (NED) is a new raster product created by the U.S. Geological Survey.  NED is designed to provide elevation data in a seamless form with a consistent datum, elevation unit, and projection.  NED has a resolution of one arc-second (approximately 30m) for the conterminous US and a resolution of two arc-seconds for Alaska.  Data sources utilized for NED have a variety of elevation units, horizontal datums, and map projections.  As USGS 7.5-minute and 15-minute digital elevation products are completed for the conterminous US and Alaska respectively, NED data will be derived from these sources.  Areas that are not yet covered by lower-resolution 30-minute and 1-degree DEM products were interpolated to obtain the values used in NED.  A visual index of the properties of the individual source datasets and update information is at the NED Data Source Index.  The source 7.5-minute DEMs can have a wide range of source dates.  These original elevation files are currently available from the USGS.  In cases where 7.5- minute DEMs have a 10-m resolution, the original source data will be at a higher resolution, with NED data interpolated to 30-m resolution.  As 10-m data become available, it will be processed for NED and distributed as a seamless product.
http://ned.usgs.gov  

Terrain Modeling:  Terrain modeling is the study of ground-surface relief and pattern by numerical methods.  It is also commonly referred to as terrain analysis, geo-morphometry, or quantitative geomorphology.  The modeling component involved computer processing of grid arrays using digital elevation models for displaying and analyzing topographic features.  An article by Richard J. Pike (USGS) on "Web Resources Compiled for Terrain Modeling" is available online and contains numerous links to basic information, samples and data sources for terrain modeling.  Terrain modeling results can be incorporated with other data in a geographic information system for landscape analysis.   
http://www.agu.org/eos_elec/97260e.html 

U.S. Digital Topography:  Digital Wisdom, Inc. provides a number of different digital elevation products for purchase in raster and vector formats.  In addition to a detailed atlas of U.S. topography, regional digital maps can be special ordered on compact disc or DVD.  Color, shaded relief maps are also available and can be geo-referenced for use in ArcView or ARC/INFO.  The corresponding website provides sample downloads for evaluation as well as detailed technical specifications for all of their products.  In addition, 3D rendering software can be purchased for creating customized terrain displays using standard USGS digital elevation models.   
http://digiwis.com/dwi_usd.htm  

USGS Topographic Maps (Topomaps, 7.5-min. quads):  The best known USGS maps are the 1:24,000-scale topographic maps, also known as 7.5-minute quadrangles.  However, the USGS provides many other topographic maps at various scale.  The USGS topomaps website provides access to ordering information on the 55,000+ topomaps covering the 48 conterminous states.  The prices for hardcopy maps vary, but currently range from 5-10 each.  Most USGS topographic maps use brown contours to show the shape and elevation of the terrain.  Contour intervals vary, depending mainly on the type of terrain and the scale of the map (e.g., 1:63,360).  The maps also show and name prominent natural and cultural features.  Digital versions of the standard topomaps (commonly referred to as DRGs) are also available from USGS Earth Science Information Centers as well as interactive map applications such as the National Map and Earth Explorer program. 
http://topomaps.usgs.gov 
http://nationalmap.gov 
http://earthexplorer.usgs.gov 

Also refer to USGS Digital Line Graphs and Raster Graphics listed under the section:  Miscellaneous Sites.

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Land Use and Cover

ESDI Global Land Cover Facility (GLCF):  This landcover facility by Earth Science Data Interface (ESDI) includes: MODIS 16-Day Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data on a 16 day basis for the conterminous U.S. in GeoTIFF format, MODIS Vegetation Continuous Fields for differentiating various forms of vegetation and soil, AVHRR Global Land Cover Product at different resolutions for North America and other continents, AVHRR Continuous Fields Tree Cover Product for differentiating tree cover types by continent.
http://glcfapp.umiacs.umd.edu:8080/esdi/index.jsp
http://glcf.umiacs.umd.edu

GeoCover – Land Cover (GeoCover LC):  This data represent the first consistently prepared, moderate-resolution land cover (LC) database that has been prepared consistently at the global level.  The data were derived from spectral analysis (using ERDAS IMAGINE) of consistently ortho-rectified LandSat Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery.  GeoCover LC features a standard 13-class land cover legend designed to provide a basic understanding of the landscape.  The timeframe of the GeoCover LC data is 1990 - 2000 and is available globally.  Note: some costs may be associated with the acquisition of GeoCoverLC data.
http://www.mdafederal.com/geocover/geocoverlc

Global Land Cover Characterization (GLCC):  The global land cover characteristics database was developed on a continent-by-continent basis and was derived from 1-km Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and is based on a flexible data base structure and seasonal land cover regions concepts.  The regions are composed of relatively homogeneous land cover associations which exhibit distinctive phenology, and have common levels of primary production.  The data provides 7 land cover land use classification systems and are available for North America and other global regions from April 1992 to March 1993 (in a Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area projection) and have 1-km nominal spatial resolution.  Each database contains unique elements based on the geographic aspects of the specific continent.  In order to provide flexibility for a variety of applications, a core set of derived thematic maps produced through the aggregation of seasonal land cover regions are included in each continental database.  Global data sets are also available in two map projections (Interrupted Goode Homolosine and Geographic) and there are currently two versions of the GLCC including the first version (released in 1997) which was produced as an International Geosphere Biosphere Programme-Data and Information System (IGBP-DIS) initiative lead by the Land Cover Working Group and has been subjected to a formal accuracy assessment (the IGBP DIS Cover classification).  A more current version offered is a revised version of the database based on user input and recommendations, but a formal accuracy assessment has not been conducted for the revised land cover data.   Funding for the GLCC project was provided by, among others, the USGS, NASA, EPA, NOAA and the USFS.
http://edcsns17.cr.usgs.gov/glcc

Land Use and Land Cover (LULC):  LULC data consists of historical land use and land cover classification data based primarily on the manual interpretation of 1970's and 1980's aerial photography.  Along with the LULC files, associated maps are included which provide additional information on political units, hydrologic units, census county subdivisions, and Federal and State land ownership.  There are 21 possible land categories of land cover type within LULC and data are classified from 1970s and 1980s aerial imagery based on 1:100,000 and 1:250,000-scale USGS topographic quadrangles.  The coverage of available LULC data includes most of the conterminous United States.  The files are available in GIRAS (Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System) or CTG (Composite Theme Grid) format.  The spatial resolution for all LULC files will depend on the format and feature type.  Files in GIRAS format will have a minimum polygon area of 10 acres, and non-urban or natural features have a minimum polygon area of 40 acres.  All LULC data is available via FTP download only.   LULC data in ARC/INFO export format can also be obtained from the EPA, although is only available at the 1:250,000 scale.
http://edc.usgs.gov/products/landcover/lulc.html

MODIS Normalized Difference Vegetative Index (NDVI)
http://modis-atmos.gsfc.nasa.gov/NDVI/index.html
http://modis-atmos.gsfc.nasa.gov/NDVI/browse.html
http://modis-atmos.gsfc.nasa.gov/NDVI/acquiring.html

National Land Cover Data (NLCD):  One of the projects sponsored by the MRLC consortium was production of land-cover data derived from images acquired by Landsat's Thematic Mapper (TM) sensor, as well as a number of ancillary data sources.  The NLCD includes the source images, as well as classified land-cover data for specific acquisition dates.  It is the first national land-cover data set produced since the early 1970s, effectively replacing the LUDA and GIRAS data sets.  Data for the conterminous United States circa 1992 (NLCD 1992) which were derived from Landsat-5 TM images are complete and currently available for download.  Description of the data, as well as the classification process utilized have been published in a number of journal articles.  Currently, the entire United States is being mapped using imagery acquired circa 2000 (NLCD 2001) using 30-meter Landsat-7 enhanced TM (ETM) data.  NLCD 2001 is a 21-class land cover classification scheme applied consistently over the United States and Puerto Rico.  Classification schemes for the two rounds of classification are similar, but not identical.  Accuracy of NLCD 1992 is available and reported by EPA region.
http://www.epa.gov/mrlc/nlcd.html
http://landcover.usgs.gov/natllandcover.php
http://www.mrlc.gov/mrlc2k_nlcd.asp

National Land-Cover Pattern Data (NLCPD):  This product contains digital maps of land-cover pattern indicators in generic raster format; derived from land cover maps supplied by the Multi-Resolution Land Consortium (MRLC) and the National Land Cover Database (NLCD 1992).  NLCPD maps portray surfaces of landscape pattern indices at a resolution (0.09 ha) that is comparable to a baseball diamond infield.  Each pixel value codes an index of land-cover pattern for the surrounding landscape.  Indices include land-cover contagion, forest fragmentation, and landscape pattern types.  The data are in raster format and are available for the conterminous U.S. (circa 1993).
http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/4803/landscapes/nlcpd-index.html

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Landscape Characterization

Global Forest Fragmentation Data:  Digital maps in generic raster format derived from Global Land Cover Characterization 1-km land-cover maps (circa 1992) during a recent global survey of forest fragmentation.  Each pixel value represents a forest fragmentation category for the surrounding 81 sq km landscape.  The maps are directly comparable to the GLCC maps and are distributed by continent in the GLCC format.  The data include forest area density, forest connectivity and forest fragmentation and are available for a global mosaic from April 1992 to March 1993.  The mosaic consists of 6 global regions (e.g., North America) from which data and documentation can be acquired.
http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/4803/landscapes/global-index.html

Global Integrated Trends Analysis Network (GITAN):  GITAN’s Global Data Toolset is a multidisciplinary network of collaborators interested in understanding the types, causes, and consequences of change on the landscape.  The core mission of GITAN is based on using an ecoregional framework as a basis for analyzing land cover, landscape patch, biological, environmental, socio-economic, protection, and threat trends using both continuous and more detailed sample-based analyses.  Data are relatively current (i.e., 2005 to present) and are available for the U.S. and other countries.
http://rockyitr.cr.usgs.gov/gitan

Landscape Analysis and Assessment (LAA):  This is a research program by the U.S. Forest Health Monitoring Program and the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station.  For more information on LAA-related products, refer to the National Land-Cover Pattern Data (above) and the Global Forest Fragmentation Data (below).  The website referenced below also contains links to USFS projects and related publications.
http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/4803/landscapes/index.html

North American Landscape Characterization (NALC):  The NALC project is a component of NASA’s Pathfinder Program.  The data consist of LandSat Multi-Spectral Scanner (MSS) time-series triplicates that were acquired in 1973, 1986, and 1991 (+/- one year).  The data covers selected locations throughout the conterminous U.S. (and Mexico).  Each NALC dataset consists of at least one MSS scene or scene composite for each of the selected years.  The specific temporal windows varies for geographical regions, based on the seasonal characteristics of the vegetation.  The data also include a 60-meter Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for most locations.  Most of the images are single-scene acquisitions; however, some individual scenes may be multi-temporal composites if a high-quality cloud-free single scene was not available.  In most cases, the images have been rectified using radiometric and geometric correction.  The data has been cast to the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) projection and is referenced to the North American Datum of 1927 (NAD27).  The files are available in generic binary format and are distributed on CD-ROM.
http://edc.usgs.gov/products/satellite/nalc.html

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Natural Disturbance

Disturbance & Landscape Characterization Data - Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project (ICBEMP):  This project defines GIS data layers created in support of the ICBEMP Assessment and the development of the Eastside and Upper Columbia River Basin Environmental Impact Statements.  The themes were derived from source maps, photos, or transfer media ranging from 1:12,000 to 1:4,000,000 in scale.  Some GIS themes mapped features continuously across the entire project area while others covered discrete areas only (e.g. subsample watershed areas).  Major data providers included individual administrative units of the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Bureau of Mines, Bonneville Power Administration, universities, state agencies, American Indian tribes, and non-governmental organizations.  For this project, themes are organized into more generalized categories including those for disturbance related information (such as wildfire locations, historical and current fire regimes, and rural population wildland interface fire risk areas) and landscape characterization (characterizing risk for key landscape components) and atmospheric data (including frequency estimates of rain-on-snow events).
http://www.icbemp.gov/spatial/html/gis-theme.shtml
http://www.icbemp.gov/spatial/metadata/landchar/976.htm
http://www.icbemp.gov/spatial/metadata/landchar/987.htm
http://www.icbemp.gov/spatial/metadata/disturbance/954.htm
http://www.icbemp.gov/spatial/metadata/atm/847.htm

Flood Maps and Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM):  The DFIRM database is a collection of the digital data that are used in GIS systems for creating new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs).  These datasets cover a county or a community.  The aerial, orthorectified photography used to create the base maps, which were used in the creation of flood maps, are not part of a DFIRM database.  However, they may be purchased with the DFIRM database, if available. Those interested in purchasing these items should select on the "CD with basemaps" option on the product selection screen.  In some cases, partial DFIRM databases are available.  The GIS data contained in those databases does not cover the entire county or community.  Partial does not mean community-based; both community-based and countywide could be partial.
http://msc.fema.gov
http://www.gismaps.fema.gov

Landfire Project (LANDFIRE):  The project involves the production of digital geospatial data describing existing vegetation composition and structure, potential fire behavior and effects, fuel models, simulated historical fire regimes, and fire regime condition class.  Mapped data are produced based on peer-reviewed science from the fields of remote sensing, ecosystem simulation, predictive landscape modeling, vegetation and disturbance ecology, and fire behavior and effects.  Geospatial data can be obtained for any one of 66 mapping units delineated by the project.  The LANDFIRE data are also available at a national scale using integrated relational databases, remote sensing, systems ecology, gradient modeling, and landscape simulation to create consistent and comprehensive products that are standardized across the entire United States.  LANDFIRE will deliver national products on an incremental basis through 2009.
http://www.landfire.gov/Products.html

MODIS Active Fire Mapping Program:  These data depict MODIS active fire detections for North America and were collected and compiled by the USDA Forest Service Remote Sensing Applications Center.  Fire detection data are derived from Terra and Aqua MODIS data collected and processed in cooperation between RSAC, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, and the University of Maryland.  Maps of MODIS fire detections in the United States (and Canada) are currently available from 2001 to 2006.
http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/fireptdata.php
http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/customProducts2.php?catID=1

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Soils and Geology

Conterminous United States Multi-Layer Soil Characteristics Data Set:  The Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State University developed the Conterminous US Soil Characteristics Dataset (CONUS-SOIL).  This is a multi-layer soils dataset specifically designed for regional and continental-scale climate, hydrology, and ecosystem modeling (Miller and White 1998).  The STATSGO database developed by the NRCS serves as the starting point, or baseline data, for CONUS-SOIL.  Datasets and map coverages of soil properties in CONUS-SOIL include texture, rock fragment classes, depth-to-bedrock, bulk density, porosity, rock fragment volume, particle-size fractions, water capacity, and hydrologic soil group.  Interpolation procedures for the continuous and categorical variables describing these soil properties were developed and applied to the original STATSGO data.  In addition to any interpolation errors, the CONUS-SOIL dataset reflects the limitations of the procedures used to generate detailed county-level soil survey data to the STATSGO map units.  CONUS-SOIL represents an attempt at creating an easily usable high-resolution soil physical and hydraulic properties dataset for regional climate and hydrology modeling applications.
http://www.soilinfo.psu.edu/index.cgi?soil_data&conus

International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme Data and Information System:  The Global Gridded Surfaces of Selected Soil Characteristics dataset contains seven data surfaces: soil-carbon density, total nitrogen density, field capacity, wilting point, profile available water capacity, thermal capacity, and bulk density.  All the surfaces are global, at a resolution of 5-by-5 arc-minutes, in ASCII GRID format for ARC/INFO.  Each file contains a single ASCII array in a geographic (latitude/longitude) projection.  This database can generate maps and output datasets for a range of original and derived soil parameters at any resolution in increments of 5-minutes.  These data surfaces were generated by the SoilData System, which was developed by the Global Soil Data Task Group of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme Data and Information System (IGBP-DIS).  The SoilData System generates soil information and maps for geographic regions at soil depths and resolutions selected by the user.  Derived surfaces of selected soil characteristics are suitable for modeling and inventory purposes.  The data layers are distributed as part of the Global Soil Data Products CD-ROM.
http://www.daac.ornl.gov/SOILS/soils_collections.html
http://www-eosdis.ornl.gov/SOILS/guides/igbp.html

Land Resource Regions and Major Landuse Resource Areas:  Land resource regions (LRRs) are geographically associated major land resource areas (MLRAs) which approximate broad agricultural market regions.  In other words, LRRs are geographic areas that are characterized by a particular pattern of soils, climate, water resources and land uses.  Identification of MLRAs is important in statewide resource planning and has value in interstate, regional, and national planning.  Both the LRR and MLRA provide polygon coverage of the conterminous US and their boundaries were derived from general state soil maps.  Major land resource areas are sub-regions of LRRs and comprise smaller homogeneous areas.  The scale of this coverage is 1:2,000,000.  MLRAs are divisions of the US based on major soil patterns, climate, and land use and they are intended to stratify the country for any program based on physical geography, including resource inventory.  All soil surveys in the US are now correlated within MLRAs as a result of a project to update MLRAs based on State Soil Geographic Database (STATSGO).  Boundaries can be downloaded as GIS coverages or viewed as an image.
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Technical/land/meta/m3962.html (LLR)
http://soils.usda.gov/survey/geography/mlra (MLRA)

Land Resource Units and Common Resource Area Geographic Databases:  Land resource units (LRUs), the basic units from which MLRAs are determined, are also the basic units for state land resource maps.  They are typically coextensive with state general soil map units, but some general soil map units are subdivided into LRUs because of significant geographic differences in climate, water resources, and/or land use.  Common Resource Area (CRA) map delineations refer to geographical areas where resource concerns, problems, or treatment needs are similar.  These delineations are considered a subdivision of an existing MLRA map delineation or polygon.  Landscape conditions, soil, climate, human considerations, and other natural resource information are used to determine the geographic boundaries of an individual CRA.  The CRA geographic database provides: a consistent CRA geographic database; geographic data compatible with other GIS data digitized from 1:250,000 scale maps (e.g., land use/land cover, political boundaries, Digital General Soil Map of the U.S. (updated STATSGO), and ecoregion boundaries); a correlated geographic index for Conservation Management Guide Sheet information and the NRCS electronic Field Office Technical Guide (eFOTG); and, geographic linkage with the national MLRA framework.
http://soils.usda.gov/survey/geography/cra.html

Map Unit Interpretation Record (MUIR):  The Map Unit Interpretation Record (MUIR) database should be used in conjunction with soil survey maps since these maps indicate the geographic location and extent of soil map units within the soil survey area.  Mapping scales generally range from 1:12,000 to 1:31,680 and the maps meet or exceed the national NRCS mapping specifications.  Data is obtained from a combination of field observations, site descriptions and transects, and laboratory analyses.  In making the soil survey, soil scientists observed landforms and landscape features, such as the steepness, length, and shape of slopes, the general pattern of drainage, the kinds of crops and native plants present, and the kinds of bedrock.  They also observed and studied many soil profiles.  Additionally, some soils in the sample area were collected for laboratory analyses.  Soil boundaries were drawn on the soil maps and a locally developed MUIR database was constructed based on field observations and the resulting landscape model the soil scientist developed.  Note:  A goal of the NRCS is to replace all MUIR data by the Soil Survey Resource Database (SSURGO).  However, for some states, MUIR data are the only digital soil data available at the county scale.
http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov

National Hydric Soils List:  The national list of hydric soils includes soil map unit components that are classified at categories higher than the series level in soil taxonomy and includes map units that may contain these components.  This list includes both major and minor percentages for map units.  This means that in some cases, most of the map unit may not be hydric.  However, the list is useful for general identification of map units that may contain hydric soils.  Four types of technical information about hydric soils are presented on the NRCS Hydric Soils database: the current definition of a hydric soil, criteria for hydric soils and the lists which are generated from them, a list of field indicators of hydric soils, and the Hydric Soil Technical Notes.  The NRCS Hydric Soils National List is by soil map unit component.  Detailed and up-to-date hydric soil lists (e.g., by soil survey area map unit component) are maintained by the NRCS State Offices and local field offices.
http://soils.usda.gov/use/hydric

National Resources Inventory:  The National Resources Inventory (NRI) is a statistically based sample of landuse, natural resource conditions, and trends on US nonfederal lands.  The NRI includes roughly 800,000 sample points, with information for five sample years (1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, and 2003).  The data available within the NRI dataset includes soils, landuse, erosion, and wetlands. 
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/NRI

National Soil Characterization Database:  The National Soil Characterization database of the Soil Survey Laboratory (SSL), National Soil Survey Center, currently contains analytical data for more than 20,000 pedons of US soils.  Standard morphological pedon descriptions are available for about 15,000 of these pedons.  Most pedon data were obtained over the last 40 years, with approximately three-quarters of the data being less than 20 years old.  Analytical data for most of the pedons is fairly complete with coverage for all 50 states and some foreign nations.
http://soils.usda.gov/survey/nscd

Official Soil Series Descriptions:  The Official Soil Series Descriptions (OSD) is a national collection of more than 20,000 detailed soil series descriptions covering the US.  The soil series is the lowest category of soil classification system.  The name of a soil series is the common reference term, used to name soil map units.  Soil series are the most homogenous classes in the system of taxonomy.  They are descriptions of the taxa in the series category of the national system of soil classification.  The descriptions contain soil properties that define the soil series, distinguish it from other soil series, serve as the basis for the placement of that soil series in the soil family, and provide a record of soil properties needed to prepare soil interpretations.  The descriptions, in a text format, serve as a national standard.  The OSD database is stored as both unformatted ASCII text files and as html-formatted files.
http://soils.usda.gov/technical/classification/osd

Soil Geochemistry Spatial Database:  The Soil Geochemistry Spatial Database contains data from two major sets of geochemistry data, the current Geochemistry Project data and the Holmgren dataset.  The Geochemistry project is ongoing and the website is updated periodically to reflect additional data availability.  The chemical composition of pedons were sampled and analyzed by horizons.  Data are displayed in four geographic layers: site information, major elements, trace elements, and selected characterization data.  Data in both the major element and trace element tiers are defined by specific digestion methods rather than soil concentration.  The Holmgren Dataset was produced by the Soil Survey Laboratory during the 1970’s and 1980’s for a project documenting the content of selected trace elements in US agricultural soils.  These data are available as a separate spatial layer on a county basis.  Note:  These data include both sites that are ‘contaminated’ and ‘non-contaminated.’  As a result, one should note that the accuracy and applicability of the data is not guaranteed by the NRCS and NCSS.
http://soils.usda.gov/survey/geochemistry

Soil Series Classification Database:  The NRCS Soil Series Classification database contains the taxonomic classification of each soil series identified in the United States.  Along with the taxonomic classification, the database contains other information about the soil series, such as office of responsibility, series status, dates of origin and establishment, and geographic areas of usage.  As the database is updated, the changes are immediately available to the user, so data retrieved is always the most current.  Web access to this soil classification database provides capabilities to view the contents of individual series records, to query the database on any data component and produce a report with the selected soils, or to produce national reports with all soils in the database.
http://soils.usda.gov/technical/classification/scfile/index.html

Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO):  The SSURGO database provides the most detailed level of soils information.  Using soil attributes, this database serves as an excellent source for determining erodible areas and developing erosion control practices, reviewing site development proposals, making land use assessments, and identifying potential wetlands.  Soil maps in the SSURGO database are made using field methods.  Maps are made at scales ranging from 1:12,000 to 1:63,360.  Typically scales are 1:15,840, 1:20,000, or 1:24,000.  The maps, along with comprehensive descriptions, produce an attribute and spatial data base.  The mapping bases are normally orthophotoquads, and digitizing is being performed by NRCS, contractors, and cooperating government agencies.  Data for SSURGO are collected and archived in 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle units and distributed as a complete coverage for a soil survey area usually consisting of 10 or more quadrangle units.  The adjoining 7.5 minute units are matched within the survey areas.  Note:  Completion of SSURGO data digitizing is scheduled for 2008.  Therefore, not all survey areas are currently available in digital format.  If the survey area of interest is not listed or available from the Soil Data Mart please check the status map or contact a State Soil Scientist for additional information.

State and Local Soil Datasets:  Individual state and local (e.g., county) soil datasets are available from the NRCS at the Soil Data Mart website.  Individual reports can also be generated for general geographic areas (e.g., states) and specific soil survey areas (organized by counties).  In addition, the site allows users to contact state soil surveyors and subscribe for automatic updates (i.e., email notifications) when new/updated data are available for specific areas of interest.  Note: the focus of this entry is on reports and datasets (e.g., in Access format); however, some survey areas also include downloadable spatial data; refer to the MUIR, SSURGO and STATSGO entries within this section for additional information.  
http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov

State of the Land:  This site provides data and analysis on land use, soils, soil erosion, and other issues regarding the conservation and use of natural resources.  The principle data source for State of the Land analysis products is the National Resources Inventory.  All coverages have metadata and are available as Arc/Info Export files.
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/land

State Soil Geographic Database (STATSGO/DGSM):  The STATSGO database is designed to be used for broad planning and management (e.g., state, regional, and national levels); therefore, STATSGO data are not detailed enough to make interpretations at a county level.  The dataset is a digital general soil association map that consists of a broad based inventory of soils, as well as non-soil areas, that occur in a repeatable pattern on the landscape.  The soil maps used by STATSGO were compiled by generalizing the more detailed soil survey maps.  Where more detailed soil survey maps are not available, data on geology, topography, vegetation, and climate are assembled, together with remote sensing (LANDSAT) images.  The approximate minimum area delineated is 1,544 acres, which on a 1:250,000-scale map, represents an area approximately 0.4 inch square.  The smallest map units are approximately 2.3 square miles.  Note:  The STATSGO database is currently being updated and renamed to the Digital General Soil Map (DGSM) of the United States.  This updated version will be made available for download from the Soil Data Mart website.

USDA-NRCS Soils Databases:  The NRCS has responsibility for the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) as well as collecting, storing, maintaining, and distributing soils information.  Three digital soil geographic databases have been established by the NRCS:  (1) the National Soil Geographic Database (NATSGO); (2) the State Soil Geographic Database (STATSGO); and, (3) the Soil Survey Geographic database (SSURGO).  Simply stated, these three soil geographic databases represent different intensities of soil mapping.  Each database is linked to a soil interpretation, or attribute, record database which gives the proportionate extent of the component soils and their properties for each map unit.  These digital databases allow users to store, retrieve, analyze, and display soil data, as well as the ability to integrate the data with spatially referenced resources (i.e., geographic information systems).  Other soils databases under the direction of the NRCS include: the Natural Resources Inventory, State of the Land, Official Soil Series Descriptions, Soil Series Classification, National Soil Characterization, Soil Geochemistry, National Hydric Soils List, as well as State and Local Soil Datasets.  

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Water and Hydrography

HYDRO1k:  HYDRO1k is a geographic database developed to provide comprehensive and consistent global coverage of topographically derived data sets, including streams, drainage basins and ancillary layers derived from the USGS' 30 arc-second digital elevation model of the world (see GTOPO30 under Elevation section).  HYDRO1k provides a suite of geo-referenced data sets, both raster and vector, for evaluating or processing hydrologic information.  HYDRO1k was developed at the USGS EROS Data Center  with the goal to provide hydrologically correct digital elevation models along with ancillary data sets for use in continental and regional scale modeling and analyses.  Detailed descriptions of the processing steps involved in development of the HYDRO1k data sets can be found on the website (refer to readme file).
http://edc.usgs.gov/products/elevation/hydro1k.html

National Hydrography Dataset (NHD):  The National Hydrography Dataset is a comprehensive set of digital spatial data that contains information about surface water features such as lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, springs and wells.  Within the NHD, surface water features are combined to form "reaches," which provide the framework for linking water-related data to the NHD surface water drainage network. These linkages enable the analysis and display of these water-related data in upstream and downstream order.  The NHD is based upon the content of USGS Digital Line Graph (DLG) hydrography data integrated with reach-related information from the EPA Reach File Version 3 (RF3).  The NHD supersedes DLG and RF3 by incorporating them, not by replacing them. Users of DLG or RF3 will find the National Hydrography Dataset both familiar and greatly expanded and refined.  While initially based on 1:100,000-scale data, the NHD is designed to incorporate and encourage the development of higher resolution data required by many users.  
http://nhd.usgs.gov
http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/factsheets/fs06002.html

Also refer to National Wetlands Inventory listed in the next section.  

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Wildlife-Biodiversity Information/Tools

Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI):  In response to indications of declines in amphibian populations, the U.S. Department of Interior initiated a national program of amphibian monitoring, research, and conservation.  As a result, the Agency formed the National Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative.  A compilation of current and historic records of amphibian occurrences in the United States, with range maps for each species to the county level.  The timeframe of the ARMI data is 2000 to the present and data can be accessed at local (county), regional and national scales.  The ARMI website provides an dynamic online map interface that can be used to view USGS datasets.  The viewer uses extensive JavaScript and frames which means some browsers may not be able to support full interactive capabilities.
http://gisdata.usgs.net/website/armi

Birds of North America (BNA):  The Birds of North America (BNA) is a comprehensive reference covering 716 species of birds nesting in the U.S. and Canada.  The program is, in addition to a 1,800 page reference document, also an online project through the Cornell Lab of Ornithology with contributions from researchers, reviewers and editors.
http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA

California Wildlife Habitat Relationships (CWHR) System:  California Wildlife Habitat Relationships (CWHR) is a state-of-the-art information system for California's wildlife.  CWHR contains life history, geographic range, habitat relationships, and management information on 692 species of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals known to occur in the state.  Components in the CWHR System include:

·      A complete species list of California’s 1000+ terrestrial vertebrates,
·      Life history information and geographic range data by season on 692 regularly-occurring species,
·      A standardized habitat classification scheme for California containing 59 habitats, structuralstages for most habitats, and 124 special habitat elements.,
·      A community-level matrix model associating 692 wildlife species to these standard habitats and stages - rating suitability for reproduction, cover, and feeding, and
·      A software application (CWHR Version 8.1) containing all system components. 

Habitat suitability indices can be calculated for each species in a given habitat condition and these values can be compared between two different habitat conditions for land use planning assessments. Version 8.1 also includes BIOVIEW, an application that translates habitat suitability values for wildlife species into data that can be used in a Geographic Information System (GIS), with an option to apply fuzzy logic to the calculation of these values.
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/whdab/html/cwhr.html

EPA Ecoregion Products:  This site provides access to a variety of downloadable maps, computer programs, and biodiversity data.  Maps include ecoregions of North America at different spatial scales.  Biodiversity data include the original environmental data and presence/absence occurrence data for native vertebrate species for the Pacific Northwest states (OR, WA) and for the Middle Atlantic states (PA, WV, VA, MD, DE) for original EMAP 648 square kilometer grid hexagons.  Several software packages are available including the Program to Assist Tracking Critical Habitat, a spatially explicit, individual-based, life history simulator designed to project populations of territorial terrestrial vertebrate species through time.  PATCH’s data requirements are minimal: provided with habitat maps, specifications for habitat use (territory size and habitat affinity), vital rates (survival and reproduction), and parameters for species’ movement behavior, a simulation can be generated.
http://www.epa.gov/wed/pages/ecoregions.htm

 Gap Analysis Program:  The purpose of the Gap Analysis Program (GAP) is to provide broad geographic information on the status of ordinary species (those not threatened with extinction or naturally rare) and their habitats in order to provide land managers, planners, scientists, and policy makers with the information they need to make better-informed decisions.  Through the GAP program extensive information is available on vegetation, native animal species ranges, and affiliations of animals with vegetation and other physical characteristics.  Vegetation is mapped from satellite imagery and other records using the National Vegetation Classification System (FGDC 1996).  Native animal species ranges are mapped by using museum and agency specimen collection records in conjunction with known general ranges and the animal's affiliation with the previously mapped vegetation types and  other physical characteristics.  These data are combined and displayed with a computerized geographic information system (GIS) at a cartographic scale of 1:100,000.  Maps of vegetation types, individual species, or selected suites of species (depending on one's interest) are overlain on maps of land ownership and land management.  The Gap Analysis Program is sponsored and coordinated by the Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey.  Mapping and analysis is conducted by GAP projects within each state.  Additional analyses are conducted for large multi-state regions in partnership with state governments, federal agencies and other cooperators.
http://gapanalysis.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=207&mode=2
http://gapanalysis.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=202&mode=2
http://gapanalysis.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt
http://gapanalysis.nbii.gov
Southeast Regional Gap Analysis Project:  http://www.basic.ncsu.edu/segap
Southwest Regional Gap Analysis Project:  http://leopold.nmsu.edu/fwscoop/swregap
Northwest Regional Gap Analysis Project:  http://www.gap.uidaho.edu/Northwest/home.htm

Habitat Suitability Index Models Series (HSI):  This site contains the 157 Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) models reports published by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, made available as part of the National Wetlands Research Center's digital library collection.  All files are in PDF format.   The habitat information in this series has been formatted according to Standards for the Development of Habitat Suitability Index Models.  The models reference numerous literature sources in an effort to consolidate scientific information on species-habitat relationships.  The models provide a numerical index of habitat suitability on a 0.0 to 1.0 scale, based on the assumption that there is a positive relationship between the index and habitat carrying capacity.  The models vary in generality and precision, due in part to the amount of available quantitative habitat information and the frequent qualitative nature of existing information.  When possible, models are included that are derived from site-specific population and habitat data.
http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/wdb/pub/hsi/hsiintro.htm 

National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII):  The National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) is a broad, collaborative program to provide increased access to data and information on the nation's biological resources.  The NBII links diverse, high-quality biological databases, information products, and analytical tools maintained by NBII partners and other contributors in government agencies, academic institutions, non-government organizations, and private industry.  NBII partners and collaborators also work on new standards, tools, and technologies that make it easier to find, integrate, and apply biological resources information. Resource managers, scientists, educators, and the general public use the NBII to answer a wide range of questions related to the management, use, or conservation of this nation's biological resources.  NBII’s Bird Conservation Node provides access to bird population and habitat data.  The site includes links to the Bird Point Count Database for North America (maintained by USGS), the North American Breeding Bird Atlas Explorer, Digital Distribution Maps of the Birds of the Western Hemisphere, and others.
http://www.nbii.gov/index.html
http://birdcon.nbii.gov/monitoring_links.html

National Resources Inventory (NRI):  The NRI is a U.S. statistical survey which provides data and analysis on land use, soil erosion, water quality, wetlands, and other issues regarding the conservation and use of natural resources across the USA.  The NRI is designed to help gauge natural resource status, conditions, and trends on non-federal land (including privately owned lands, tribal and trust lands, and lands controlled by State and local governments).  The NRI is managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in cooperation with Iowa State University's Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology.  Data are available at the local, regional and national levels for 1982 through 1997.
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/land
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/land/aboutmaps/coverages.html

National Wetlands Inventory (NWI):  The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service wetlands inventory produces and provides information on the characteristics, extent, and status of wetlands and deepwater habitats and other wildlife habitats.  The NWI Wetlands Mapper and Wetlands Data Extraction Tool provide access to seamless (USGS quad level) wetlands habitat information in a standard geospatial format.
http://wetlandsfws.er.usgs.gov/NWI/download.html
http://wetlandsfws.er.usgs.gov/wtlnds/launch.html
http://www.fws.gov/nwi  

NatureServe:  NatureServe represents an international network of biological inventories known as natural heritage programs or conservation data centers – operating in all 50 U.S. states, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.  NatureServe not only collects and manages detailed local information on plants, animals, and ecosystems, but develops information products, data management tools, and conservation services to help meet local, national, and global conservation needs.  The objective scientific information about species and ecosystems developed by NatureServe is used by all sectors of society – conservation groups, government agencies, corporations, academia, and the public to make informed decisions about managing our natural resources.  Also refer to the NatureServe VISTA (software) and the NatureServe Ecological System.
http://www.natureserve.org

North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS):  The BBS is a cooperative effort between the U.S. Geological Survey's Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and the Canadian Wildlife Service's National Wildlife Research Centre to monitor the status and trends of North American bird populations. Following a rigorous protocol, BBS data are collected by thousands of dedicated participants along thousands of randomly established roadside routes throughout the continent. Professional BBS coordinators and data managers work closely with researchers and statisticians to compile and deliver these population data and population trend analyses on more than 400 bird species, for use by conservation managers, scientists, and the general public.
http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/bbs.html

Partners In Flight (PIF) - Species Assessment Database:  Partners In Flight (PIF) is a partnership of federal and state agencies, industry, non-governmental organizations, and many others, with the goal of conserving North American birds.  In 1991, PIF began developing a formal species assessment process that could provide consistent, scientific evaluations of conservation status across all bird species in North America, and identify areas most important to the conservation of each species.  Species assessment scores and other assessment data can be viewed on-line to quickly and easily examine and compare the conservation status of individual bird species, either globally or within a particular geographic area.   Scores and other information from the database can also be downloaded and used in any number of ways to examine various aspects of the biology and conservation of North American birds.
http://www.rmbo.org/pif/pifdb.html

Partners In Flight (PIF) - Species Management Synthesis - Species Accounts:  This site provides links to compilations and syntheses from the scientific literature on the effects of management practices on particular bird species.  The table lists species for which one or more of these writeups are available. A "YES" in the appropriate Availability - Source(s) column indicates that a species account is currently available.  A "planned" in the Availability column indicates that one or more of these sources plans to develop a species account in the near future (Note: in the case of the Birds of North America, these are species accounts predicted for Vol. 11).  The acronyms in the Source columns represent: TNC (The Nature Conservancy); WES (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station); NPWRC (USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center); FWS SA (Fish and Wildlife Service Status Assessment); TWS (The Wilderness Society); and BNA (Birds of North America).
http://www.partnersinflight.org/birdacct.htm

RAMAS Multispecies Assessment:  RAMAS Multispecies Assessment software can be used to:  link a GIS to an ecological model, use landscape data for population viability analysis, incorporate changes in habitat into a metapopulation model, combine geographic and demographic data for risk assessment, and compute Multispecies Conservation Values (MCV) across a study site.  RAMAS Multispecies Assessment combines what the user knows about the habitat and the risks for each species of a site into a single map of conservation values for landscape conservation, planning and management.  Users may provide as little data for each species as a location map and its threat status (e.g., endangered, threatened) or, if more data are available, build detailed habitat and metapopulation models.  RAMAS Multispecies produces a variety of outputs during the 3-step process that summarizes the habitat suitability, metapopulation dynamics, and MCV.  These include:

·      Habitat suitability map for each species (exportable)
·      Risk of metapopulation decline
·      Abundance of the metapopulation and the expected variation,
·      Map of the MCV's across the study site (exportable)

http://www.ramas.com/multispecies.htm

Wildlife Habitat Response Model (WHRM):  The Wildlife Habitat Response Model (WHRM) is a web-based tool meant to assist fuel treatment planners in evaluating the effects of fuel treatment alternatives on wildlife habitat elements. WHRM does not provide estimates of wildlife population changes or viability.  WHRM is based on published literature about species/habitat relationships, and provides qualitative information about potential changes in wildlife habitat elements.  These relationships are updated as new literature comes to the developers’ attention.  The date of last revision will be noted for each species.  Basically, WHRM functions as a data look-up table.  For each species, information has been gleaned from the literature about habitat associations and life history requirements, including requirements for reproduction and food resources, and about predators and hazards.  These habitat associations and requirements were categorized into habitat elements such as down wood and live trees.  Users determine how a fuel treatment will change these elements and WHRM reports how habitat for a species may be affected by these changes.
http://forest.moscowfsl.wsu.edu/fuels/whrm/whrm.html

Bibliographies of Relevant Literature:  Much of the information about modeling wildlife-habitat suitability or modeling wildlife-habitat relationships appears in individual scientific publications.  NCASI has developed an extensive bibliography of scientific publications that have appeared in print since 1985 and address the general topic of wildlife-habitat relationships for the eastern United States.  This bibliography is available to NCASI member companies in Pro-Cite and Microsoft Word formats and can be obtained by submitting a request to Ben Wigley.  Available herein are two bibliographies that contain publications related to the topic of modeling wildlife habitat suitability and wildlife-habitat relationships.  One is an annotated bibliography which contains information extracted from the more extensive bibliography referenced above.  The other is a non-annotated bibliography and was derived from another source.  Some citations appear in both bibliographies.

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Miscellaneous Sites

Digital Line Graphs (USGS):  Digital Line Graph (DLG) data are digital representations of cartographic information.  DLGs of map features are digital vectors converted from maps and related sources.  The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) DLG data are classified as large, intermediate, and small scale.  Most large-scale DLGs are produced in 7.5-minute units that correspond to USGS 1:20,000-, 1:24,000-, and 1:25,000-scale topographic quadrangle maps.  Large-scale DLGs are available in nine categories or units: (1) Public Land Survey System, including township, range, and section line information; (2) boundaries, including State, county, city, and other national and State lands such as forests and parks; (3) transportation, including roads and trails, railroads, pipelines, and transmission lines; (4) hydrography, including flowing water, standing water, and wetlands; (5) hypsography, including contours and supplementary spot elevations; (6) non-vegetative features, including lava, sand, and gravel; (7) survey control and markers, including horizontal and vertical positions (third order or better); (8) manmade features, including cultural features not collected in other data categories such as buildings; and (9) vegetative surface cover, including woods, scrub, orchards, vineyards, and vegetative features associated with wetlands.  Some DLGs are cast to State Plane coordinates systems (refer to DLG metadata) but most use the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) projection system and are referenced to either the North American Datum of 1927 (NAD27) or 1983 (NAD83).  The files are available in Optional and Spatial Data Transfer Standard (SDTS) format and are distributed via File Transfer Protocol (FTP).  Note: When large-scale DLG are revised, a recent digital orthophoto quadrangle is usually used to update the information that can be detected from an aerial photograph.
http://edc.usgs.gov/products/map/dlg.html

Digital Raster Graphics (USGS):  Digital Raster Graphics (DRGs) or “Topomaps” are scanned images of a standard series topographic map, including all map collar information.  The best known DRGs are the 1:24,000-scale topographic maps, also known as 7.5-minute quadrangles (or “quad” maps).  There are more than 55,000 quad maps covering the 48 conterminous States and, collectively, are considered the only uniform map series that covers the entire area of the United States in considerable detail.  The 7.5-minute map series was officially completed in 1992, and the program has recently been replaced by The National Map.  For each DRG, the image inside the map’s border is geo-referenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Universal Transverse Mercator projection.  The horizontal positional accuracy and datum of the DRG matches the accuracy and datum of the source map. The map is scanned at a minimum resolution of 250 dots per inch.  DRGs may be ordered from one of several USGS partners or directly from the USGS and the current policy allows any combination of quadrangles to be ordered.
http://topomaps.usgs.gov/drg  

Geographic Names Information System (GNIS):  The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) is the Federal standard for geographic nomenclature and the official repository of domestic geographic names data.  The GNIS contains information about physical and cultural geographic features of all types in the United States, current and historical, but not including roads and highways.  The database holds the recognized name of each feature and defines the feature location by state, county, USGS topographic map, and geographic coordinates.  Other attributes include alternative names or spellings, feature designations, historical and descriptive information, and (when applicable) the geometric boundaries.  The GNIS collects data from a broad program of partnerships with Federal, State, and local government agencies and other authorized contributors.  Data is distributed through a web query page and file download services.  Additional information on the GNIS, including related map and feature services, are available via the Geospatial One-Stop (refer to geodata.gov).
http://geonames.usgs.gov 
http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/download_data.htm

Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics (MRLC) Consortium:  The Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics (MRLC) Consortium is a group of federal agencies who first joined together in 1993 to purchase Landsat 5 imagery for the conterminous U.S. and to develop a land cover dataset called the National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD 1992).  In 1999, a second-generation MRLC consortium was formed to purchase three dates of Landsat 7 imagery for the entire United States and to coordinate the production of a comprehensive land cover database for the nation called the National Land Cover Database.  Available at this website are datasets describing elevation, land cover, orthoimagery, transportation, place names, boundaries, hydrography, etc.  
http://www.mrlc.gov

Public Land Survey System (PLSS):  PLSS is distributed as the Land Survey Information System (LSIS) through the GeoCommunicator website (the geographic data portal co-sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service).  The survey program (also called the Rectangular Survey System) is responsible for the official boundary surveys for all federal agencies in the U.S. (encompassing over 700 million acres).  Each survey element provides geographic locations according to township, range and section information.  The website provides an interactive map application for viewing and downloading 
http://www.geocommunicator.gov 
http://www.geocommunicator.gov/GeoComm/lsis_home/home 
http://www.blm.gov/gcdb

Also refer to Other Software and Tools.

Related categories: Element Distribution Modeling, Classification Systems. 

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Data Repositories 

USDA Geospatial Data Gateway:  The Geospatial Data Gateway provides one stop shopping for natural resources or environmental data at anytime, from anywhere, to anyone.  The Gateway allows you to search for available data by geographic area such as county or state, use our point and click map tool to find your area of interest; using a gazetteer, or by entering latitude and longitude coordinates.  You can also search for data by theme, such as digital ortho imagery, digital elevation models (DEMs), or soils.  You can then view a thumbnail, or sample of the data you've chosen to know if you want a copy of the data.  If you do, you can either download the data directly onto your computer, pick it up via a ftp site, or order it on media such as CD.  This site provides access to datasets that describe transportation, government units, census, hydrography, hydrologic units, topography, soils, climate, precipitation, temperature, and geographic names.
http://datagateway.nrcs.usda.gov

National Atlas:  The National Atlas is an interagency effort led by the U.S. Geological Survey to provide a range of cartographic products and spatial data processing services for maps and other related geographic information.  Among the many maps offered through the National Atlas website are layers of information on water, geology, environment, climate, animal ranges, forests, invasive species and land cover.  The site also includes map references on point locations, administrative boundaries and historical information.  While many of the map layers are not downloadable directly from the website, the map layers portal provides background information on and external links to each data layer.
http://nationalatlas.gov/maplayers.html

FSGeoData:  The FSGeodata Clearinghouse provides searching, viewing and downloading of geospatial datasets and metadata created and maintained by the USDA Forest Service over lands of the National Forest System. Access to datasets is provided through a user-driven geographic interface.  Information through FSGeoData is categorized through three primary gateways of information: metadata, vector, and raster.  The metadata gateway contains links to data organized by content themes such as Ecologic, Demographic, Geophysical, etc.  The vector gateway includes access to cartographic features (mostly 1:24K) on roads, streams, waterbodies, administrative boundaries, land ownership, and other features.  The raster gateway provides access to raster grids (also known as softcopy maps) of published Forest Service maps and are downloadable as Geotiff files (also at 1:24K).  Note: data and maps available from this site do not necessarily contain the same information contained in Forest Service GIS databases maintained by individual National Forests. Currently, the FSGeoData Clearinghouse also includes an interactive module for the MODIS Active Fire Mapping application.
http://fsgeodata.fs.fed.us

  GeoData.gov:  GeoData.gov is a GIS portal (also known as the Geospatial One-Stop) that serves as a public gateway for access to spatial information and data.  The portal is a catalog of geospatial information containing thousands of metadata records and links to live maps, catalog services, downloadable data sets, clearinghouses, map files and more.  It can be used to gain access to featured relevant data in several data categories including: administrative boundaries, agriculture, atmosphere, biology/ecology, elevation, environment, facilities, geology and water.  The site also includes access to imagery and basemaps, as well as data from several special interest categories (e.g., fire mapping).  In addition, the site features search and publishing tools, save functions for search criteria, map services, and access to partners for data collections and acquisitions.
http://geodata.gov

State Data Clearinghouses: AL | AK | AR | AZ | CA | CO | CT | DE | FL | GA | HI | ID | IL | IN | IO | KS | KY | LA | MA | MD | ME | MI | MN | MO | MS | MT | NC | ND | NE | NH | NJ | NM | NV | NY | OH | OK | OR | PA | RI | SC | SD | TN | TX | UT | VA | VT | WA | WI | WV | WY

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Additional Resources

• Classification Systems

• Remote Sensing Imagery

• Element Distribution Modeling

• Other Software and Tools

Classification Systems

The following represent land, vegetation and other classification systems that have been used by various agencies and companies to develop many of the spatial datasets that are described in this document.  The items below are not listed for the purpose of accessing data available for landscape or habitat assessments, although some (e.g., USGS’s NPS Vegetation Mapping Program) are directly related to certain bodies of spatial information.  These taxonomic systems can be applied directly or in modified form to generate new data or approach the classification of certain datasets in a different way.  Additional classification systems are available at the local, state and regional level.

Anderson Land Use Classification Schemes (Level I-III, LCI)

CORINE Land Cover Classification Programme (Level I-III)

GAP Vegetation Classification and Information Standards (VCIS)  

Guttenberg Multiple Landuse Classification System (UIUC)

National Vegetation Classification Standard (NVCS)

NatureServe Ecological Systems (USEcologyData) 

NLCD Classification Schemes and Land Cover Class Definitions (Level II, Class I & II)

NOAA Land Cover Analysis Classification Schemes (Land Cover, C-CAP)

USGS - NPS Vegetation Mapping Program (NVCS)

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Remote Sensing Imagery (Unclassified Data)

This category lists most of the available obtained directly from satellites, fixed-wing aircraft or other air-borne vehicles equipped with remote-sensing instrumentation.  The sites that are linked in this section typically provide access to spatial data which has not yet been classified for any particular theme or category of information, but has been georectified and/or terrain-corrected so that it can be incorporated with other data in image processing software or a GIS.  Most of these remotely-sensed data also include atmospheric correction for clouds and other environmental conditions that may cause some irregularities in the interpretation of the data.  Through the use of new or pre-existing image-processing algorithms, these unclassified data can be used to develop a “classified” image with a specific objective in mind, such as a terrain model or land cover classification.  Spatial datasets described in other sections of this document have already been classified, while those in this section represent opportunities to create new or different information based on remotely-sensed imagery.

  Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER)

Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)

Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS)

Digital Orthophoto Quadrangles (DOQs or DOQQ)

Earth Observing-1 (EO-1, Hyperion)

LandSat Ortho-rectified ETM+ and TM (LandSat)

Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS, Terra)

National Aerial Photography Program (NAPP)

RADARSAT (RADARSAT, CSA, GeoGratis)

SPOT Image (SPOT, Vegetation)  

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Element Distribution Modeling

Element Distribution Modeling is a process for mapping environments predicted to be suitable for occupation by a given species or community, or the extent to which environments are suitable.  The term “element” is derived from language used by the NatureServe network (Natural Heritage Programs and Conservation Data Centres) when referring to elements of biological diversity (principally species and communities).  EDM does not directly model habitat or the distribution of a target species or community. Rather, it models the distribution of environments predicted to be suitable for occupation, and assumes that this distribution mirrors the actual distribution of the element.  Mapping can be done at different spatial scales, depending upon the scale of the occurrence and environmental data.  EDM involves 3 basic procedures: (1) modeling, (2) mapping, and (3) evaluation or validation. Modeling may be done deductively or inductively using techniques such as DOMAIN, Classification and Regression Trees, multiple logistic regression, Maximum Entropy, or Bayesian modeling approaches.  Sometimes, models are produced using multiple methods and the spatially explicit results overlain to reveal similarities and differences.

  A Primer on Element Distribution Modeling (primer.doc)

Description of EDM Algorithm Families (algorithms.doc)

  EDM Software for Download (readme and .exe files)^*

  Hardware and Software Requirements (requirements.doc)  

Papers on Element Distribution Modeling (papers.doc)  

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Habplan:  Habplan is a landscape management and harvest scheduling program written in Java. Habplan uses a simulation approach, based on the Metropolis Algorithm, to generate feasible (near optimal) harvest schedules.  Habplan allows users to build an objective function from the supplied components that show up as checkboxes on the main Habplan form.  The program was designed to deal with spatial objectives, but can also be used for harvest scheduling where there are no spatial or adjacency issues.  Habplan selects from management regimes that the user indicates are allowable for each polygon (stand).  Any polygon may have from 1 to hundreds of allowed regimes.  Habplan Version 3 features include: a limited Linear Programming (LP) capability, management units to force groups of stands to get the same management regime, and linked FLOW components.
http://ncasi.uml.edu/projects/habplan