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Land cover

Biological Science Report 2002-0001-2
By: , and 
Edited by: David C. DouglasPatricia E. Reynolds, and E. B. Rhode

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Abstract

Documenting the distribution of land-cover types on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastal plain is the foundation for impact assessment and mitigation of potential oil exploration and development. Vegetation maps facilitate wildlife studies by allowing biologists to quantify the availability of important wildlife habitats, investigate the relationships between animal locations and the distribution or juxtaposition of habitat types, and assess or extrapolate habitat characteristics across regional areas.

To meet the needs of refuge managers and biologists, satellite imagery was chosen as the most cost-effective method for mapping the large, remote landscape of the 1002 Area.

Objectives of our study were the following: 1) evaluate a vegetation classification scheme for use in mapping. 2) determine optimal methods for producing a satellite-based vegetation map that adequately met the needs of the wildlife research and management objectives; 3) produce a digital vegetation map for the Arctic Refuge coastal plain using Lands at-Thematic Mapper(TM) satellite imagery, existing geobotanical classifications, ground data, and aerial photographs, and 4) perform an accuracy assessment of the map.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype Federal Government Series
Title Land cover
Series title Biological Science Report
Series number 2002-0001
Chapter 2
Year Published 2002
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Alaska Science Center
Description 4 p.
Larger Work Type Report
Larger Work Subtype Federal Government Series
Larger Work Title Arctic Refuge coastal plain terrestrial wildlife research summaries (Biological Science Report USGS/BRD/BSR-2002-0001)
First page 4
Last page 7
Country Canada, United States
State Alaska, Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory
Other Geospatial Arctic Refuge Coastal Plain, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
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