What is the title of the data set?

New Jersey 1995 Level 3 Land Cover Classification

What does the data set describe?

Land Cover (i.e. physical material covering the surface of the earth)

What geographic area does the data set cover?

Statewide coverage of New Jersey

What is the date that the data describes?

Data contains land cover descriptions for 1995

How does the data set represent geographic features?

Features are represented by raster-based grid cells (i.e. map features are depicted by coded pixels within a “checker board” digital map model)

How are geographic features stored in the data set?

Data is stored in ESRI GRID format

What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

Universal Transverse Mercator UTM zone 18, North American Datum 1983

How does the data set describe geographic features?

Land features are depicted by groups of contiguous raster cells with the same classification code.

What are the types of features present?

Features are grouped into 8 general categories of land cover including developed, cultivated, grasslands, upland forest, upland scrub/shrub, barren, water, and wetlands.

Who produced the data set?

The data was produced by the Grant F. Walton Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis (CRSSA), Rutgers University.

To whom should users address questions about the data?

Grant F. Walton Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis (CRSSA), Rutgers University.

Why was the data set created?

The data was created to provide a standardized information base on land cover of New Jersey for CRSSA’s Landscape Change Research Project.

What is the recommend use for the data?

The data set may be of use to regulators, planners, research scientist and others interested in LU/LC changes occurring in New Jersey throughout the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s. This data set is intended to serve as a resource for analysis rather than regulatory delineations.

What are aspects of concerned for a non-specialist to interpret the data?

Data represents land cover Although related to land use, land cover characterizes the physical material covering the surface of the earth rather than the legal and functional characteristics of depicted by a land use map.

How was the data set created?

Expert enhanced classification of Landsat satellite imagery.

Were the source data compiled at a particular scale?

The data was produced as a single statewide coverage with a 28 meter grid cell size.

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

While all data have inherent limitations, this dataset was compiled to a high level of accuracy.  A full description of the data accuracy and limitations is provided in the metadata available at: http://crssa.rutgers.edu/projects/lc

What can you say about the accuracy of the observations?

The overall accuracies for the Level I classification was greater than 90% and Level II was 85% correct.  Full accuracy assessment analysis is provided in the metadata available at: http://crssa.rutgers.edu/projects/lc

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Data are freely downloadable at:

http://crssa.rutgers.edu/projects/lc

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Yes, although this dataset is freely available to the public, there are a number of restrictions for its use for which the user must agree.  For example, data must not be reproduced or redistributed without permission of the CRSSA and all secondary maps that utilize this dataset must provide a proscribed source statement.  These and other restrictions are fully described in the metadata available at: http://crssa.rutgers.edu/projects/lc

Who distributes the data?

Data is distributed via the internet by the Grant F. Walton Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis, Rutgers University

How can people download or order the data?

http://crssa.rutgers.edu/projects/lc

In what formats are the data available?

Data is available in ESRI Inc. GRID format.

What hardware or software do people need in order to use the data set?

Data can be utilized by a number of GIS applications including Arcview 3.x (with Spatial Analyst extension), ArcINFO, and ArcGIS.

What are some suggested uses of the Data for New Jersey’s various communities of user?

The data can be utilized for many applications including; regional planning, analysis of land use trends, landscape modeling and more ….

Potential applications:

(environmental management)

CRSSA LC95 can be utilized for delineation of important natural land resources including various forest areas, wetlands, grasslands, and corridors of connection between landscape patches and the associated ecological communities.   Land use trends and impervious surface estimates derived from the classification categories can be utilized in watershed flood and water quality monitoring and management.

Potential applications:

(regional planning)

Regional applications include growth trend analysis, identification of lands for future growth and land preservation among others.

Potential applications:

(local planning)

Data can be utilized as a land cover base map for master planning, open space planning and development of a natural resource inventory (NRI).

Potential applications:

(habitat analysis)

Data is excellent for landscape analysis and modeling, identification of habitat patches and corridors and dynamic landscape change analysis.

Potential applications:

(open space preservation)

Dataset provides landscape information to identify lands of significant value as parklands, farmlands, watershed lands, habitat patches and corridors for potential open space acquisition.