Forest Canopy data

[pwarren]

I'm interested in using forest canopy data (available via the MRLC viewer) in my custom topo maps.  Has anyone found a way to use this data?

- Paul

[Boyd]

Yes! I am using this and other landcover data extensively in my map - see this thread: http://forums.gpsfiledepot.com/index.php/topic,152.0.html

What is the MRLC viewer? The USGS site has forest canopy data but it is raster-based (or at least the stuff I looked at was). Initially I looked into ways to trace shapes from the raster images but that was not a good solution. Upon digging deeper, I found shapefiles full of great stuff for my state (New Jersey). A very quick look implied that such data is probably available for other areas as well.

Try doing some google searches with the keywords "shapefiles" and "LULC" (or "LU/LC") which stands for "Land Use Land Cover". That seems to be the acronym which is applied to this kind of data.

[pwarren]

Great looking maps!

The MRLC viewer allows you to download LU/LC data for the US.  It is modeled after many of the other "seamless" GIS clearinghouses out there.  The canopy data is, as you mentioned, rastor-based (GeoTIFF, BIL).  I've tried to search for a way to convert that to vector data with very limited success.  I would love to find shapefiles for the data I'm looking for (AL), but have not had any success looking for them.

- Paul

[Boyd]

Don't have time to check this out myself, but what is this stuff?

http://www.webgis.com/terr_pages/lulcgeo_al.html

[pwarren]

Thanks for the pointer!

- Paul

[Boyd]

No problem. That took about 20 seconds... was the third link to appear in a google search. It's really amazing what you can find out there when you dig around. Let me know how (if?) it works for you.