Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Far North Land CoverData Specifications Version 1.4
November 2014
Contact :
Provincial Remote Sensing Specialist, Science and Information Branch, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources anf Forestry. (705) 946-7450
Disclaimer
This instructional documentation has been prepared by Her Majesty the Queen in right of Ontario as represented by the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry (the “Ministry”). No warranties or representations, express or implied, statutory or otherwise shall apply or are being made by the Ministry with respect to the documentation, its accuracy or its completeness. In no event will the Ministry be liable or responsible for any lost profits, loss of revenue or earnings, claims by third parties or for any economic, indirect, special, incidental, consequential or exemplary damage resulting from any errors, inaccuracies or omissions in this documentation; and in no event will the Ministry’s liability for any such errors, inaccuracies or omissions on any particular claim, proceeding or action, exceed the actual consideration paid by the claimant involved to the Ministry for the materials to which this instructional documentation relates. Save and except for the liability expressly provided for above, the Ministry shall have no obligation, duty or liability whatsoever in contract, tort or otherwise, including any liability or negligence. The limitations, exclusions and disclaimers expressed above shall apply irrespective of the nature of any cause of action, demand or action, including but not limited to breach of contract, negligence, strict liability, tort or any other legal theory, and shall survive any fundamental breach or breaches.
Table of contents
1.0 Data specifications sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2.0 Far North Land Cover classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.1 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.2 Data dictionary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.2.1 Dataset attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.2.2 Raster datasets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.2.3 Geodatabase tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.2.4 Cartographic legend files for Far North Land Cover geodatabase data layers . . . . . 8
2.3 Classification scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.4 Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.5 Table 1: Description of Far North Land Cover classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
2.6 Chart 1: Class aggregation hierarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
3.0 Far North Land Cover to PLC 2000 correspondence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
4.0 Table 2: Land cover class to provincial ecosite correspondence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
5.0 Listing of terms adopted from Ecosites of Ontario . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
6.0 Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
7.0 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 1
1.0 Data specifications sheet
Date: November 2014
Section 1: Data standard information This section identifies the name, abbreviation, and extent of the Far North Land Cover, and
provides contact information for the producer and custodian of this data layer.
Layer name: Far North Land Cover
Layer abbreviation:
Layer description:
Regional, ecologically based, land cover and change inventory. Represents the landscape current to between 2005-2011.
References: Far North Land Cover Methodology
Production: Science and Research Branch, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF)
Product contact: Provincial Remote Sensing Specialist, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Science & Research Branch. (705) 946-7450
Extent: Ontario north of approximately the 48th parallel. Includes most of ecoregion 3W and 3S and portions of 4S and 3E.
Custodian: Science and Research Branch, MNRF
Section 2: GIS Data layer specifications This section identifies the geospatial criteria for this data layer. 1. File information
File type: GRID
Projection file name: UTM Zones 15, 16 and 17
Geometry type
X Grid Point Line Polygon Raster
2. Coordinate system
Geographic X UTM
Horizontal coordinate system: NAD83/UTM Zones 15, 16 and 17
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 2
2.0 Far North Land Cover classification
2.1 Overview
The aim of creating a revised land cover for the Far North is to produce a consistent map to meet regional - to landscape level analysis (1:50,000 – 1:100,000). Remote sensing analysts apply image analysis, and combine other data such as geology and elevation, to create the land cover database. This is an advantage to previous land cover databases that relied on spectral data alone. The revised land cover will have a vintage across the entire Far North of 2006-11.
A secondary objective is to develop ways of identifying changes over time to ensure land cover data can be updated, and be used in long-term resource monitoring. Changes over time from natural disturbances (e.g., fire and wind damage) and from forest harvesting are being mapped. Disturbances are being clas-sified as either anthropogenic (cuts, infrastructure) or natural. The vintage of these events (pre 1990, 1990-2000, and post 2000) are also captured. More specific time periods and event types (burns, weather related, and insect/disease) are identified wherever suitable data is available. These changes have been incorporated into the land cover as two different types of disturbance features while greater detail on the nature and time period of disturbance is offered in the Provincial Satellite Derived Disturbance Mapping.
2.2 Data dictionary
Far North Land Cover classification products are available in an ESRI ArcGIS File Geodatabase. Contained within the geodatabase are a series of raster datasets and tables.
The following sections are provided as a data dictionary.
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 3
2.2.
1 D
atas
et a
ttri
but
es
FarN
orth
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dC
over
Fiel
d
Nam
eA
lias
Des
crip
tion
Tab
ular
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nD
ata
Typ
e
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DE
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co
ver
cod
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e un
ique
num
eric
al c
od
e as
sig
ned
to
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h Fa
r N
ort
h La
nd C
ove
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ass
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trie
ve la
nd c
ove
r cl
ass
nam
es, t
his
field
can
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o G
eod
atab
ase
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le
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rNo
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ver
Cla
ss_N
ames
–
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hort
inte
ger
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orth
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ular
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ata
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ned
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ort
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ve la
nd c
ove
r g
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nam
es, t
his
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ase
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le
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rNo
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Land
Co
ver
Gro
up_N
ames
–
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DE
fiel
d.
Typ
e: s
hort
inte
ger
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 4
FarN
orth
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dC
over
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d
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eA
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crip
tion
Tab
ular
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ld c
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to
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dat
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ble
–
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oin
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ext
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0
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ate
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ne a
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ned
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age
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pe:
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rt in
teg
er
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 5
2.2.
2 R
aste
r d
atas
ets
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eE
ntit
yD
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ipti
onFe
atur
e ty
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TM Z
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aste
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atas
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and
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rid_{
UTM
Zo
ne}
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ter
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aset
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No
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Land
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ver
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sific
atio
n –
sect
ion
leve
l sho
wn
in C
hart
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and
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ver
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ss A
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reg
atio
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Grid
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 6
2.2.
3 G
eod
atab
ase
tab
les
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orth
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dC
over
_Cla
ss_N
ames
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land
cov
er c
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e as
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wn
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hart
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and
Cov
er C
lass
Ag
gre
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Fiel
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ial A
ttri
but
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ble
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ata
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ngth
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ames
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ver
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up n
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ext
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th:5
0
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 7
FarN
orth
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dC
over
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tion
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es
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ame
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rt 1
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ss A
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ata
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ver
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ngth
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Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 8
2.2.
4 C
arto
gra
phi
c le
gen
d fi
les
for
Far
Nor
th L
and
Cov
er g
eod
atab
ase
dat
a la
yers
ESR
I Arc
GIS
leg
end
(.ly
r) fi
les
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ame
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tion
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for
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atas
et –
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}.
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 9
2.3 Classification scheme
In an effort to maintain consistency with previous land cover products the majority of classes have been adopted from previous provincial land cover class schemes as outlined in “User Manual on the Provincial Land Cover Database with Recommendations for Database Management” (Spectranalysis, Inc.. 1997), and “Introduction to the Ontario Land Cover Data Base, Second Edition (2000): Outline of Production Methodology and Description of 27 Land Cover Classes” (Spectranalysis, Inc.. 2004).
Classes and descriptions have been slightly modified to account for recent advances in ecological classification science using The Ecosystems of Ontario, Part 1: Ecozones and Ecoregions (Crins et al.. 2009) “Provincial Ecosites of Ontario” (Ecological Land Classification Work Group, 2009) and Wetlands of the Ontario Hudson Bay Lowland: A Regional Overview (Riley, 2011). Additionally, significant effort has been expended attempting to match land cover classes with Ontario ecosite decision structure and conditions. However, limitations associated with source data resolution prevents a one to one relationship. The following sections discuss these limitations and offer a description of the basic ecology of each land cover class mapped, much of which has been borrowed from the references cited.
2.4 Considerations
• The Far North encompasses approximately 441,000 km2 (roughly 43% of Ontario). Medium resolution Landsat satellite imagery was used because of its synoptic and temporal coverage. The Far North Land Cover includes a southern extension into the Area of Undertaking (AOU) for an additional area of 175,000 km2. In total this represents 60% of Ontario for a total of 616,000 km2 mapped. An additional 85,000 km2 was mapped on the Manitoba/Ontario border to support ecological land cover and wildlife research activities.
• The Landsat sensor records data on a grid of approximately 30 m x 30 m cells or ‘pixels’. This pixel size is ideal for regional or landscape level mapping since it is capable of mapping features as small as 0.5 hectare. The overall minimum mapping unit is approximately 1 hectare. Data users should be aware of this minimum mapping standard in reporting and analysing results.
• Single year full leaf conditions are ideal for mapping most vegetative features. However, acquiring optimal cloud free imagery representing these conditions for an area the size of the Far North is challening. Consequently, concessions have to be made which include allowing for a range of years and leaf out conditions. By doing so, mapping consistency can be impacted. For example, a hardwood stand on an optimal image may look more like a mixed wood stand on a non-optimal image. A spatial index of the image extents and dates has been provided to enable users to account for these differences.
• This product was created using imagery acquired on many different dates that exhibited differing physiographic and vegetative conditions. Furthermore, numerous remote sensing analysts contributed to the creation of this product. While extensive efforts were made to rationalize discrepancies, not all artificial boundaries between individual mapping tiles could be resolved.
• Landsat imagery used for classifying has known limitations. Most obvious is image pixel generalization: a pixel represents mixtures of many physiographic and vegetative surface conditions. This can cause a number of discrepancies between it and field based classification systems such as Ecosites of Ontario (Ecological Land Classification Work Group, 2009). Typical discrepancies related to this limitation include:
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 10
• Classes associated with tree cover terminology commonly used to classify provincial ecosites. Reliably discriminating classes on the basis of percent canopy cover is problematic, particularly at lower covers between approximately 10% and 40%.
• This imagery is not a precise separator of sparsely treed and completely open vegetation communities. This is particularly true for sparsely treed fen and bog where tree growth is often also stunted. For example, bogs are typically dry and vegetatively homogeneous. In such situations the dry homogeneous areas significantly reduce the satellite sensors ability to detect the sparse, poorly growing black spruce scattered within, causing an averaged pixel tone that is more representative of completely open conditions.
• The separation of some ecological features, such as fen and bog, can rely on the presence of as little as one indicator graminoid, herbaceous plant, moss or lichen. A few simple assumptions and concessions have therefore been made when mapping wetlands. The presence of pure image tones reflecting primarily sparse tamarack/graminoid or sphagnum moss communities are used to map fen and bog respectively. Efforts were made to account for non-spectral characteristics such as feature shape, size and relationship to other mapped classes. However, the inclusion of such information was challenging and therefore largely based on an individual image analyst’s ability to recognize these characteristics as class determining factors.
• Wetland features are smaller and more physiographically heterogeneous in the southern portion of the Boreal Shield. Consequently treed fen, treed bog and coniferous swamp are particularly challenging to separate on satellite imagery.
• A review of the land cover mapping in the Boreal Shield, including feedback from 2011 field observations, indicates that there may be an underestimation of coniferous swamp and deciduous swamp. While the best available topographic data was used to aid the mapping of these features this elevation source does not penetrate dense tree canopies. Such situations can create artificial topographic mounds that appear to represent false upland ecology.
• A comprehensive ecological description of wetlands in the Hudson Bay Lowlands was completed in 2011 (Riley, 2011), including a reference to a “peat plateau” wetland class. On the surface these features contain both bog- and fen-like communities, though the latter is not well documented. Below the surface they differ in that they are an expression of various permafrost mechanisms and therefore their formation is the result of differing physiographic processes. While land cover analysts were aware of these features, no effort was made to distinguish them from bog or fen features. However, given their significance for both wildlife (i.e. caribou) and climate change monitoring it is hoped that future mapping will distinguish these features with the aid of Riley’s ecological description and existing permafrost, geology and vegetative mapping.
• The Forest Resources Inventory (FRI) was used as auxillary information for the portion of the study area extending into the Area of Undertaking (AOU)(OMNR, 2010). FRI data were derived by interpretation of aerial photos which have significantly finer resolution than Landsat imagery. Although an intentional attempt was made to preserve the consistency across the entire product, it can be expected that the land cover accuracy in the southern extension exceeds the previously mapped territories to some extent. For instance, Deciduous Swamps are separately mapped in the southern extension of FNLC Release 1.3. The class is mapped mostly through FRI data interpretation. North of the extension area this class has been lumped into Thicket Swamps because it occurs with little frequency and exhibits poor spectral severability based on Landsat data alone.
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 11
2.5
Tab
le 1
: Des
crip
tion
of
Far
Nor
th L
and
Cov
er c
lass
es
Uni
t na
me
CO
DE
#D
escr
ipti
onPo
ssib
le c
onfu
sion
In
put
sou
rce
Clear Open Water
1Th
is c
lass
is c
hara
cter
ized
by
wat
er w
ith m
inim
al o
r no
ev
iden
ce o
f tur
bid
ity o
r se
dim
ent.
The
re is
als
o a
n ab
senc
e o
f mac
rop
hyte
veg
etat
ion,
tre
e o
r sh
rub
co
ver.
Clo
ud s
had
ow, t
ree
shad
ow —
the
dar
k im
age
tone
s o
f clo
ud a
nd t
ree
shad
ow
s ca
n b
e co
nfus
ed
as w
ater
. A
dd
itio
nally
, wat
er fe
atur
es g
reat
er t
han
l ha
per
ched
on
fen
and
bo
g w
etla
nds
will
als
o b
e in
clud
ed.
Sate
llite
imag
ery
and
OH
N w
ater
la
yer
Turbid Water
2Th
is c
lass
is c
hara
cter
ized
by
wat
er w
ith v
aryi
ng d
egre
es
of t
urb
idity
, sed
imen
t an
d m
arl.
Sp
arse
flo
atin
g a
nd
sub
mer
ged
veg
etat
ion
is a
lso
incl
uded
in t
his
clas
s as
to
nes
are
sim
ilar
to w
ater
with
tur
bid
ity a
nd s
edim
ent.
Litt
le t
o
no t
ree
or
shru
b c
ove
r is
pre
sent
. Th
e m
ixtu
re o
f sp
arse
em
erg
ent
and
flo
atin
g v
eget
atio
n, s
usp
end
ed s
edim
ent,
tu
rbid
wat
er a
nd c
lear
wat
er c
reat
e a
uniq
ue a
nd id
entifi
able
im
age
tone
.
Poly
go
nal a
nd li
near
(str
eam
) Ont
ario
Hyd
ro
Net
wo
rk (O
HN
) wat
er fe
atur
es w
ere
incl
uded
as
rast
er w
ater
feat
ures
reg
ard
less
of s
atel
lite
imag
e to
ne.
Forc
ing
hyd
rolo
gy
in t
his
way
allo
wed
for
the
map
pin
g o
f sm
all a
nd n
arro
w w
ater
feat
ures
, w
hile
als
o in
clud
ing
po
rtio
ns o
f bo
th v
eget
atio
n an
d e
xpo
sed
sub
stra
tes.
Ad
diti
ona
lly, r
egar
dle
ss
of v
eget
atio
n co
nten
t th
e p
rovi
ncia
l ELC
co
nsid
ers
all w
ater
with
less
tha
n 2
met
res,
as
op
en o
r sa
lt w
ater
mar
sh.
Thes
e fe
atur
es w
ill o
ften
be
map
ped
as
tur
bid
wat
er.
Sate
llite
imag
ery
and
OH
N w
ater
la
yer
Intertidal Mudflat
3C
om
ple
tely
unv
eget
ated
co
asta
l are
as o
f Hud
son
and
Ja
mes
Bay
s. T
hese
feat
ures
are
co
vere
d b
y va
ryin
g d
epth
s o
f wat
er d
epen
din
g o
n d
ista
nce
fro
m t
he c
oas
t, a
s w
ell a
s th
e p
oin
t in
the
tid
al c
ycle
whe
n th
e im
ager
y w
as a
cqui
red
. Th
ese
feat
ures
hav
e a
uniq
ue a
nd id
entifi
able
imag
e to
ne
due
to
the
co
mb
inat
ion
of w
et a
nd e
xpo
sed
so
il. P
roxi
mity
to
Jam
es a
nd H
udso
n B
ays
also
aid
s d
etec
tion.
Inte
rtid
al m
arsh
, tur
bid
wat
er, c
lear
op
en w
ater
—
mud
flat
cove
red
with
wat
er c
an b
e co
nfus
ed
with
inte
rtid
al m
arsh
and
mix
ed w
ater
feat
ures
, w
hile
co
mp
lete
ly e
xpo
sed
mud
flats
can
be
conf
used
with
san
d, g
rave
l and
min
e ta
iling
s.
Sate
llite
imag
ery
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 12
Uni
t na
me
CO
DE
#
Des
crip
tion
Poss
ible
con
fusi
onIn
put
sou
rce
Intertidal Marsh
4Pr
imar
ily o
pen
co
mm
uniti
es c
ont
aini
ng li
ving
and
sen
esce
d
gra
sses
, sed
ges
and
em
erg
ents
. Th
ese
mar
shes
are
dire
ctly
ad
jace
nt t
o t
he H
udso
n an
d J
ames
Bay
co
asts
bet
wee
n m
udfla
ts a
nd t
he s
uper
tidal
zo
ne, a
nd a
re c
ons
tant
ly
influ
ence
d b
y b
rack
ish
and
fres
hwat
er.
They
are
flo
od
ed
at h
igh
tide
and
slo
wly
dra
in a
s th
e tid
e fa
lls; a
pro
cess
th
at le
aves
a m
osa
ic o
f po
ols
of s
tand
ing
wat
er.
Est
uarin
e in
tert
idal
mar
shes
are
foun
d a
t th
e o
utflo
ws
of f
resh
wat
er
river
s an
d a
re a
lso
incl
uded
in t
his
clas
s. L
ast
year
’s d
ead
ve
get
atio
n is
so
met
imes
pre
sent
whi
le fl
uctu
atin
g w
ater
le
vels
and
oth
er n
atur
al d
istu
rban
ce (e
.g. o
verg
razi
ng
by
abno
rmal
ly h
igh
gee
se p
op
ulat
ions
) can
als
o s
tres
s ve
get
atio
n in
thi
s zo
ne c
ausi
ng it
to
sen
esce
ear
ly.
A
com
bin
atio
n o
f hig
her
amo
unts
of d
ead
and
sen
esce
d
gra
sses
and
het
ero
gen
eous
co
nditi
ons
pro
vid
e a
uniq
ue
mo
saic
of i
mag
e to
nes
that
allo
ws
for
map
pin
g.
Pro
xim
ity
to J
ames
and
Hud
son
Bay
s al
so a
ids
det
ectio
n.
Dry
up
land
mea
dow
s —
op
en d
ry m
ead
ow
s w
ith
gre
en a
nd s
enes
ced
veg
etat
ion
that
are
ad
jace
nt
to H
udso
n an
d J
ames
Bay
s ca
n b
e co
nfus
ed w
ith
inte
rtid
al m
arsh
.
Sate
llite
imag
ery
Supertidal Marsh
5Pr
imar
ily o
pen
co
mm
uniti
es c
ont
aini
ng s
om
e sh
rub
s an
d t
rees
. Tr
ee a
nd s
hrub
co
ver
≤ 25
% a
nd d
om
inat
ed
by
emer
gen
t hy
dro
phy
tic m
acro
phy
tes.
Wat
er t
able
is
seas
ona
lly o
r p
erm
anen
tly a
t, n
ear,
or
abo
ve s
ubst
rate
su
rfac
e. T
his
clas
s in
clud
es c
oas
tal m
arsh
es b
eyo
nd t
he
inte
rtid
al z
one
and
as
such
, sub
ject
ed t
o s
alt
wat
er v
ia
exce
ptio
nal t
ides
and
sto
rm s
urg
es.
Low
er a
mo
unts
of
visi
ble
sen
sed
veg
etat
ion
and
wat
er a
long
with
pro
xim
ity t
o
Jam
es a
nd H
udso
n B
ays
allo
ws
for
imag
e d
etec
tion.
Thic
ket
swam
p, u
pla
nd t
hick
et, o
pen
fen
, fr
eshw
ater
mar
sh—
the
sup
ertid
al z
one
oft
en
cons
ists
of b
oth
em
erg
ent
and
her
bac
eous
mar
sh
com
mun
ities
, sub
ject
ed t
o m
ore
freq
uent
tid
al
floo
din
g, a
nd t
hick
et s
wam
p c
om
mun
ities
furt
her
inla
nd a
nd t
here
fore
less
freq
uent
ly im
pac
ted
b
y tid
es.
The
tran
sitio
n b
etw
een
com
mun
ities
ca
n b
e g
rad
ual a
nd t
here
fore
diffi
cult
to m
ap.
Ad
diti
ona
lly, s
uper
tidal
mar
sh v
eget
atio
n ca
n ha
ve
sim
ilar
imag
e to
nes
to t
hick
et s
wam
p a
nd u
pla
nd
shru
b t
hick
et o
n b
each
rid
ges
. Th
ese
two
shr
ub
com
mun
ities
are
the
refo
re e
asily
co
nfus
ed w
ith
sup
ertid
al m
arsh
.
Sate
llite
imag
ery
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 13
Uni
t na
me
CO
DE
#
Des
crip
tion
Poss
ible
con
fusi
onIn
put
sou
rce
Freshwater Marsh
6Fr
esh
wat
er m
arsh
es o
ccur
in c
lose
pro
xim
ity t
o H
udso
n an
d
Jam
es B
ays.
The
y ar
e o
ften
ad
jace
nt t
o s
uper
tidal
mar
shes
b
ut n
ot
sub
ject
ed t
o a
ny s
alt
wat
er in
fluen
ces.
Oth
erw
ise,
fr
eshw
ater
mar
sh fe
atur
es a
re re
lativ
ely
rare
in t
he F
ar
No
rth
but
do
occ
ur.
Whe
n th
ey o
ccur
the
se fe
atur
es a
re
loca
ted
on
inla
nd la
kes
and
riv
ers
in t
he s
out
hern
po
rtio
n o
f th
e O
ntar
io S
hiel
d a
nd in
riv
er o
xbo
ws
in t
he H
udso
n B
ay
low
land
s. T
hese
are
gen
eral
ly o
pen
co
mm
uniti
es w
here
the
w
ater
tab
le is
sea
sona
lly o
r p
erm
anen
tly a
t, n
ear,
or
abo
ve
sub
stra
te s
urfa
ce.
Veg
etat
ion
is c
om
po
sed
prim
arily
of
gra
sses
, sed
ges
and
em
erg
ents
whi
le t
ree
and
shr
ub c
ove
r ≤
25%
.
Op
en f
en, b
edro
ck, a
nd u
pla
nd m
ead
ow -
D
ense
gra
ss, s
edg
e an
d e
mer
gen
t co
mm
uniti
es
occ
urrin
g in
bo
th fr
esh
wat
er m
arsh
and
op
en
fen
app
ear
sim
ilar
on
sate
llite
imag
ery
lead
ing
to
co
nfus
ion
bet
wee
n th
ese
clas
ses.
Op
en b
edro
ck
and
up
land
mea
do
w a
re a
lso
sim
ilar
in im
age
tone
, esp
ecia
lly in
are
as o
f dis
turb
ance
.
Sate
llite
imag
ery
Heath
7H
eath
co
mm
onl
y o
ccur
s o
n th
e ra
ised
min
eral
so
ils
dep
osi
ted
as
bea
ch r
idg
es a
nd s
tran
dlin
es.
The
slig
htly
hi
ghe
r el
evat
ions
and
clo
se p
roxi
mity
to
the
co
ast
ensu
res
thes
e fe
atur
es a
re c
ons
tant
ly e
xpo
sed
to
all
inte
nsiti
es
of p
reva
iling
and
co
asta
l win
ds.
The
rela
tive
hig
h el
evat
ion
and
co
arse
so
il en
sure
s th
ese
area
s ar
e w
ell
dra
ined
the
refo
re w
ater
tab
le is
typ
ical
ly w
ell b
elo
w t
he
sub
stra
te s
urfa
ce c
reat
ing
up
land
co
nditi
ons
. A
ltho
ugh
veg
etat
ion
cove
r is
gre
ater
tha
n 25
%, e
xtre
me
cond
itio
ns
limit
veg
etat
ion
prim
arily
to
lich
en, a
rtic
her
b a
nd v
ario
us
eric
aceo
us s
hrub
sp
ecie
s. T
he c
om
bin
atio
n o
f lic
hen
and
eric
aceo
us s
hrub
imag
e to
nes,
pro
xim
ity t
o t
he
coas
t an
d s
pat
ial c
oin
cid
ence
with
bea
ch r
idg
es a
llow
for
iden
tifica
tion
and
map
pin
g.
Op
en b
og, s
par
se t
reed
, san
d/g
rave
l/m
ine
taili
ngs
— v
eget
atio
n an
d s
urfa
ce m
ois
ture
co
nditi
ons
can
be
sim
ilar
to li
chen
ric
h o
pen
b
og
s. S
par
se fo
rest
co
mm
uniti
es c
an a
lso
occ
ur
at d
ensi
ties
clo
se t
o 2
0%.
Ho
wev
er, e
xtre
mel
y d
ry
cond
itio
ns a
nd h
igh
liche
n d
ensi
ties
can
pre
vent
ac
cura
te re
pre
sent
atio
n in
imag
e to
nes.
Sate
llite
imag
ery,
O
ntar
io R
adar
D
igita
l Sur
face
M
od
el (O
RD
SM)
and
qua
tern
ary
geo
log
y
Thicket Swamp
8G
reat
er t
han
25%
hyd
rop
hytic
shr
ub s
pec
ies
cap
able
of
gro
win
g t
alle
r th
an 2
met
res
and
tre
e co
ver
less
tha
n 10
%.
Thes
e ar
e ty
pic
ally
foun
d w
ithin
or
on
the
edg
es o
f sm
all
to la
rge
flow
ing
wat
er b
od
ies
and
in s
uper
tidal
po
rtio
ns
of t
he H
udso
n B
ay L
ow
land
s. T
heir
min
eral
or
org
anic
so
il is
sub
ject
to
sea
sona
l flo
od
ing
or
char
acte
rized
by
a hi
gh
wat
er t
able
. In
man
y ca
ses
a ci
rcul
atio
n o
f wat
er r
ich
in d
isso
lved
min
eral
s al
low
s fo
r d
ense
veg
etat
ion
gro
wth
. Th
eir
asso
ciat
ion
to w
ater
and
uni
que
imag
e to
nes
due
to
hi
gh
dec
iduo
us le
af d
ensi
ties
enab
les
map
pin
g.
Up
land
thi
cket
, dec
iduo
us t
reed
— d
ense
up
land
thi
cket
, oft
en fo
und
in d
istu
rban
ce a
reas
an
d d
ecid
uous
fore
st, h
ave
sim
ilar
imag
e to
nes
to d
ense
thi
cket
sw
amp
. In
the
eve
nt O
RD
SM
dat
a ar
e no
t p
reci
se e
noug
h to
infe
r sa
tura
ted
co
nditi
ons
co
nfus
ion
may
occ
ur. T
amar
ack
fen
cont
aini
ng a
mp
le t
all s
hrub
can
als
o e
xhib
it si
mila
r im
age
tone
s to
thi
cket
sw
amp
. In
so
me
case
s im
age
pix
el g
ener
aliz
atio
n ca
uses
co
nfus
ion
with
th
e tr
eed
fen
clas
s.
Sate
llite
imag
ery,
O
RD
SM,
qua
tern
ary
geo
log
y, a
nd
OH
N s
trea
ms
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 14
Uni
t na
me
CO
DE
#
Des
crip
tion
Poss
ible
con
fusi
onIn
put
sou
rce
Coniferous Swamp
9G
reat
er t
han
25%
hyd
rop
hytic
shr
ub a
nd/o
r co
nife
rous
tr
ee s
pec
ies.
The
ir m
iner
al o
r o
rgan
ic s
oil
is s
ubje
ct t
o
seas
ona
l flo
od
ing
or
char
acte
rized
by
a hi
gh
wat
er t
able
an
d a
circ
ulat
ion
of w
ater
ric
h in
dis
solv
ed m
iner
als.
H
ydro
log
ical
ly t
hese
feat
ures
exi
st in
iso
late
d d
epre
ssio
ns
or
adja
cent
to
str
eam
s, la
kes,
fens
or
bo
gs.
Con
ifero
us t
reed
— fl
at fo
rest
ed la
ndsc
apes
with
25
% c
ano
py
clo
sure
or
gre
ater
pre
sent
sig
nific
ant
chal
leng
es fo
r re
mo
te m
app
ing
of s
wam
ps.
C
ano
py
den
sitie
s o
ften
pre
vent
det
ectio
n o
f wat
er
and
the
tra
nsiti
on
fro
m s
wam
p t
o fo
rest
oft
en
occ
urs
gra
dua
lly o
ver
long
dis
tanc
es.
Sate
llite
imag
ery
and
OR
DSM
Deciduous Swamp
10G
reat
er t
han
25%
hyd
rop
hytic
shr
ub a
nd d
ecid
uous
tre
e sp
ecie
s. T
he t
ree
cove
r m
ost
ly d
ecid
uous
is g
reat
er t
han
10%
. The
ir m
iner
al o
r p
eaty
pha
se s
ubst
rate
is s
ubje
ct
to s
easo
nal fl
oo
din
g o
r ch
arac
teriz
ed b
y a
hig
h w
ater
ta
ble
and
a c
ircul
atio
n o
f wat
er r
ich
in d
isso
lved
min
eral
s.
Hyd
rolo
gic
ally
the
se fe
atur
es e
xist
in d
epre
ssio
ns o
r le
vel
slo
pe,
ad
jace
nt t
o la
kes,
str
eam
s an
d r
iver
s, o
r o
pen
p
eatla
nds.
Dec
iduo
us t
reed
or
thic
ket
swam
ps
— d
ense
th
icke
t o
r d
ecid
uous
sw
amp
s an
d d
ecid
uous
fo
rest
hav
e si
mila
r im
age
tone
s si
nce
dec
iduo
us
veg
etat
ion
has
stro
ng re
flect
ion.
In a
dd
itio
n, h
igh
cano
py
clo
sure
pre
vent
s d
etec
tion
of w
ater
. Als
o
the
tran
sitio
n fr
om
sw
amp
to
fore
st o
ften
occ
urs
gra
dua
lly o
ver
long
dis
tanc
es.
FRI d
ata,
sat
ellit
e im
ager
y, a
nd
OR
DSM
Open Fen
11Fe
ns d
evel
op
in a
reas
of g
ener
ally
slo
w fl
ow
ing
wat
er a
nd
oft
en h
ave
satu
rate
d o
r flo
od
ed s
urfa
ces.
The
se fe
atur
es
are
fed
by
wat
er fr
om
pre
cip
itatio
n, g
roun
d a
nd/o
r su
rfac
e w
ater
, with
the
latt
er t
wo
so
urce
s en
riche
d b
y co
ntac
t w
ith
surr
oun
din
g m
iner
al s
oils
. Th
ese
cond
itio
ns e
nab
le s
light
ly
mo
re v
eget
ativ
e d
iver
sity
and
den
sity
tha
n b
og
s. M
oss
es
(gen
eral
ly n
ot
spha
gnu
m),
gra
min
oid
s an
d lo
w e
ricac
eous
sh
rub
s ar
e al
l co
mm
on.
Tal
l shr
ubs
may
als
o b
e p
rese
nt
but
at
den
sitie
s o
f les
s th
an 2
5%.
Co
nditi
ons
suc
h as
op
en
wat
er s
urfa
ces
and
sat
urat
ion,
den
se g
ram
ino
ids,
str
ing
p
atte
rns
and
tex
ture
d e
ricac
eous
shr
ub-r
ich
com
mun
ities
al
l aid
the
ir re
mo
te d
etec
tion.
Ad
diti
ona
lly, l
ow
tre
e co
ver,
app
roxi
mat
ely
zero
to
10%
, als
o a
ids
iden
tifica
tion.
Tree
d F
en, F
resh
wat
er M
arsh
, Bed
rock
, Up
land
M
ead
ow -
Dis
ting
uish
ing
per
cent
of t
reed
ve
get
atio
n is
diffi
cult
usin
g s
atel
lite
imag
ery,
p
artic
ular
ly w
hen
per
cent
ages
are
low
. Tr
eed
and
o
pen
fen
com
mun
ities
can
the
refo
re b
e co
nfus
ed.
Den
se g
rass
, sed
ge
and
em
erg
ent
com
mun
ities
o
ccur
ring
in b
oth
fres
h w
ater
mar
sh a
nd o
pen
fe
n cl
asse
s ap
pea
r si
mila
r o
n sa
telli
te im
ager
y.
Co
nfus
ion
may
als
o a
rise
follo
win
g a
dis
turb
ance
w
here
op
en b
edro
ck a
nd u
pla
nd m
ead
ow
hav
e si
mila
r im
age
tone
s to
the
op
en fe
n cl
ass.
Sate
llite
imag
ery
and
OH
N s
trea
ms
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 15
Uni
t na
me
CO
DE
#
Des
crip
tion
Poss
ible
con
fusi
onIn
put
sou
rce
Treed Fen
12A
s d
escr
ibed
ab
ove
fens
rece
ive
gro
und
and
sur
face
w
ater
. Th
ese
cond
itio
ns a
llow
for
slig
htly
hig
her
veg
etat
ion
den
sity
tha
n b
og
s. T
amar
ack
is u
sual
ly a
sso
ciat
ed w
ith fe
ns
due
to
its
adap
tatio
n to
the
tel
luric
co
nditi
ons
co
mm
on
in t
his
wet
land
typ
e. A
t d
ensi
ties
pre
do
min
atly
ove
r 10
%,
tree
s d
isp
lay
a un
ique
imag
e to
ne t
hat,
whe
n co
mb
ined
w
ith t
he o
ther
ob
serv
able
co
nditi
ons
no
ted
for
op
en fe
n,
allo
w fo
r th
eir
det
ectio
n o
n im
ager
y. B
lack
sp
ruce
is a
lso
p
rese
nt in
the
se fe
atur
es, b
ut n
ot
typ
ical
ly u
sed
as
an
imag
e id
entifi
er a
s th
ese
tree
s ar
e al
so e
vid
ent
in s
ever
al
oth
er la
nd c
ove
r cl
asse
s.
Op
en f
en, t
reed
bog
— d
eter
min
ing
ve
get
atio
n d
ensi
ty is
diffi
cult
usin
g s
atel
lite
imag
ery,
par
ticul
arly
whe
n p
erce
ntag
es
are
low
. Thi
s kn
ow
n lim
itatio
n m
ay re
sult
in c
onf
usio
n b
etw
een
tree
d a
nd o
pen
fe
n co
mm
uniti
es.
Ad
diti
ona
lly, m
iner
al
po
or
tree
d fe
ns c
an c
ont
ain
com
mun
ities
o
f sp
hag
num
mo
ss, b
lack
sp
ruce
and
er
icac
eous
shr
ub t
hat
are
den
se e
noug
h to
influ
ence
imag
e to
ne.
Whe
n th
is
occ
urs
the
pre
senc
e o
f “fe
n in
dic
ato
r”
gra
min
oid
s an
d/o
r he
rbac
eous
veg
etat
ion
is o
ften
the
onl
y w
ay t
o s
epar
ate
fen
fro
m
bo
g a
nd/o
r m
iner
al p
oo
r sw
amp
. Si
nce
thes
e in
dic
ato
rs a
re o
ften
sp
arse
, eve
n o
ccur
ring
as
one
pla
nt, r
emo
te d
etec
tion
is n
ot
po
ssib
le.
Sate
llite
imag
ery
and
O
HN
str
eam
s
Open Bog
13B
og
s ha
ve a
thi
ck a
ccum
ulat
ion
of p
eat
oft
en fo
rmin
g
do
me,
pla
teau
and
hum
mo
ck-li
ke la
ndfo
rms
that
are
leve
l o
r sl
ight
ly h
ighe
r th
an s
urro
und
ing
sur
face
s. T
hese
thi
ck
laye
rs o
f org
anic
pea
t m
ater
ial a
re v
irtua
lly u
naffe
cted
by
surf
ace
runo
ff o
r g
roun
dw
ater
fro
m s
urro
und
ing
min
eral
so
ils; t
he p
rimar
y w
ater
so
urce
is p
reci
pita
tion.
Op
en b
og
s ha
ve w
ater
tab
les
seas
ona
lly o
r p
erm
anen
tly a
t, n
ear,
or
abo
ve s
ubst
rate
sur
face
. Su
bst
rate
s ar
e sp
hag
num
pea
t.
Hyd
rolo
gic
and
sub
stra
te p
rop
ertie
s si
gni
fican
tly li
mit
veg
etat
ion
gro
wth
and
div
ersi
ty.
In o
pen
bo
gs
tree
co
ver
is s
par
se a
t le
ss t
han
10%
whi
le t
all s
hrub
s ca
n o
ccur
at
den
sitie
s le
ss t
han
25%
. D
ense
and
pur
e sp
hag
num
and
lic
hen
gro
und
co
ver
are
the
prim
ary
cont
ribut
ors
to
imag
e id
entifi
catio
n. V
ario
us d
ensi
ties
of e
ricac
eous
shr
ubs
can
also
occ
ur; h
ighe
r d
ensi
ties
also
pro
duc
e a
uniq
ue im
age
tone
tha
t ca
n b
e us
ed fo
r m
app
ing
.
Hea
th, t
reed
bog
— d
istin
gui
shin
g
per
cent
age
of t
reed
veg
etat
ion
is d
ifficu
lt us
ing
sat
ellit
e im
ager
y. S
imila
ritie
s in
veg
etat
ion
and
sur
face
mo
istu
re
cond
itio
ns c
an re
sult
in c
onf
usio
n w
ith
liche
n ric
h tu
ndra
hea
th.
Sate
llite
imag
ery
and
O
HN
str
eam
s
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 16
Uni
t na
me
CO
DE
#
Des
crip
tion
Poss
ible
con
fusi
onIn
put
sou
rce
Treed Bog
14Th
e ec
olo
gic
al c
hara
cter
istic
s o
f tre
ed b
og
are
sim
ilar
to
tho
se d
escr
ibed
for
op
en b
og
. Tr
eed
bo
gs
have
eith
er t
ree
cove
r g
reat
er t
han
10%
and
tal
l shr
ub c
ove
r le
ss t
han
25%
. A
co
mb
inat
ion
of l
ow
eric
aceo
us s
hrub
, lic
hen,
sp
hag
num
m
oss
and
bla
ck s
pru
ce a
ll ai
d d
etec
tion.
Op
en b
og, t
reed
fen
— d
eter
min
ing
ve
get
atio
n d
ensi
ty is
diffi
cult
usin
g s
atel
lite
imag
ery,
par
ticul
arly
whe
n p
erce
ntag
es a
re
low
. A
dd
itio
nally
, min
eral
po
or
tree
d fe
ns
can
cont
ain
com
mun
ities
of s
pha
gnu
m m
oss
, b
lack
sp
ruce
and
eric
aceo
us s
hrub
s th
at a
re
den
se e
noug
h to
influ
ence
imag
e to
ne. T
he
pre
senc
e o
f “fe
n in
dic
ato
r” g
ram
ino
ids
and
/or
herb
aceo
us v
eget
atio
n is
oft
en t
he o
nly
mea
ns
of s
epar
atin
g fe
n fr
om
bo
g a
nd/o
r m
iner
al p
oo
r sw
amp
. The
se fe
n in
dic
ato
rs a
re o
ften
sp
arse
, ev
en o
ccur
ring
as
one
pla
nt t
hat
cann
ot
be
reso
lved
usi
ng re
mo
te s
ensi
ng d
ata.
Sate
llite
imag
ery
and
OH
N s
trea
ms
Sparse Treed
15Tr
eed
(> t
wo
met
res
in h
eig
ht) a
rea
cont
aini
ng c
oni
fero
us
or
dec
iduo
us s
pec
ies
or
a co
mb
inat
ion
of t
he t
wo
. Tre
ed
site
s w
ith t
all a
nd/o
r lo
w t
reed
can
op
y cl
osu
re b
etw
een
10 a
nd 2
5%.
Thes
e co
mm
uniti
es a
re o
ften
situ
ated
on
bed
rock
kno
bs,
rap
idly
dra
inin
g s
oils
, or
on
rais
ed m
iner
al
soils
, dep
osi
ted
as
bea
ch r
idg
es a
nd s
tran
dlin
es in
clo
se
pro
xim
ity t
o H
udso
n/Ja
mes
Bay
. The
y o
ften
exh
ibit
a d
ry
and
ver
y sh
allo
w s
ubst
rate
. Den
se c
om
mun
ities
of g
roun
d
liche
ns, g
ram
ino
ids
and
/or
mo
sses
are
als
o c
om
mo
n. T
he
com
bin
atio
n o
f gro
und
co
ver,
dry
co
nditi
ons
and
sp
arse
ca
nop
y o
ffer
uniq
ue im
age
tone
s ai
din
g id
entifi
catio
n.
Ele
vatio
n in
form
atio
n ex
trac
ted
fro
m a
n el
evat
ion
mo
del
an
d q
uate
rnar
y g
eolo
gy
par
ent
mat
eria
l als
o a
ids
map
pin
g.
Tree
d B
og, H
eath
- T
reed
bo
g w
ith d
ense
lich
en
com
mun
ities
can
hav
e si
mila
r im
age
tone
s.
Dig
ital e
leva
tion
slo
pe
and
land
scap
e p
osi
tion
(i.e.
to
p o
f a r
idg
e o
r hi
ll fe
atur
e g
reat
er t
han
app
roxi
mat
ely
10 m
etre
s in
hei
ght
) are
use
d
to a
id s
epar
atio
n, b
ut d
ata
and
cla
ssifi
catio
n lim
itatio
ns c
an li
mit
pro
per
to
po
gra
phi
c d
efini
tion
caus
ing
co
nfus
ion.
Tun
dra
hea
th a
lso
ex
hib
its s
imila
r to
po
gra
phi
c tr
aits
and
imag
e to
nes
to s
par
se fo
rest
and
can
thu
s ea
sily
be
conf
used
.
Sate
llite
imag
ery,
O
RD
SM a
nd
geo
log
y la
yer
Deciduous Treed
16Pr
edo
min
atel
y d
ecid
uous
tre
e co
ver
situ
ated
on
vary
ing
so
il d
epth
s ha
ving
dry
, fre
sh a
nd s
om
etim
es m
ois
t co
nditi
ons
. Ve
get
atio
n co
ver
is t
ypic
ally
clo
sed
and
tal
l (g
reat
er t
han
10
met
res
in h
eig
ht a
nd 6
0% c
losu
re).
May
als
o in
clud
e o
pen
ta
ll (g
reat
er t
han
10 m
etre
s in
hei
ght
and
bet
wee
n 25
and
60
% c
losu
re) a
nd lo
w (l
ess
than
10
met
res
in h
eig
ht a
nd
gre
ater
tha
n 25
% c
losu
re) c
om
mun
ities
. U
pla
nd d
ecid
uous
tr
ee s
pec
ies
mak
e up
gre
ater
tha
n 75
% o
f can
op
y cl
osu
re.
Spec
ies
are
prim
arily
po
pla
r an
d b
irch.
Thic
ket
Swam
p, T
reed
Fen
, Mix
ed T
reed
Thic
ket
swam
p o
ften
co
ntai
ns d
ense
thi
cket
s o
f ald
er a
nd w
illo
w t
hat
app
ear
sim
ilar
to d
ecid
uous
fore
st o
n sa
telli
te im
ager
y.
Lim
itatio
ns in
the
OR
DSM
and
str
eam
dat
a us
ed t
o h
elp
sep
arat
e th
ese
feat
ures
can
ca
use
conf
usio
n. S
imila
rly, f
ens
with
hig
her
den
sitie
s o
f tam
arac
k ca
n al
so a
pp
ear
sim
ilar
to
dec
iduo
us fo
rest
and
cau
se c
onf
usio
n.
Sate
llite
imag
ery,
O
RD
SM a
nd
geo
log
y la
yer
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 17
Uni
t na
me
CO
DE
#
Des
crip
tion
Poss
ible
con
fusi
onIn
put
sou
rce
Mixed Treed
17A
mix
ture
of d
ecid
uous
and
co
nife
rous
tre
e co
ver
situ
ated
o
n va
ryin
g s
oil
dep
ths
that
can
hav
e d
ry, f
resh
and
so
met
imes
mo
ist
cond
itio
ns. V
eget
atio
n co
ver
is t
ypic
ally
cl
ose
d a
nd t
all (
gre
ater
tha
n 10
met
res
in h
eig
ht a
nd 6
0%
clo
sure
). M
ay a
lso
incl
ude
op
en t
all (
gre
ater
tha
n 10
met
res
in h
eig
ht a
nd b
etw
een
25 a
nd 6
0% c
losu
re) a
nd lo
w (l
ess
than
10
met
res
in h
eig
ht a
nd g
reat
er t
han
25%
clo
sure
) co
mm
uniti
es.
Up
land
dec
iduo
us a
nd c
oni
fero
us t
ree
spec
ies
are
pre
sent
and
mak
e up
less
tha
n 75
% o
f can
op
y cl
osu
re.
Spec
ies
are
prim
arily
jack
pin
e, b
lack
sp
ruce
, whi
te
spru
ce, p
op
lar
and
birc
h.
Thic
ket
swam
p, d
ecid
uous
tre
ed, c
onife
rous
tr
eed
— t
hick
et s
wam
p o
ften
co
ntai
ns d
ense
th
icke
ts o
f ald
er a
nd w
illo
w t
hat
app
ear
sim
ilar
to d
ecid
uous
fore
st.
Whe
n m
ixed
with
wat
er
and
low
co
nife
rous
tre
es t
hese
feat
ures
can
ap
pea
r si
mila
r o
n sa
telli
te im
ager
y. A
dd
itio
nally
, p
erce
ntag
es o
f dec
iduo
us a
nd c
oni
fero
us fo
rest
es
timat
ed u
sing
sat
ellit
e im
ager
y m
ay n
ot
alig
n w
ith fi
eld
bas
ed e
stim
ates
resu
lting
in a
so
urce
o
f fiel
d -
rem
ote
map
pin
g d
iscr
epan
cy.
Sate
llite
imag
ery,
O
RD
SM a
nd
geo
log
y la
yer
Coniferous Treed
18Pr
edo
min
atel
y co
nife
rous
tre
e co
ver
situ
ated
on
vary
ing
so
il d
epth
s th
at c
an h
ave
dry
, fre
sh a
nd s
om
etim
es m
ois
t co
nditi
ons
. Veg
etat
ion
cove
r is
typ
ical
ly c
lose
d a
nd t
all
(gre
ater
tha
n 10
met
res
in h
eig
ht a
nd 6
0% c
losu
re).
May
al
so in
clud
e o
pen
tal
l (g
reat
er t
han
10 m
etre
s in
hei
ght
and
b
etw
een
25 a
nd 6
0% c
losu
re) a
nd lo
w (l
ess
than
10
met
res
in h
eig
ht a
nd g
reat
er t
han
25%
clo
sure
) co
mm
uniti
es.
U
pla
nd c
oni
fero
us t
ree
spec
ies
mak
e up
gre
ater
tha
n 75
%
of c
ano
py
clo
sure
. Sp
ecie
s ar
e p
rimar
ily ja
ck p
ine,
bla
ck
spru
ce, w
hite
sp
ruce
.
Con
ifero
us s
wam
p, m
ixed
tre
ed —
co
nife
rous
sw
amp
oft
en c
ont
ains
den
se b
lack
sp
ruce
co
mm
uniti
es t
hat
app
ear
sim
ilar
to c
oni
fero
us
fore
st o
n sa
telli
te im
ager
y. L
imita
tions
in t
he
OR
DSM
tha
t is
use
d t
o h
elp
sep
arat
e th
ese
feat
ures
can
cau
se c
onf
usio
n. A
dd
itio
nally
, p
erce
ntag
es o
f dec
iduo
us a
nd c
oni
fero
us fo
rest
es
timat
ed u
sing
sat
ellit
e im
ager
y m
ay n
ot
alig
n w
ith fi
eld
-bas
ed e
stim
ates
resu
lting
in a
so
urce
o
f fiel
d –
rem
ote
map
pin
g d
iscr
epan
cy.
Sate
llite
imag
ery,
O
RD
SM a
nd
geo
log
y la
yer
Disturbance – Non and Sparse Woody
19Th
e re
sult
of n
atur
al a
nd/o
r an
thro
po
gen
ic d
istu
rban
ce
occ
urrin
g s
om
e tim
e o
ver
the
last
20
year
s. V
eget
atio
n co
ver
incl
udes
her
bac
eous
(fo
rbs
and
gra
min
oid
s g
reat
er
than
25%
), sp
arse
her
bac
eous
(bet
wee
n tw
o a
nd 2
5%) a
nd
non
vasc
ular
(lic
hen
and
or
mo
ss g
reat
er t
han
10%
). S
par
se
tall
and
low
tre
es a
long
with
tal
l and
low
shr
ub m
ay a
lso
be
pre
sent
at
cano
py
clo
sure
s o
f les
s th
an 2
5%.
Dea
d t
rees
ca
n ex
ist
at g
reat
er t
han
25%
co
ver
and
can
be
eith
er u
p
roo
ted
and
ho
rizo
ntal
on
the
gro
und
or
stan
din
g.
Site
s ar
e m
ost
oft
en d
rier
upla
nd s
ites
with
var
ying
so
il d
epth
s.
This
cla
ss is
map
ped
by
taki
ng a
dva
ntag
e o
f the
sp
atia
l co
ntex
t p
rovi
ded
by
dis
turb
ance
map
pin
g a
nd t
he u
niq
ue
imag
e to
nes
asso
ciat
ed w
ith la
rgel
y d
ead
and
/or
sene
sced
ve
get
atio
n.
Op
en f
en, s
par
se t
reed
— t
hese
feat
ures
can
ha
ve a
den
se m
at o
f gra
min
oid
veg
etat
ion
app
earin
g s
enes
ced
and
dry
in s
atel
lite
imag
ery.
Mul
ti-d
ate
sate
llite
imag
ery
and
sin
gle
- d
ate
imag
e cl
assi
ficat
ion
Anc
illar
y d
ata
(e.g
., in
sect
, d
isea
se a
nd
fire
dat
a) w
here
av
aila
ble
is
used
to
sup
po
rt
clas
sific
atio
n
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 18
Uni
t na
me
CO
DE
#
Des
crip
tion
Poss
ible
con
fusi
onIn
put
sou
rce
Disturbance – Treed and / or Shrub
20Th
e re
sult
of
natu
ral a
nd/o
r an
thro
pog
enic
dis
turb
ance
oc
curr
ing
som
etim
e ov
er t
he la
st 2
0 ye
ars.
Veg
etat
ion
cove
r is
pre
dom
inat
ely
low
tre
ed (l
ess
than
10
met
res
in
heig
ht a
nd g
reat
er t
han
60%
cov
er) a
nd t
all s
hrub
(gre
ater
th
an 2
met
res
in h
eig
ht a
nd 6
0% c
losu
re).
Pat
ches
of
clos
ed t
all t
ree
cove
r (g
reat
er t
han
10 m
etre
s he
ight
and
60
% c
over
) may
als
o b
e p
rese
nt.
Dea
d o
r d
ying
tre
es
can
exis
t at
less
tha
n 20
% c
over
and
can
be
eith
er u
p
root
ed a
nd h
oriz
onta
l on
the
gro
und
or
stan
din
g.
Site
s ar
e m
ost
ofte
n d
rier
up
land
sit
es w
ith
vary
ing
soi
l dep
ths.
Th
is c
lass
is m
app
ed b
y ta
king
ad
vant
age
of t
he s
pat
ial
cont
ext
pro
vid
ed b
y d
istu
rban
ce m
app
ing
and
the
uni
que
im
age
tone
s as
soci
ated
wit
h liv
ing
, dea
d a
nd/o
r se
nesc
ed
veg
etat
ion.
Spar
se, D
ecid
uous
, Mix
ed a
nd C
onife
rous
Fo
rest
- P
erce
ntag
es o
f d
ecid
uous
and
co
nife
rous
for
est
esti
mat
ed u
sing
sat
ellit
e im
ager
y m
ay n
ot a
lign
wit
h fie
ld b
ased
es
tim
ates
res
ulti
ng in
a s
ourc
e of
fiel
d -
rem
ote
map
pin
g d
iscr
epan
cy.
Mul
ti-d
ate
sate
llite
imag
ery
and
sin
gle
d
ate
imag
e cl
assi
ficat
ion.
A
ncill
ary
dat
a (e
.g.,
inse
ct,
dis
ease
and
fire
d
ata)
whe
re
avai
lab
le is
us
ed t
o su
pp
ort
clas
sific
atio
n.
Sand / Gravel / Mine Tailings
21Th
ese
area
s ar
e d
omin
ated
by
exp
osed
soi
l hav
ing
less
th
an 2
5% v
eget
atio
n co
ver.
Bea
ch d
epos
its,
san
d d
unes
, ag
gre
gat
e q
uarr
ies,
min
es a
nd m
ine
taili
ngs
are
all
incl
uded
. Als
o in
clud
ed a
re s
and
isla
nds
in la
rger
riv
ers,
un
-veg
etat
ed b
each
rid
ges
, dri
er c
oast
al m
udfla
ts a
nd
very
sha
llow
or
dry
mar
l lak
es.
Bed
rock
– Im
age
tone
s fo
r ex
pos
ed s
oil a
nd
bed
rock
a s
imila
r. T
houg
h p
aren
t m
ater
ial a
nd
land
for
m f
eatu
res
map
ped
in a
geo
log
y la
yer
are
used
to
help
map
thi
s cl
ass
the
smal
ler
scal
e g
eolo
gy
laye
r om
its
som
e fe
atur
es
iden
tifia
ble
on
imag
ery.
Whe
n d
epen
din
g
sole
ly o
n im
ager
y th
ese
feat
ures
can
be
conf
used
.
Sate
llite
imag
ery
and
geo
log
y la
yer
Bedrock
22E
xpos
ed b
edro
ck w
ith
less
tha
n 25
% v
eget
atio
n co
ver.
Sand
/Gra
vel/
Min
e Ta
iling
s –
Imag
e to
nes
for
exp
osed
soi
l and
bed
rock
a s
imila
r. T
houg
h p
aren
t m
ater
ial a
nd la
nd f
orm
fea
ture
s m
app
ed in
a g
eolo
gy
laye
r ar
e us
ed t
o he
lp
map
thi
s cl
ass
the
smal
ler
scal
e g
eolo
gy
laye
r om
its
som
e fe
atur
es id
enti
fiab
le o
n im
ager
y.
Whe
n d
epen
din
g s
olel
y on
imag
ery
thes
e fe
atur
es c
an b
e co
nfus
ed.
Sate
llite
imag
ery
and
geo
log
y la
yer
Communi ty/ Infrastructure
23C
lear
ing
s fo
r hu
man
set
tlem
ent
and
eco
nom
ic a
ctiv
ity;
m
ajor
tra
nsp
orta
tion
rou
tes
Rel
ativ
ely
few
set
tlem
ent
feat
ures
exi
st in
the
fa
r no
rth.
A m
anua
l int
erp
reti
ve a
pp
roac
h ha
s b
een
used
whi
ch li
mit
s cl
assi
ficat
ion
erro
r.
Sate
llite
imag
ery
and
far
nor
th
com
mun
itie
s la
yer
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 19
Uni
t na
me
CO
DE
#
Des
crip
tion
Poss
ible
con
fusi
onIn
put
sou
rce
Ag
ricu
ltur
e24
Land
cle
ared
for
ag
ricu
ltur
al u
se t
hat
may
or
may
not
be
curr
entl
y ac
tive
.A
gri
cult
ural
fea
ture
s ha
ve b
een
clas
sifie
d u
sing
a co
mb
inat
ion
of c
onte
xtua
l For
est
Res
ourc
eIn
vent
ory
dat
a an
d L
and
sat
chan
ge
det
ecti
onim
ager
y.
Sate
llite
imag
ery,
FR
Id
ata
Clo
ud /
Sh
adow
-9A
reas
of
clou
d o
r sh
adow
on
the
sate
llite
imag
e.C
lear
Op
en W
ater
, Tre
e Sh
adow
- Th
e d
ark
imag
e to
nes
of c
loud
and
tre
e sh
adow
s as
wel
l as
wat
er c
an b
e co
nfus
ed.
Sate
llite
imag
ery
Oth
er-9
9La
nd c
over
fea
ture
s th
at w
ere
not
clas
sifie
d f
or a
var
iety
of
rea
sons
All
Cla
sses
Sate
llite
imag
ery
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 20
2.6 Chart 1: Class aggregation hierarchy
The classes designated in the Provincial Land Cover represent the finest precision possible using the medium resolution data and methods discussed. In the event that summaries based on less detailed classes are desired, aggregation is required. The following flow chart illustrates a recommended aggregation offering two less detailed tiers of class groupings. All suggested aggregations are mutually exclusive with the exception of those involving the sand/gravel/mine tailings class. Since the majority of these features will be natural, non-treed areas, aggregation to non-treed is suggested. In the event users desire separation and aggregation into non-treed and anthropogenic land cover sections, a simple GIS overlay should be employed through using land cover data in combination with spatial extraction and/or mining data.
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 21
Cha
rt 1
: Lan
d c
over
cla
ss a
gg
reg
atio
n
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 22
3.0 Far North Land Cover to PLC 2000 correspondence
The remote sensing analysts and specialists that produced the Far North Land Cover mapping do not advocate performing a post hoc comparison between the group, section or class versions of Far North Land Cover and previous products such as the PLC 2000. Reasons for not performing a comparison include: dramatically differing mapping methods, low accuracies reported for the PLC 2000, subjectivity associated with the land cover mapping process and class definition differences between a few classes.
Over the last 20 years there has been a remarkable increase in available spatial digital data in Ontario. This combined with our enhanced understanding of how to use these data to aid land cover mapping has led to major changes in how the land cover is produced. For example, in their summary of medium spatial resolution satellite data classification, Franklin and Wulder (2002) noted compelling supporting evidence in the literature for the incorporation of critical data resources such as spatial context, texture and elevation data to increase classification accuracy. These types of data have been incorporated into the Far North Land Cover mapping method.
The Far North Provincial Satellite Derived Disturbance Mapping, as described by OMNR (2013), has also been incorporated into the Far North Land Cover. While all previous Ontario land cover products depended on single date identification of areas impacted by disturbance, the method used for the Far North project employed multi-date change detection, which is well known to produce more accurate results. This new product maps disturbances occurring prior to 1990, up to and including 2011. Additionally, the Far North Land Cover has further separated disturbance features into open and treed. Therefore, although a comparison of disturbance mapping between products is possible it is not necessary or desirable, given Far North mapping identifies disturbance features captured by all land cover products with higher accuracy and class precision.
At the onset of the Far North Planning Initiative an accuracy assessment was performed on the PLC 2000. This was done to better understand this product and help gauge the need for producing a new land cover product. A report was produced by the Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment Section (2009) summarizing this effort which revealed an overall mapping accuracy of 51%. Although an accuracy assessment has yet to be completed for the new Far North Land Cover mapping, the incorporation of new methods and data are expected to dramatically improve mapping accuracies.
The mapping processes employed to create the Far North Land Cover product are primarily automated. That said, considerable analyst input is still required, some of which involves subjective interpretation and matching of image tone to perceived land cover feature. It is this subjectivity that makes comparison between different land cover products undesirable. This is especially true in this case as older PLC products were created by a different group of analysts with differing perceptions of the image tone to class relationship.
Many of the classes in the Far North Land Cover product are conceptually a direct match to classes created through older land cover products like the PLC 2000. However, a few differences make inter land cover comparison difficult. For example, percentages used to define all upland treed classes are quite different. While PLC 2000 defines sparse forest as having 30 to 60% canopy closure, the Far North Land Cover defines sparse treed (in this case treed is analogous to forest) as having 10 to 25% closure. Additionally, dense forest classes in the PLC 2000 include areas with 60 to 100% closure while the Far North Land Cover considers any upland canopy closure greater than 25% as deciduous, coniferous or mixed treed. These changes were made primarily to conform to percentages outlined in the Ecosites of Ontario (Ecological Land Classification Work Group, 2009) and the national land cover product created for Earth Observation for Sustainable Development of Forests (EOSD) (Wulder & Nelson, 2003).
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 23
As outlined above there are numerous reasons why post hoc comparison between the Far North Land Cover and previous products such as the PLC 2000 is undesirable. Such a comparison would yield results containing differences due to actual change, change in methodology, poor accuracy of previous products, subjectivity and class definition discrepancy. Therefore determining the amount of discrepancy each product accounted for would be inherently challenging. However, there are methods of determining change in land cover; most major changes have been identified and mapped through the Far North Provincial Satellite Derived Disturbance Mapping (OMNR, 2013). This mapping could be overlain with past land cover products to produce a rough estimate. In the event the inaccuracies of the PLC 2000 are not acceptable, a more complex change back casting method could be employed.
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 24
4.0
Tab
le 2
: Lan
d c
over
cla
ss t
o p
rovi
ncia
l eco
site
cor
resp
ond
ence
Land
cov
er
clas
sLa
nd
cove
r co
de
Eco
site
nam
e(s)
, cor
resp
ond
ence
and
rat
iona
leC
orre
spon
din
g e
cosi
te c
ode(
s)
Incl
udin
g b
oth
Bor
eal (
B) a
nd S
ub
Arc
tic
(A) z
ones
Cle
ar O
pen
W
ater
1Th
e m
ajo
rity
of t
his
clas
s ha
s w
ater
dep
ths
gre
ater
tha
n tw
o m
etre
s fo
r w
hich
th
ere
is c
urre
ntly
no
ELC
eq
uiva
lent
. Whe
n o
ccur
ring
in c
oas
tal o
r fr
esh
wat
er
lake
sho
re e
nviro
nmen
ts w
ith le
ss t
han
two
met
res
of w
ater
the
se a
re o
pen
sa
lt o
r o
pen
wat
er m
arsh
es re
spec
tivel
y.
Op
en w
ater
mar
sh c
oul
d h
ave
eith
er m
iner
al o
r o
rgan
ic s
ubst
rate
s.
221N
, 151
N, 1
52N
Turb
id W
ater
2M
uch
of t
his
clas
s w
ill in
clud
e o
pen
sal
t m
arsh
and
op
en w
ater
mar
sh.
Fres
h w
ater
mar
sh c
oul
d h
ave
eith
er m
iner
al o
r o
rgan
ic s
ubst
rate
s. W
ill a
lso
in
clud
e w
ater
dep
ths
gre
ater
tha
n tw
o m
etre
s fo
r w
hich
no
cur
rent
ELC
eq
uiva
lent
exi
sts.
221N
, 151
N, 1
52N
Inte
rtid
al
Mud
flat
3M
ost
of t
his
clas
s w
ill in
clud
e ac
tive
cost
al m
iner
al s
hore
line.
213X
Inte
rtid
al
Mar
sh4
Incl
udes
prim
arily
sal
t m
arsh
and
op
en s
alt
mar
sh.
Dis
tinct
ion
bet
wee
n th
ese
two
eco
site
s is
dep
end
ant
upo
n th
e %
em
erg
ent
veg
etat
ion
whi
ch c
an
not
be
estim
ated
co
nsis
tent
ly u
sing
med
ium
reso
lutio
n sa
telli
te im
ager
y. I
n th
ese
case
s o
ther
info
rmat
ion
is u
sed
(e.g
. am
oun
t o
f vis
ible
wat
er, d
ista
nce
fro
m c
oas
t).
220N
, 221
N
Sup
ertid
al
Mar
sh5
Incl
udes
prim
arily
sal
t m
ead
ow
mar
sh w
hich
is d
epen
dan
t up
on
%
herb
aceo
us c
ove
r. E
stim
atin
g %
of h
erb
aceo
us v
eget
atio
n ca
nno
t b
e d
one
us
ing
med
ium
reso
lutio
n sa
telli
te im
ager
y so
oth
er in
form
atio
n is
use
d (e
.g.
amo
unt
of v
isib
le w
ater
, dis
tanc
e fr
om
co
ast)
. T
here
fore
, thi
s cl
ass
may
als
o
incl
ude
salt
mar
sh.
219N
, 220
N
Fres
hwat
er
Mar
sh6
Incl
udes
org
anic
and
min
eral
sha
llow
mar
shes
with
per
man
ently
flo
od
ed
cond
itio
ns a
nd g
reat
er t
han
25 %
em
erg
ent
veg
etat
ion.
Will
als
o in
clud
e o
rgan
ic, m
iner
al a
nd ro
ck m
ead
ow
mar
sh w
ith w
ater
typ
ical
ly b
elo
w t
he
sub
stra
te, t
ree
cove
r le
ss t
han
10%
, tal
l shr
ub le
ss t
han
25%
and
her
bac
eous
co
ver
gre
ater
tha
n 50
%.
148N
, 149
N, 1
42N
, 143
N, 1
44N
Hea
th7
Gre
ater
tha
n 25
% v
eget
atio
n co
ver
and
tre
e co
ver
of l
ess
than
10%
. A
ran
ge
of e
cosi
tes
are
incl
uded
in t
his
clas
s in
clud
ing
: dry
san
dy
mea
do
w, s
par
se
shru
b a
nd s
hrub
co
mm
uniti
es a
nd d
ry t
o fr
esh
coar
se m
ead
ow
, sp
arse
shr
ub
and
shr
ub c
om
mun
ities
.
030N
, 031
S, 0
32S,
045
N, 0
46S,
047
S
Thic
ket S
wam
p8
Tall
shru
b c
om
mun
ities
mak
ing
up
gre
ater
tha
n 25
% o
f the
co
ver
and
ty
pic
ally
hig
her
than
tw
o m
etre
s. B
oth
min
eral
and
org
anic
thi
cket
sw
amp
s ca
n o
ccur
.
134S
, 135
S
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 25
Co
nife
rous
Sw
amp
9M
any
swam
ps
in t
he F
ar N
ort
h ar
e co
mp
ose
d p
rimar
ily o
f tal
l or
low
tre
ed
bla
ck s
pru
ce, a
nd t
amar
ack
with
ald
er.
To a
less
er e
xten
t b
alsa
m fi
r an
d
bal
sam
po
pla
r ca
n al
so b
e p
rese
nt.
Eas
tern
whi
te c
edar
can
gro
w a
s fa
r no
rth
as t
he s
out
hern
tip
of J
ames
Bay
but
is n
ot
com
mo
n in
the
Far
No
rth
area
. Si
nce
this
is a
key
ind
icat
or
of r
ich
coni
fero
us s
wam
p it
is a
ssum
ed
thes
e ec
osi
tes
are
not
com
mo
n. B
oth
org
anic
and
min
eral
po
or
and
in
term
edia
te c
oni
fer
swam
ps
mak
e up
the
maj
orit
y o
f thi
s cl
ass.
127T
l/Tt
, 128
Tl/T
t, 2
22Tl
/Tt,
223
Tl/T
t
Dec
iduo
us
Swam
p10
Into
lera
nt h
ard
wo
od
sw
amp
s an
d h
ard
wo
od
sw
amp
s m
ake
the
maj
orit
y o
f thi
s cl
ass.
Bo
th c
lass
es a
re w
ides
pre
ad a
cro
ss t
he b
ore
al r
ang
e. G
reat
er
than
50%
co
ver
of t
he h
ard
wo
od
sp
ices
. Can
op
y cl
osu
re is
gre
ater
tha
n 25
%. I
nto
lera
nt H
ard
wo
od
Sw
amp
s ar
e co
mp
ose
d m
ainl
y o
f po
pla
r an
d/o
r as
h o
ften
mix
ed w
ith b
alsa
m fi
r, w
hite
birc
h, b
lack
sp
ruce
, and
whi
te s
pru
ce.
Har
dw
oo
d s
wam
ps
cano
py
cons
ist
of w
hite
birc
h an
d/o
r m
ixtu
re o
f oth
er
hard
wo
od
sp
ecie
s. S
ubst
rate
is m
iner
al o
r p
eaty
pha
se.
130T
l/Tt
, 133
Tl/T
t,
Op
en F
en11
Prim
arily
fens
with
less
tha
n 10
% a
nd 2
5% t
ree
and
tal
l shr
ub c
ove
r re
spec
tivel
y. L
ow
shr
ub c
ove
r ca
n b
e b
etw
een
zero
and
100
%.
Her
bac
eous
co
ver
is le
ss t
han
50%
. Ve
get
ativ
e an
d w
ater
pat
tern
ing
(i.e
. str
ing
s an
d
flark
s) c
an e
xist
. Eco
site
s in
clud
ed a
re: p
oo
r fe
n, o
pen
mo
der
atel
y ric
h fe
n,
op
en e
xtre
mel
y ric
h fe
n an
d o
pen
sho
re fe
n.
139N
, 139
S, 1
40N
, 140
S, 1
41N
, 141
S, 1
46N
, 14
6S
Tree
d F
en12
Gre
ater
tha
n 10
% t
ree
cove
r w
ith t
amar
ack,
less
tha
n 25
% t
all s
hrub
co
ver
and
zer
o t
o 1
00%
low
shr
ub c
ove
r.
136T
l/Tt
Op
en b
og
13H
ydro
log
ical
ly is
ola
ted
and
hav
e le
ss t
han
10%
and
25%
tre
e an
d t
all
shru
b c
ove
r re
spec
tivel
y. L
ow
shr
ub c
ove
r ca
n b
e b
etw
een
zero
and
100
%.
Her
bac
eous
co
ver
is le
ss t
han
50%
and
the
re a
re n
o fe
n in
dic
ato
rs.
138N
, 138
S
Tree
d b
og
14H
ydro
log
ical
ly is
ola
ted
, gre
ater
tha
n 10
% t
ree
cove
r (p
rimar
ily b
lack
sp
ruce
w
ith n
o t
amar
ack)
, les
s th
an 2
5% t
all s
hrub
co
ver
and
zer
o t
o 1
00%
low
shr
ub
cove
r.
126T
l/Tt
, 137
Tl/T
t
Spar
se T
reed
15A
co
llect
ion
of m
ainl
y ve
ry s
hallo
w a
nd d
ry s
and
y ec
osi
tes.
Tre
e co
ver
is
com
po
sed
of p
rimar
ily b
lack
sp
ruce
bet
wee
n te
n an
d 2
5%.
Poss
ible
eco
site
s in
clud
e: v
ery
shal
low
, dry
to
fres
h p
ine
– b
lack
sp
ruce
co
nife
r, d
ry s
and
y ja
ck
pin
e -
bla
ck s
pru
ce d
om
inat
ed, d
ry s
and
y p
ine
- b
lack
sp
ruce
co
nife
r an
d d
ry
sand
y sp
ruce
– fi
r co
nife
r. T
hese
eco
site
s ha
ve t
he “
spar
se”
(s) v
eget
atio
n co
ver
des
igna
tion.
012s
Tl/s
Tt, 0
34sT
l/sT
t, 0
35sT
l/sT
t, 0
38sT
l/sT
t
Dec
iduo
us
Tree
d16
Co
mp
ose
d p
rimar
ily o
f po
pla
r an
d b
irch
spec
ies
but
may
hav
e as
muc
h as
25
% c
oni
fero
us s
pec
ies.
Tre
es a
re b
oth
tal
l and
low
bet
wee
n 25
and
100
%
cove
r, w
ith b
oth
clo
sed
(c) a
nd o
pen
(o) d
esig
natio
ns.
Occ
urrin
g o
n m
ost
up
land
so
il su
bst
rate
dep
ths
and
typ
es a
var
iety
of e
cosi
tes
are
po
ssib
le
incl
udin
g: v
ery
shal
low
hum
id m
ixed
wo
od
and
asp
en-b
irch
hard
wo
od
o
ccur
ring
on
mo
st d
eep
sub
stra
tes
(dry
to
fres
h, d
ry s
and
y, d
ry t
o fr
esh
coar
se, m
ois
t co
arse
, fre
sh c
laye
y, fr
esh
silty
to
fine
loam
y an
d m
ois
t fin
e).
016c
Tl/c
Tt/o
Tl/o
Tt, 0
28cT
l/cT
t/o
Tl/o
Tt,
040c
Tl/c
Tt/o
Tl/o
Tt, 0
55cT
l/cT
t/o
Tl/o
Tt,
070c
Tl/c
Tt/o
Tl/o
Tt, 0
88cT
l/cT
t/o
Tl/o
Tt,
104c
Tl/c
Tt/o
Tl/o
Tt, 1
19cT
l/cT
t/o
Tl/o
Tt
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 26
Mix
ed T
reed
17N
o t
rue
mix
ed fo
rest
co
nditi
on
defi
ned
by
per
cen
t co
ver
is re
cog
nize
d a
s an
eco
site
. B
y d
efau
lt, if
an
eco
site
is n
ot
mo
stly
one
of t
he t
ree
spec
ies
des
igna
ted
at
dec
isio
n p
oin
ts o
n th
e ke
ys it
is c
ons
ider
ed m
ixed
wo
od
. M
ixed
wo
od
eco
site
s re
pre
sent
ativ
e o
f thi
s cl
ass
cove
r al
l up
land
sub
stra
te
typ
es a
nd d
epth
s w
ith b
oth
clo
sed
(c) a
nd o
pen
(o) d
esig
natio
ns.
019c
Tl/c
Tt/o
Tl/o
Tt, 0
28cT
l/cT
t/o
Tl/o
Tt,
043c
Tl/c
Tt/o
Tl/o
Tt, 0
76cT
l/cT
t/o
Tl/o
Tt,
092c
Tl/c
Tt/o
Tl/o
Tt, 0
108c
Tl/c
Tt/o
Tl/o
Tt,
0125
cTl/
cTt/
oTl
/oTt
,
Co
nife
rous
Tr
eed
18C
om
po
sed
prim
arily
of j
ack
pin
e, b
lack
sp
ruce
and
whi
te s
pru
ce.
Whi
te a
nd
red
pin
e m
ay a
lso
be
pre
sent
in s
out
hern
po
rtio
ns o
f the
Ont
ario
shi
eld
. W
hile
co
nife
rous
sp
ecie
s ar
e d
om
inan
t, d
ecid
uous
may
be
pre
sent
at
cove
rs
as h
igh
as 2
5%.
Tree
s ar
e b
oth
tal
l and
low
bet
wee
n 25
and
100
% c
ove
r, w
ith
bo
th c
lose
d (c
) and
op
en (o
) des
igna
tions
. O
ccur
ring
on
mo
st u
pla
nd s
oil
sub
stra
te d
epth
s an
d t
ypes
, a v
arie
ty o
f eco
site
s ar
e p
oss
ible
incl
udin
g: v
ery
shal
low
whi
te p
ine
- re
d p
ine
coni
fer
and
pin
e -
bla
ck s
pru
ce c
oni
fer;
and
ve
ry s
hallo
w, d
ry fr
esh
coar
se, f
resh
cla
yey
and
fres
h si
lty fi
ne lo
amy
pin
e -
bla
ck s
pru
ce c
oni
fer
and
jack
pin
e –
bla
ck s
pru
ce c
oni
fer.
Ad
diti
ona
lly, m
ois
t co
arse
and
mo
ist
fine
pin
e-b
lack
sp
ruce
co
nife
r ca
n o
ccur
.
011c
Tl/c
Tt/o
Tl/o
Tt,
012c
Tl/c
Tt/o
Tl/o
Tt,
024c
Tl/c
Tt/o
Tl/o
Tt,
034c
Tl/c
Tt/o
Tl/o
Tt, 0
49cT
l/cT
t/o
Tl/o
Tt,
050c
Tl/c
Tt/o
Tl/o
Tt,
065c
Tl/c
Tt/o
Tl/o
Tt, 0
82cT
l/cT
t/o
Tl/o
Tt,
083c
Tl/c
Tt/o
Tl/o
Tt, 0
98cT
l/cT
t/o
Tl/o
Tt,
99cT
l/cT
t/o
Tl/o
Tt11
4cTl
/cTt
/oTl
/oTt
Dis
turb
ance
–
No
n an
d
Spar
se W
oo
dy
19In
clud
es n
on
veg
etat
ed a
reas
alo
ng w
ith h
erb
aceo
us, n
on-
vasc
ular
and
sp
arse
shr
ub a
nd t
reed
co
mm
uniti
es.
Poss
ible
eco
site
s in
clud
e al
l no
n-ca
lcar
eous
rock
bar
ren,
mea
do
w a
nd s
par
se s
hrub
prim
arily
on
non-
hyd
ric
sub
stra
tes.
All
tree
d e
cosi
tes
note
d in
the
tre
ed c
lass
es m
ay a
lso
be
pre
sent
w
ith t
he s
par
se v
eget
atio
n co
ver
clas
s m
od
ifier
(e.g
., 01
1sTt
/sTl
).
163X
, 164
S/Tl
/Tt,
164
S/Tl
/Tt,
008
H/s
H/N
v,
009s
St/s
Sl, 0
20H
/sH
/Nv,
021
sSt/
sSl,
045H
/sH
/Nv,
046
sSt/
sSl,
061H
/sH
/Nv,
062
sSt/
sSl,
078H
/sH
/Nv,
079
sSt/
sSl,
094H
/sH
/Nv,
09
5sSt
/sSl
Dis
turb
ance
–
Tree
d a
nd /
or
Shru
b
20In
clud
es lo
w a
nd t
all s
hrub
and
, due
to
the
tem
po
ral r
ang
e o
f dis
turb
ance
(i.
e., 2
0 ye
ars)
, prim
arily
low
tre
ed c
om
mun
ities
occ
urrin
g o
n al
l sub
stra
te
dep
ths
and
typ
es.
All
tree
d e
cosi
tes
note
d in
the
tre
ed c
lass
es m
ay b
e p
rese
nt w
ith t
he lo
w t
reed
co
ver
clas
s m
od
ifier
(e.g
., 01
1cTl
/oTl
).
010s
St/s
Sl, 0
22sS
t/sS
l, 04
7sSt
/sSl
, 063
sSt/
sSl,
080s
St/s
Sl, 0
96sS
t/sS
l
Sand
/ G
rave
l /
Min
e Ta
iling
s21
Incl
udes
prim
arily
un-
veg
etat
ed fe
atur
es s
uch
as a
ctiv
e sa
nd d
une,
min
eral
sh
ore
line
and
min
eral
bar
ren.
Act
ive
and
op
en c
oas
tal c
oar
se s
hore
line
and
b
luffs
are
als
o in
clud
ed.
Feat
ures
ass
oci
ated
with
ext
ract
ion
are
cons
ider
ed
exca
vate
d b
luff.
006X
, 005
X, 0
07X
, 207
X, 2
08X
, 209
X, 0
02X
, 00
3X, 0
01X
Bed
rock
22Pr
imar
ily n
on-
calc
areo
us b
edro
ck fe
atur
es w
ith le
ss t
han
25%
veg
etat
ion.
E
cosi
tes
incl
uded
are
: op
en a
nd a
ctiv
e b
edro
ck s
hore
line,
rock
bar
ren
and
co
asta
l bed
rock
sho
relin
e.
160X
, 161
X, 1
62X
, 163
X, 1
64X
, 165
X, 2
04X
, 20
5X, 2
06X
Co
mm
unity
/
Infr
a-st
ruct
ure
23Se
ttle
men
t an
d in
fras
truc
ture
eco
site
s in
clud
ing
: act
ive
was
te d
isp
osa
l/la
ndfil
l, p
avem
ent/
conc
rete
, co
mp
acte
d g
rave
l sur
face
and
co
mp
acte
d
min
eral
sur
face
.
191X
, 197
X, 1
98X
, 199
X, 2
00X
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 27
Ag
ricul
ture
24
No
t ap
plic
able
.N
ot
app
licab
le.
Clo
ud /
Sh
ado
w-9
No
t ap
plic
able
.N
ot
app
licab
le.
Oth
er-9
9N
ot
app
licab
le.
No
t ap
plic
able
.
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 28
5.0 Listing of terms adopted from Ecosites of Ontario
A number of ecological terms are used throughout this document that are descried in detail in the Ecosites of Ontario (Ecological Land Classification Work Group, 2009). Below is a list of these terms for reference purposes.
active moisture regime very shallowbedrock non-vascular wetbog not vegetatedbryophyte not woodycalcareous open tall treedcanopy closure organic materialclosed tall treed patterningconifer peatcover permanently floodeddeep (soils) rockdepth salinediversity salt water shorelinedry saturatedecosite shallowemergent shorelinefen shoreline processfloating-leaved shrubfloating mat sparse herbaceousfresh sparse low shrubgraminoid sparse low treedground cover sparse tall shrubhardwood sparse tall treedherbaceous stuntedhumid substratehydric substrate typehydrologically isolated swampindicator species tall shrublichens tall treedlow shrub texturelow treed treemarsh vascular plantsmixed wood very moistmoderate vegetation cover classmoderately deep vegetation covermoist vegetation type
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 29
6.0 Acknowledgments
The land cover analysts would like to extend their gratitude to the Far North Branch for their continued support. Analysts would also like to extend thanks to Monique Wester and Peter Uhlig for their continued guidance and support. Their understanding of remote classification and input regarding the ecosites of Ontario significantly aided the development of this document and the land cover mapping product.
Far North Land Cover – Data Specifications Version 1.4 30
7.0 References
Crins, W.J., Gray, P.A., Uhlig, P.W.C., and M.C. Wester. 2009. The Ecosystems of Ontario, Part 1: Ecozones and Ecoregions. Ont Min. Natur. Resour., Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment Technical Report SI TER IMA TR-01. 71 pp.
Ecological Land Classification Working Group (In alphabetical order): Banton, E., Johnson, J., Lee, H., Racey, G., Uhlig, P. and M. Wester. 2009. Ecosites of Ontario: Operational Draft.
Franklin, S.E. and M.A. Wulder. 2002. Remote Sensing Methods in Medium Spatial Resolution Satellite Data Land Cover Classification of Large Areas. Progress in Physical Geography, 26, 2. pp. 173-205.
Inventory Monitoring And Assessment. 2009. Accuracy Assessment Report: Far North Land Cover 2000 (Version 1.0).
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. November 2009. Forest Information Manual 2009 Forest Resources Inventory Technical Specifications 2009. Sault Ste. Marie: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. 94 pp1
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 2013. Provincial Satellite Derived Disturbance Mapping Data Specifications. Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment Section Technical Report (Unpubl.) 20p.2
Riley, J.L. 2011. Wetlands of the Ontario Hudson Bay Lowland: A Regional Overview. Nature Conservancy of Canada, Toronto, ON. 156 pp, app.
Spectranalysis, Inc.. 1997. User Manual on the Provincial Land Cover Database with Recommendations for Database Management. To obtain a copy contact [email protected].
Spectranalysis, Inc.. 2004. Introduction to the Ontario Land Cover Database, Second Edition (2000): Outline of Production Methodology and Description of 27 Land Cover Classes. http://lioapp.lrc.gov.on.ca/edwin/EDWINCGI.exe?IHID=4711&AgencyID=1&Theme=All_Themes
Wulder, M., and T. Nelson. 2003. EOSD Land Cover Classification Legend Report, Version 2. http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/subsite/eosd/legend-report.
1 To obtain the data: Land Information Ontario Warehouse Data Set: Forest Resources Inventories - Planning Composite Inventory or Base Model Inventory. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LIO/index.html
2 To obtain the data: Land Information Ontario Warehouse Data Class: Provincial Satellite Derived Disturbance Mapping. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LIO/index.html