The 2007 LU/LC data set is the fourth in a series of land use mapping efforts that was begun in 1986. Revisions and additions to the initial baseline layer were done in subsequent years from imagery captured in 1995/97, 2002 and 2007. This present 2007 update was created by comparing the 2002 LU/LC layer from NJ DEP's Geographical Information Systems (GIS) database to 2007 color infrared (CIR) imagery and delineating and coding areas of change. Work for this data set was done by Aerial Information Systems, Inc., Redlands, CA, under direction of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Bureau of Geographic Information System (BGIS). LU/LC changes were captured by adding new line work and attribute data for the 2007 land use directly to the base data layer. All 2002 LU/LC polygons and attribute fields remain in this data set, so change analysis for the period 2002-2007 can be undertaken from this one layer. The classification system used was a modified Anderson et al., classification system. An impervious surface (IS) code was also assigned to each LU/LC polygon based on the percentage of impervious surface within each polygon as of 2007. Minimum mapping unit (MMU) is 1 acre.
ADVISORY: This metadata file contains information for the 2007Land Use/Land Cover (LU/LC) data sets, which were mapped by Watershed Management Area (WMA). There are additional reference documents listed in this file under Supplemental Information which should also be examined by users of these data sets.
As stated in this metadata record's Use Constraints section, NJDEP makes no representations of any kind, including, but not limited to, the warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular use, nor are any such warranties to be implied with respect to the digital data layers furnished hereunder. NJDEP assumes no responsibility to maintain them in any manner or form. By downloading this data, user agrees to the data use constraints listed within this metadata record.
The use of the updated 2007 LU/LC in land use analyses will provide a means of monitoring "the health of the citizens and ecosystems of New Jersey" through the use of diverse applications.
This data set is intended to serve as a resource data set. The NJDEP may change the line work or polygon coding based on more in depth analysis and field inspection.
A detailed discussion of specific procedures used to create this updated data set is included in
<http://www.state.nj.us/dep/gis/digidownload/metadata/lulc07/update.html>
General comments on previous updates are included in <http://www.state.nj.us/dep/gis/digidownload/metadata/lulc07/lureadme.html>
Note that the original 1986 baseline data layer was composed of two originally separate layers; the LU/LC from the Integrated Terrain Unit Mapping (ITUM) project and the Freshwater Wetlands (FWW) data from the New Jersey Freshwater Wetlands Mapping Project. NJDEP integrated the two themes into one coverage in 1996. The specific process used to develop the original ITUM data set is discussed in <http://www.state.nj.us/dep/gis/digidownload/metadata/lulc07/itum.html>. The process used to integrate the ITUM LU/LC and FWW coverages into one theme, including a discussion of the Upper Wetlands Boundary (UWB) line in the process, is discussed in detail in the <http://www.state.nj.us/dep/gis/digidownload/metadata/lulc07/fwwinteg.html>
Also note that included in the baseline LU/LC data set, as part of the original land use layer from the ITUM mapping, were the statewide hydrology boundaries. These hydrologic boundaries were replaced during the 2002 update with boundaries mapped from the 2002 imagery.
A description of the land use codes used in this data set is given in <http://www.state.nj.us/dep/gis/digidownload/metadata/lulc07/anderson2007.html>
This document is edited version of 'A Land Use and Land Cover Classification System for Use with Remote Sensor Data', U. S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 964, 1976.
The COWARDIN86 and CLASS86 codes used to describe the non-tidal wetlands are codes generated during the original FWW mapping program. CLASS86 is a numeric code that represents each of the specific COWARDIN86 descriptive codes which follow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Cowardin Classification System, (with some modifications specific to the New Jersey program). These two codes have been retained in all subsequent land use updates to identify those wetland polygons that were originally mapped as part of that FWW mapping program. Wetland polygons existing in the land use layers, including the 2007 update, which have the COWARDIN86 field valued as NULL, and CLASS86 code of 0 were mapped as part of the land use mapping efforts and not the FWW mapping effort. Note also that the COWARDIIN86 values have not been updated since the original mapping, although the wetland Anderson classification land use code may have been changed to reflect a change in the wetland polygon composition. This position was followed because it was felt that with the level of field work used in developing the 2007 data, it would be difficult to assign new Cowardin classes to the modified wetlands data with the same level of detail possible with the original FWW wetlands mapping. Note also that these attributes were named CLASS and COWARDIN in previous land use updates. They were renamed for this effort to CLASS86 and COWARDIN86 to indicate that the values in these fields do reflect wetland polygon classification from the original FWW mapping based on the 1986 photography.
All supplemental documents are available in HTML format as follows:
<http://www.state.nj.us/dep/gis/digidownload/metadata/lulc07/codelist2007.html>
<http://www.state.nj.us/dep/gis/digidownload/metadata/lulc07/anderson2007.html>
<http://www.state.nj.us/dep/gis/digidownload/metadata/lulc07/update.html>
<http://www.state.nj.us/dep/gis/digidownload/metadata/lulc07/lureadme.html>
<http://www.state.nj.us/dep/gis/digidownload/metadata/lulc07/fww.html>
<http://www.state.nj.us/dep/gis/digidownload/metadata/lulc07/itum.html>
<http://www.state.nj.us/dep/gis/digidownload/metadata/lulc07/fwwinteg.html>
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)
Data Distribution Agreement
I. Description of Data to be Provided.
The data provided herein are distributed subject to the following conditions and restrictions:
SUBJECT DATA LAYERS
For all data contained herein, NJDEP makes no representations of any kind, including, but not limited to, the warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular use, nor are any such warranties to be implied with respect to the digital data layers furnished hereunder. NJDEP assumes no responsibility to maintain them in any manner or form.
II. Terms of Agreement
1. Digital data received from the NJDEP are to be used solely for internal purposes in the conduct of daily affairs.
2. The data are provided, as is, without warranty of any kind and the user is responsible for understanding the accuracy limitations of all digital data layers provided herein, as documented in the accompanying cross-reference files (see SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION). Any reproduction or manipulation of the above data must ensure that the coordinate reference system remains intact.
3. Digital data received from the NJDEP may not be reproduced or redistributed for use by anyone without first obtaining written permission from the NJDEP. This clause is not intended to restrict distribution of printed mapped information produced from the digital data.
4. Any maps, publications, reports, or other documents produced as a result of this project that utilize NJDEP digital data will credit the NJDEP's Geographic Information System (GIS) as the source of the data with the following credit/disclaimer:
"This (map/publication/report) was developed using New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Geographic Information System digital data, but this secondary product has not been verified by NJDEP and is not state-authorized."
5. Users shall require any independent contractor, hired to undertake work that will utilize digital data obtained from the NJDEP, to agree not to use, reproduce, or redistribute NJDEP GIS data for any purpose other than the specified contractual work. All copies of NJDEP GIS data utilized by an independent contractor will be required to be returned to the original user at the close of such contractual work.
Users hereby agree to abide by the use and reproduction conditions specified above and agree to hold any independent contractor to the same terms. By using data provided herein, the user acknowledges that terms and conditions have been read and that the user is bound by these criteria.
The baseline 2002 data sets edited in this project were prepared by NJDEP/BGIS, from the original 2002 Land Use/Land Cover Update layers. The original layers included both 2002 and 1995 land use codes and linework. The 1995 codes and linework were removed by dissolving on the critical 2002 land use attributes. This produced layers that included only the 2002 codes and linework. It was these dissolved layers that were edited in this present project . Final QA/QC and final data set formatting for the 2007 update layers was done by NJDEP/BGIS.
Land use/land cover in 2007 was captured by adding additional line work and codes to the base layer, and filling in specific attribute fields that describe the 2007 land use/land cover ground conditions. All 2002 codes and line work remain in the data set so that change analysis can be performed on all polygons using this one updated data set. The 2002 polygons and codes were updated if it was felt that original mapped lines or land use classifications of any 2002 polygon needed to be modified based on the better 2007 imagery. In addition to the lu/lc codes, an impervious surface estimate was made for every polygon. This was a visual estimate and not a measured value. Data sets were processed and delivered by Watershed Management Area (WMA).
Note that the boundaries for two WMAs, 5 and 7, underwent major modifications between the time the 2002 and 2007 land use projects were undertaken, with a large portion of the former WMA7 now included as part of WMA5. The data for the present 2007 update reflects the new boundaries for these two management areas.
1. The existing statewide integrated 2007 land use geo-database layer, which includes both the 2007 land use polygons and codes and the 2002 land use polygons and codes, was first converted to a polygon coverage. Several simplified land use layers had to be created for the web applications, and the processing steps needed to simplify the polygons and retain the needed attribute items in the separate output layers can be more directly done using a coverage than a geo-database layer. This coverage was named LULCFULL. While the polygons representing land use change between 2002 and 2007 could be extracted from the original geo-database layer in as simplified a form as possible, the CHANGE02_07 layer was created from LULCFULL so that all related land use layers were created from the same root layer.
2. For the additional land use layers being created, several additional attributes had to be added to the polygon attribute table (.pat) of LULCFULL. However, these attributes were not needed for the creation of CHANGE02_07, so prior to the attribute additions, the appropriate change polygons were extracted from LULCFULL using the ARCINFO RESELECT command. All polygons with the CHANGE02_07 field equals 1, were reselected and place in a separate coverage.
3. Checks for node errors, label errors, and invalid codes were run on the reselected layer. Any errors were identified and corrected. Lastly the CHANGE02_07-ID field was calculated to equal CHANGE02_07# - 1, and the IDEDIT command run. The coverage, CHANGE02_07,was then loaded into the SDE geo-database for use in the web applications.
Note: Some older NJDEP data may not contain .prj files due to distribution procedures at that time. If download does not contain a .prj, please download from:
<http://www.nj.gov/dep/gis/njsp83.zip>
Please rename .prj to the name of the downloadable filename. (for example: If Head of Tides filename is HOT.shp, please rename .prj to HOT.prj). This allows ESRI software to recognize the projection information.