Description of Classes Used in the Michigan Statewide Map

 

            This is an explanation of the values present in the Michigan statewide raster map, with the associated rules used to arrive at the class labels. Arabic numbers in bold type are those included in the map. Classification scheme should be viewed as a series of sequential if-then statements. Order counts. For example, consider a forest stand where 50% of the canopy is Aspen, 20% Maple, and 30% Pine. Because Aspen precedes Upland Mix in the decision rules, the forest types out as Aspen (413) rather than Mixed Deciduous (419). 

Class numbers were chosen in part to be similar to existing MIRIS Land Cover labels and their decision rule sequence does not necessarily match the numeric order (for example class 110 follows class 122 in the decision rules).

Number in parentheses following classification name is the grid value in the raster map.

 

                                                                                  

I           Urban

                  Land areas greater than 10% man-made structures including paved and gravel roads and parking lots.

 

121      Airports (3)

Impervious land within airport grounds, including runways.

 

            122      Road/Parking Lot (4)

Roads or parking lots.

           

123      High Intensity Urban (2)

Land area greater than 25% solid impervious cover made from man-made materials, other than airports, roads, or parking lots.

 

11        Low Intensity Urban (1)

Land area is greater than 10% and less than 25% man-made structures including paved and gravel roads and parking lots.

 

 

II          Agricultural

               Land intensely managed for vegetation production excluding forestry.

 

            2111    Non-vegetated Farmland (5)

Land area tilled for crop production with less than 25% currently vegetated.

 

            2112    Row crops (6)

Vegetation consists of annual crops planted in rows (e.g. corn, soybeans).

 

2113/212         Forage Crops/ Non-tilled herbaceous agriculture (7)

Vegetation used for fodder production (e.g. alfalfa, hay). Also includes land used for pasture, or non-tilled herbaceous agriculture.

 

            222      Orchards/Vineyards/Nursery (9)

Woody trees not grown for Christmas trees.

 

 

UPLAND

 Land not periodically flooded nor on hydric soils.

 

III        Upland Openland

Less than 25% of land area is covered by tree canopy, and greater than 25% of land area is vegetated.

 

350      Parks/Golf Courses (13)

Maintained for recreational purposes.

 

320/330   Upland Shrub/Low Density Trees (12)

The combination of woody shrubs and tree canopy (woody cover) covers more than 25% of the land area.

 

310      Herbaceous Openland (10)

Less than 25% of land area consists of woody cover.

                                   

           

IV        Upland Forest

Proportion of trees exceeds 25% of land area.

 

  A.      Upland Deciduous Forest

Proportion of deciduous trees exceeds 60% of the canopy.

 

            411      Northern Hardwood Association (14)

Combination of Maples, Beech, Basswood, White Ash, Cherry, Yellow Birch exceeds 60% of the canopy.

 

            412      Oak Association (15)

Proportion of Oaks exceeds 60% of the canopy.

 

            413      Aspen Association (16)

Proportion of Aspen exceeds 40% of the canopy.

 

            414      Other Upland Deciduous (17)

Proportion of any other single species exceeds 60% of the canopy.

 

            419      Mixed Upland Deciduous (18)

Proportion of deciduous trees exceeds 60% of the canopy.

 

 

  B.       Upland Coniferous Forest

 

            421/422  Pines (19)

Proportion of pines exceeds 60% of the canopy.

 

            423      Other Upland Conifers (20)

Proportion of non-pine upland conifers exceeds 60% of the canopy.

 

            429      Mixed Upland Conifers (21)

Proportion of coniferous trees exceeds 60% of the canopy.

 

            43        Upland Mixed Forest (22)

Mixed forest not falling into any other category. Proportion of conifers to deciduous ranges from 40%:60% to 60%:40%.

 

 

  V.      Water

 

            50        Water (23)

Proportion of open water exceeds 75% of land area.

 

 

            LOWLAND

Land is periodically flooded and/or on hydric soils.

 

  VI.     Lowland Forest

Proportion of trees exceeds 25% of land area.

 

            611      Lowland Deciduous Forest (24)

Proportion of deciduous trees exceeds 60% of the canopy.

 

612      Lowland Coniferous Forest (25)

Proportion of coniferous trees exceeds 60% of the canopy.

 

            613      Lowland Mixed Forest (26)

Mixed forest not falling into any other category. Proportion of conifers to deciduous ranges from 40%:60% to 60%:40%.

 

 

 VII.     Non-forested Wetlands

Proportion of trees is less than or equal to 25% of land area.

 

            621      Floating Aquatic (27)

Proportion of floating aquatic vegetation exceeds 60% of non-water cover.

 

            622      Lowland Shrub (28)

Proportion of lowland shrub exceeds 60% of non-water cover.

 

            623      Emergent Wetland (29)

Proportion of emergent vegetation exceeds 60% of non-water cover.

 

            629      Mixed Non-forest Wetland (30)

Non-forested wetlands not falling into any other category.

 

 

VIII      Bare/Sparsely Vegetated

Land is less than 25% vegetated.

 

            710      Sand/Soil (31)

Land cover is formed primarily of sand or bare soil.

 

            720      Exposed Rock (32)

Land cover is formed of solid rock.

 

730      Mud Flats (33)

If periodically flooded.

 

            790      Other Bare/Sparsely Vegetated (35)