Map Maintenance Guide Overview

Existing vegetation maps provide much of the information needed for forest planning, monitoring, and analysis. Because the U.S. Forest Service invests significant resources into producing mid-level existing vegetation maps, a maintenance process is needed to keep them current and useful. Natural occurrences such as wildfires and insect outbreaks, and management practices such as timber harvests, alter the landscape and change the vegetation composition. Without a plan for map maintenance, vegetation maps can quickly become outdated and inaccurate, rendering them ineffective for resource management decisions. The guide outlines the general concepts needed for a map maintenance program and includes information on: locating errors; defining the type of error; determining the correct map label; selecting the appropriate GIS or remote sensing updating technique; and distributing the revised map and associated databases. The concepts presented are based on the results of demonstration pilot projects conducted with the Bridger-Teton and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests.