Madden, M., D. Jones, and L. Vilchek. 1999. Photointerpretation Key for the Everglades Vegetation Classification System. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, 65(2): 171-177.
Welch, R., M. Madden, and R.F. Doren. 1999. Mapping the Everglades. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, 65(2): 163-170.
Welch, R. and M. Madden. 1999. Vegetation Map and Digital Database of South Florida's National Park Service Lands, final report to the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Cooperative Agreement Number 5280-4-9006, Center for Remote Sensing and Mapping Science, University of Georgia, Athens, 44 pp.
Welch, R., M. Madden, and R.F. Doren 2001. Maps and GIS Databases for Environmental Studies of the Everglades. In J. W. Porter and K. G. Porter (eds.) The Everglades, Florida Bay, and Coral Reefs of the Florida Keys: An ecosystem sourcebook. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. pp. 259-279.
Construction of the vegetation database and 1:15,000 vegetation maps from the CIR photographs involved the following steps:
1) Photointerpreters delineated polygons for vegetation classes on clear plastic overlays registered to 1:10,000 CIR prints (~1m x 1m) on a large light table. Locations of all GCPs were noted on the overlays. Photointerpreters examined the original 9" x 9" film transparencies under a high magnification Bausch & Lomb 95 Stereoscope when additional detail was required.
2) Extensive helicopter reconnaissance and verification flights (+120 hrs) were conducted by Center for Remote Sensing and Mapping Science (CRMS) and National Park Service (NPS) botanists during the interpretation phase in order for the photo interpreters to associate photographic signatures with vegetation communities on the ground. All data were recorded on a laptop in the helicopter using FieldNotes (PenMetrics, Inc.) and formed the basis of the Everglades Vegetation Classification System created jointly by CRMS, NPS and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD).
3) Overlays were scanned at 400 dpi by Electronic Services, Inc. (Athens, Georgia) and saved as TIFFs.
4) The TIFFs of the scanned overlays were converted to vector files using R2V software (Able Software Company). The vector files were rectified to an accuracy of about RMSExy values ±4-5m using the Desktop Mapping System (DMS) by R-WEL, Inc. and previously identified GCPs in the UTM coordinate system. Vector files were output in ArcInfo Generate format.
5) The ArcInfo Generate vector files were imported to ArcInfo 7.0.3 for editing, attributing, edge-matching, and construction of vegetation coverages corresponding to USGS 7.5-minute quadrangles.
6) Quality control and accuracy checks - GPS-assisted reconnaissance of areas to be mapped and GPS-assisted accuracy checks of areas previously mapped were conducted using helicopters and automobiles. Photointerpreters used these field observations to check and maintain vegetation classification accuracy. Independent checks of vegetation classification accuracy at 88 random points in Everglades National Park resulted in an average of 90 percent correct, with a range of 77-97 percent correct. Average overall vegetation classification accuracy is estimated to be greater than 85 percent.
7) Final map plots and digital data files were generated.