A note about data scale:
Scale is an important factor in data usage. Certain scale datasets are not suitable for some project, analysis, or modeling purposes. Please be sure you are using the best available data.
1:24000 scale datasets are recommended for projects that are at the county level. 1:24000 data should NOT be used for high accuracy base mapping such as property parcel boundaries. 1:100000 scale datasets are recommended for projects that are at the multi-county or regional level. 1:125000 scale datasets are recommended for projects that are at the regional or state level or larger.
Vector datasets with no defined scale or accuracy should be considered suspect. Make sure you are familiar with your data before using it for projects or analysis. Every effort has been made to supply the user with data documentation. For additional information, see the References section and the Data Source Contact section of this documentation. For more information regarding scale and accuracy, see our webpage at: <http://geoplan.ufl.edu/education.html>
Information in the FLMA data layer was provided to FNAI by the individual managing agencies. Boundary information on managed areas was originally in either digital format or on paper source maps with varying scales. New digital boundary files were integrated into FLMA by FNAI staff. In the case of paper source maps, boundaries were either transcribed by FNAI staff onto 1:24,000 USGS topographic quadrangles and then digitized, or boundaries from paper maps were transcribed by FNAI staff in ArcView or ArcMap using underlying USGS 1:24,000 DRG and/or 2004 DOQQs and on-screen digitization methods. FNAI staff then integrated these new digital boundaries into FLMA. The attribute item DIG_COM in the FLMA layer provides details on the derivation of boundaries for individual managed areas. The following digitizers were used by the FNAI staff:
CalComp DBII, accuracy of +/- .01 inch CalComp DBIII, accuracy of +/- .005 inch CalComp 9500 Series, accuracy of +/- .005 inch
When digital boundaries from one source overlapped with digital boundaries from another source, the boundaries were adjusted by FNAI staff to eliminate the overlapping areas. Adjustments were made based on the best known information about the source of the boundaries. All overlaps greater than 0.002 meters were removed using this process.
USDA Forest Service 325 John Knox Rd., Suite F-100 Tallahassee, FL 32303 Tel: 850.523.8560 Email: jasondrake@fs.fed.us
- All records were upcased. - Changed original layer name from FLMA to national_forests. - A DESCRIPT field was added based on MANAME - A FGDLAQDATE field was added based on date of download.