Metadata: Cover Type raster, Minnesota

Cover Type raster, Minnesota

This page last updated: 01/27/2025
Metadata created using Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines


Go to Section:
  1. Overview
  2. Data Quality
  3. Data Organization
  4. Coordinate System
  5. Attributes
  6. Distribution - Get Data
  7. Metadata Reference

Section 1: Overview

Originator:Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Title: Cover Type raster, Minnesota

Abstract: The Forest Cover Type raster is a remotely sensed product from Sentinel and Landsat. The cover type raster datasets (at 20 meter spatial resolution) represent 12 forest cover types.

Purpose: The Forest Cover Type rasters are used by MN DNR Biometrician as input to Cover Type related Forest Inventory Models and by others for interpretation of forest characteristics.

Time Period of Content Date: 2021-2023

Currentness Reference: The Sentinel and Landsat data used to produce this data was acquired is from 2021 to 2023.

Progress: In work

Maintenance and Update Frequency: As needed

Spatial Extent of Data: Statewide

Bounding Coordinates: -97.23
-89.53
49.37
43.5

Place Keywords: Minnesota

Theme Keywords: forest, cover type, remote sensing

Theme Keyword Thesaurus:

Access Constraints: None. Please see 'Distribution Info' for details.

Use Constraints: None. Users are advised to read the dataset's metadata thoroughly and to have background knowledge in forestry to understand appropriate use and data limitations.

Contact Person Information: Dennis Kepler, Supervisor Resource Assessment Unit
Minnesota DNR - Forestry
Minnesota DNR - Forestry, Resource Assessment
483 Peterson Rd
Grand Rapids, MN  55744
Phone: 218-322-2512
Email: dennis.kepler@state.mn.us

Browse Graphic: None available

Associated Data Sets: Harmonized Sentinel-2 MSI data, Landsat and Sentinel satellite systems, MN DNR Forest Inventory

Section 2: Data Quality

Attribute Accuracy:

Logical Consistency:

Completeness: The data included is for the Lidar Acquision Blocks where the data is available.

Horizontal Positional Accuracy: N/A

Vertical Positional Accuracy: N/A

Lineage: The Cover Type inputs are from Harmonized Sentinel-2 MSI data as referenced by Harmonized Sentinel-2 MSI: MultiSpectral Instrument, Level-2A | Earth Engine Data Catalog | Google for Developers
https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/catalog/COPERNICUS_S2_SR_HARMONIZED
Harmonized Sentinel-2 MSI data a hybrid dataset integrating imagery from both the Landsat and Sentinel satellite systems, spanning the years 2021 to 2023. The map was generated through the application of random forest classification techniques within the Google Earth Engine platform. This process utilized PBI cover type data as training samples to ensure accuracy and reliability. The dataset will undergo periodic updates to incorporate newly available PBI plot data, ensuring its continued relevance and alignment with the most recent ground-truth observation.

Section 3: Spatial Data Organization (not used in this metadata)


Section 4: Coordinate System

Horizontal Coordinate Scheme: Universal Transverse Mercator

UTM Zone Number: 15

Horizontal Datum: NAD83

Horizontal Units: meters

Vertical Datum:

Vertical Units:

Depth Datum:

Depth Units:

Cell Width: 20m

Cell Height: 20m

Section 5: Attributes

Overview: Model Cover Type Value represents forest cover type.

Detailed Citation: Support for this project is provided by the State of Minnesota and the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENTRF) as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).

Resource Assessment | MN DNR


Table Detail:
dnr_remotely_sensed_forest_inventory_summary
Model Cover Type ValueModel Cover Type Name4Trees Cover Type Code4Trees Cover TypesComparison Notes
1Lowland Hardwood/Ash1,6,9,14,15Ash, Willow, Lowland Hardwoods, Balm of Gilead, CottonwoodMay include upland hardwood, primarily in upland-lowland transition areas
12Aspen/Birch12,13,14,17,78Aspen, Birch, Balm of Gilead, Hybrid Poplar, Offsite AspenMay include upland hardwood/oak in upland areas and lowland hardwood/ash in lowland areas.
20Upland Mixed Hardwood20, 25, 40Northern Hardwood, Walnut, Central HardwoodMay include oak or aspen/birch, in mixed stand conditions. May include lowland hardwood/ash in lowland transition areas.
30Oak30, 79Oak, Offsite OakMay include upland hardwood and aspen/birch, primarily in mixed stand conditions
51White Pine51White PineGeneral mixing of upland pine is expected
52Norway Pine52, 54, 55Norway Pine,Scotch Pine,Ponderosa PineGeneral mixing of upland pine is expected
53Jack Pine53Jack PineGeneral mixing of upland pine is expected
63Upland Spruce-Fir61,62,64,74White Spruce,Balsam Fir,Norway Spruce,Black Spruce-UplandJack Pine may often be represented here. Plantation sites may cause mixing with pine. Red Cedar may be represented here.
71Black Spruce71,74,75Black Spruce-Lowland,Black Spruce-Upland,Stagnant SpruceMay include upland spruce, primarily in upland-lowland transition areas. May include tamarack.
72Tamarack72,70,76Tamarack,Upland Larch, Stagnant SpruceMay include black spruce.
73Cedar73,77,,81White Cedar,Stagnant Cedar,Red CedarRed Cedar may cross into upland Spruce-Fir
96Water96,97Permanant Water,Non-permanant water
99Non-Forest83,84,85,86,87,88,90,91,92,93,94,95,98,99Lowland Grass,Upland Grass,Lowland Brush,Upland Brush, Duff, Moss, Unknown, Agricultural,Industrial,Developed,Recreation,Developed,Roads,Rock Outcrop,Marsh,MuskegAll 'non-forest' cover types are included. Recent disturbance on forest sites may result in non-forest classification. Consider disturbance history and monitoring information.

Section 6: Distribution

Publisher: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Publication Date: 01/27/2025

Contact Person Information: Jennifer Corcoran, Remote Sensing Program Consultant
Minnesota DNR - Forestry, Resource Assessment
500 Lafayette Rd
Saint Paul, MN  55155
Phone: 651-259-5898
Email: jennifer.corcoran@state.mn.us

Distributor's Data Set Identifier:

Distribution Liability: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources General Geographic Data License Agreement is online: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/sitetools/data_software_license.html

Ordering Instructions: Lidar data may be accessed directly from the 3DEP USGS program via the National Map https://apps.nationalmap.gov/viewer/.
For access to the Lidar derived forest inventory raster datasets, send a message to the Distribution Contact.

Online Linkage: None available

Section 7: Metadata Reference

Metadata Date: 01/27/2025

Contact Person Information: Molly Shoberg, GIS and Remote Sensing Data Analyst
Minnesota DNR - Forestry, Resource Assessment
483 Peterson Rd
Grand Rapids, MN  55744
Phone: 651-259-5464
Email: molly.shoberg@state.mn.us

Metadata Standard Name: Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines

Metadata Standard Version: 1.2

Metadata Standard Online Linkage:


This page last updated: 01/27/2025
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