Metadata: Remotely Sensed Site Index, Minnesota

Remotely Sensed Site Index, Minnesota

This page last updated: 01/08/2025
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: Remotely Sensed Site Index, Minnesota

Abstract: The Remotely Sensed Site Index is a Cover Type Model, as a 20-meter raster dataset. The cover type models are masked to omit non-forest areas, as well as areas of regeneration, typically in the seedling and sapling stages of development.

For more information about all metrics and models, see the Resource Assessment Glossary and Frequently Asked Questions documents, found on the Resource Assessment Program website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Resource Assessment Glossary

Resource Assessment | MN DNR


Purpose: Remotely sensed forest inventory models are utilized by the Resource Assesment Biometrician as inputs to updating forest inventory by forest stand.

Time Period of Content Date:

Currentness Reference: The 3DEP USGS Lidar data used to produce grid metrics was acquired in LAB at various time periods in the state, starting in 2018, and up to 2025.

Progress: Complete

Maintenance and Update Frequency: None Planned

Spatial Extent of Data: Statewide

Bounding Coordinates: -97.23
-89.53
49.37
43.5

Place Keywords: Minnesota

Theme Keywords: lidar, remote sensing, lidar derived grid metrics, cover type, forestry, forest inventory, 3DEP USGS

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, 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: Minnesota's 3DEP USGS Lidar, LAB extent (polygon feature class), Forest Cover Type

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: Masking removes non-forest areas, as well as areas of regeneration, typically in the seedling and sapling stages of development.

The mask created for Lidar Derived forest inventory models is based on two parameters. First, the areas in the forest inventory models that have negative values. The negative values in a forest inventory model correspond to areas where lidar returns are absent, or are in a condition that was not sampled during field collection. Second, the mask omits areas where less than 10% of the first returns are above 3m from the ground.

The mask created for Lidar Derived Cover Type models is based on areas in the forest inventory models that are identified in the cov3m1st values < 10. The cov3mIst values are the proportion of first returns above 3-m from the ground. Therefore the mask omits areas where less than 10% of the first returns are above 3m from the ground.

Site Index models were produced using random forest regression approach. The forest cover type, an important predictor in the models, was a categorical variable. The other lidar derived predictors in the SI and age models are listed below.

CRR
ElevMax
ElevMaxOld
ElevP05
ElevP10
ElevSkew
strata3
strata5
covertype

Lidar derived grid metrics are utilized by Resource Assesment Biometrician as inputs to Multi-linear regression model for producing Forest Inventory Models by Lidar Acquisition Block.

The Lidar inputs are from certified USGS 3dep data as referenced by
RLB (2021) Project Report
https://rockyweb.usgs.gov/vdelivery/Datasets/Staged/Elevation/metadata/MN_RainyLake_2020_B20/USGS_MN_RainyLake_2020_B20_Project_Report.pdf
LSB (2021) Project Report
https://rockyweb.usgs.gov/vdelivery/Datasets/Staged/Elevation/metadata/MN_LakeSuperior_2021_B21/USGS_MN_LakeSuperior_2021_B21_Project_Report.pdf
PiCo (2019) Project Report
https://rockyweb.usgs.gov/vdelivery/Datasets/Staged/Elevation/metadata/WI_Oshkosh_3Rivers_2018_D19/WI_Oshkosh_3Rivers_2018_D19_WP_Report.pdf


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(2011)


Horizontal Units: meters

Vertical Datum:

Vertical Units:

Depth Datum:

Depth Units:

Cell Width: 20m

Cell Height: 20m

Section 5: Attributes

Overview: Value represents Site Index height in feet of dominant or codominant trees.

Site Index is the height potential of trees at base age 50.

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:

Section 6: Distribution

Publisher: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Publication Date: 01/08/2025

Contact Person Information: Jason Langenecker, Assistant Resource Assessment Supervisor for Field Services
Minnesota DNR - Forestry, Resource Assessment
483 Peterson rd
Grand Rapids, MN  55744
Phone: 218-322-2519
Email: jason.langenecker@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: 01/08/2025

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: 01/08/2025
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