Abstract: The Primary Land and Vegetation Inventory (PLVI) is a photo-based digital inventory developed to identify the type, extent and conditions of vegetation in the forested and parkland areas of the province of Alberta. This includes portions of both the Green and White areas of the province. It will include areas of the province extending north from the extent of the Grassland Vegetation Inventory (GVI) and will include areas where the detail and expense of Alberta Vegetation Inventory (AVI) are not warranted, or time and resources are limiting constraints. Ecological site phase (ecosite phase) is the main level of classification used in PLVI. A polygon may be attributed with up to 3 ecological site phases, depending on complexity and extent. PLVI captures range site attributes only within the Central Parkland Natural Subregion. The most up to date ecological site phases can be found in the Plant Community Guides. Guides are broken into individual Natural Subregions. See the Cross Reference Section for additional information. This dataset is produced for the Government of Alberta and is available to the general public. Please consult the Distribution Information of this metadata for the appropriate contact to acquire this dataset.
Metadata:
File identifier:
F640CD9D-C232-481D-9CFF-7A7B66E51E49
Language:
Language Code:
eng
Character set:
Character set code:
utf8
Hierarchy level:
Scope code:
dataset
Metadata author:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
Alberta Environment and Parks, Government of Alberta
Position name:
Rangeland Business Information Management and Analysis Unit, Rangeland Resource Stewardship, Lands Policy and
Programs, Lands Division
Contact info:
Contact:
Phone:
Telephone:
Voice:
7804224598
Facsimile:
7804220454
Address:
Address:
Delivery point:
City:
Edmonton
Administrative area:
Alberta
Postal code:
T5K 2G8
Country:
Country:
CA
Electronic mail address:
AEP.RANGELAND-GIS@gov.ab.ca
Hours of service:
08:15 to 16:30 Monday to Friday
Contact instructions:
This is the point of contact regarding the creation of, and characteristics of, the data set. Queries
about the creation and/or characteristics of the data set submitted through facsimile or electronic mail
must include the salutation "Attention:Rangeland Business Information Management and Analysis Unit;
Dataset: Primary Land and Vegetation Inventory (PLVI)". For Distribution Information contact
instructions, refer to the Distribution Information section of this metadata record. For Metadata
Information contact instructions, refer to the Metadata Reference Information section of this metadata
record.
Role:
Role code:
publisher
Date stamp:
2020-02-11
Metadata standard name:
NAP - Metadata
Metadata standard version:
1.2
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Vector spatial representation:
Topology level:
Topology level code:
geometryOnly
Geometric objects:
Geometric objects:
Geometric object type:
Geometric object type code:
composite
Geometric object count:
163748
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Reference system:
Reference system identifier:
RS Identifier:
Code:
3400
Code Space:
EPSG
Version:
6.11(9.3.0.0)
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Data identification:
Citation:
Citation:
Title:
Primary Land and Vegetation Inventory (PLVI)
Date:
Date:
Date:
2020-02-11
Date type:
Date type code:
publication
Cited responsible party:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
Alberta Environment and Parks, Government of Alberta
Position name:
Rangeland Business Information Management and Analysis Unit, Rangeland Resource Stewardship, Lands
Policy and Programs, Lands Division
Contact info:
Contact:
Phone:
Telephone:
Voice:
7804224598
Facsimile:
7804220454
Address:
Address:
Delivery point:
City:
Edmonton
Administrative area:
Alberta
Postal code:
T5K 2G8
Country:
Country:
CA
Electronic mail address:
AEP.RANGELAND-GIS@gov.ab.ca
Hours of service:
08:15 to 16:30 Monday to Friday
Contact instructions:
This is the point of contact regarding the creation of, and characteristics of, the data set.
Queries about the creation and/or characteristics of the data set submitted through facsimile or
electronic mail must include the salutation "Attention:Rangeland Business Information Management
and Analysis Unit; Dataset: Primary Land and Vegetation Inventory (PLVI)". For Distribution
Information contact instructions, refer to the Distribution Information section of this metadata
record. For Metadata Information contact instructions, refer to the Metadata Reference
Information section of this metadata record.
Role:
Role code:
originator
Presentation form:
Presentation form code:
mapDigital
Abstract:
The Primary Land and Vegetation Inventory (PLVI) is a photo-based digital inventory developed to identify the
type, extent and conditions of vegetation in the forested and parkland areas of the province of Alberta.
This includes portions of both the Green and White areas of the province. It will include areas of the
province extending north from the extent of the Grassland Vegetation Inventory (GVI) and will include areas
where the detail and expense of Alberta Vegetation Inventory (AVI) are not warranted, or time and resources
are limiting constraints. Ecological site phase (ecosite phase) is the main level of classification used in
PLVI. A polygon may be attributed with up to 3 ecological site phases, depending on complexity and extent.
PLVI captures range site attributes only within the Central Parkland Natural Subregion. The most up to date
ecological site phases can be found in the Plant Community Guides. Guides are broken into individual Natural
Subregions. See the Cross Reference Section for additional information. This dataset is produced for the
Government of Alberta and is available to the general public. Please consult the Distribution Information of
this metadata for the appropriate contact to acquire this dataset.
Purpose:
The PLVI dataset will support the understanding and management of land-related issues in the central and
northern part of the province. The PLVI will provide a spatial vegetation inventory for up to ten Natural
Subregions.
PLVI will assist in decision making for land management, fish and wildlife management, forest management as
well as land use planning. This inventory will also provide support to future challenges dealing with
biodiversity, climate change and balanced economic, social and environmental decision making.
Credit:
PLVI Standards and Specifications were originally developed by the Broad Inventory Committee, consisting of
representatives from Agriculture and Forestry (Forest Management Branch, Wildfire Management Branch),
Strategy and Governance Division, and the Lands Division (Rangeland Management).
Status:
Progress code:
onGoing
Point of contact:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
Alberta Environment and Parks, Government of Alberta
Position name:
Rangeland Business Information Management and Analysis Unit, Rangeland Resource Stewardship, Lands Policy
and Programs, Lands Division
Contact info:
Contact:
Phone:
Telephone:
Voice:
7804224598
Facsimile:
7804220454
Address:
Address:
Delivery point:
City:
Edmonton
Administrative area:
Alberta
Postal code:
T5K 2G8
Country:
Country:
CA
Electronic mail address:
AEP.RANGELAND-GIS@gov.ab.ca
Hours of service:
08:15 to 16:30 Monday to Friday
Contact instructions:
This is the point of contact regarding the creation of, and characteristics of, the data set. Queries
about the creation and/or characteristics of the data set submitted through facsimile or electronic
mail must include the salutation "Attention:Rangeland Business Information Management and Analysis
Unit; Dataset: Primary Land and Vegetation Inventory (PLVI)". For Distribution Information contact
instructions, refer to the Distribution Information section of this metadata record. For Metadata
Information contact instructions, refer to the Metadata Reference Information section of this
metadata record.
Role:
Role code:
pointOfContact
Resource maintenance:
Maintenance information:
Maintenance and update frequency:
Maintenance frequency code:
asNeeded
Descriptive keywords:
Keywords:
Keyword:
Alberta, Canada
Type:
Keyword type code:
place
Descriptive keywords:
Keywords:
Keyword:
Ecology
Keyword:
Land Management
Keyword:
Vegetation
Type:
Keyword type code:
theme
Descriptive keywords:
Keywords:
Keyword:
Downloadable Data
Thesaurus name: uuidref: 723f6998-058e-11dc-8314-0800200c9a66
Resource constraints:
Legal constraints:
Access constraints:
Restriction code:
otherRestrictions
Other constraints:
To access the data you must agree to the terms of the Open Government Licence - Alberta found at
http://open.alberta.ca/licence
Resource constraints:
Legal constraints:
Use constraints:
Restriction code:
license
Other constraints:
Your use of this information will be governed by the terms of the Open Government Licence - Alberta, in
force as of the date you accessed the information, found at https://open.alberta.ca/licence
Resource constraints:
Legal constraints:
Use limitation:
Distribution Liability: Under the terms of the Open Government Licence - Alberta, the Information is
licensed as is, and the Information Provider excludes all representations, warranties, obligations, and
liabilities, whether express or implied, to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Information
Provider is not liable for any errors or omissions in the Information, and will not under any
circumstances be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential, or other loss,
injury or damage caused by its use or otherwise arising in connection with this licence or the
Information, even if specifically advised of the possibility of such loss, injury or damage.
Resource constraints:
Security constraints:
Classification:
Classification code:
unclassified
User note:
Public/Unrestricted
Classification system:
GOA Data and Information Security Classification
Handling description:
https://imtpolicy.sp.alberta.ca/standards/pdf/Data-and-Information-Security-Classification-Standard.pdf
Aggregation Info:
AggregateInformation:
Aggregate Data Set Name:
Citation:
Title:
Range classification and survey tools
Date:
Date:
Date:
2019-01-01
Date type:
Date type code:
revision
Cited responsible party:
missing
Association Type:
Association type code:
crossReference
Aggregation Info:
AggregateInformation:
Aggregate Data Set Name:
Citation:
Title:
Guide to range plant community types and carrying capacity for the dry and central mixedwood
subregions in Alberta : 8th approximation
Date:
Date:
Date:
2016-06-01
Date type:
Date type code:
publication
Edition:
8th Approximation
Cited responsible party:
missing
ISBN:
978-1-4601-2975-3
ISSN:
978-1-4601-2976-0
Association Type:
Association type code:
crossReference
Aggregation Info:
AggregateInformation:
Aggregate Data Set Name:
Citation:
Title:
Range Plant Community Types: Carrying Capacity for Lower Foothills Subregion
Date:
Date:
Date:
2005-01-01
Date type:
Date type code:
publication
Edition:
4th Approximation
Cited responsible party:
missing
ISBN:
0-7785-4097-9
ISSN:
0-7785-4098-7
Association Type:
Association type code:
crossReference
Aggregation Info:
AggregateInformation:
Aggregate Data Set Name:
Citation:
Title:
Central Parkland Range Plant Community Guide
Date:
Date:
Date:
2013-03-01
Date type:
Date type code:
publication
Edition:
Second Approximation
Cited responsible party:
missing
ISBN:
978-1-4601-0250-3
ISSN:
978-1-4601-0251-0
Association Type:
Association type code:
crossReference
Aggregation Info:
AggregateInformation:
Aggregate Data Set Name:
Citation:
Title:
Range Plant Community Types and Carrying Capacity for the Peace River Parkland Subregion of Alberta
Date:
Date:
Date:
2007-01-01
Date type:
Date type code:
publication
Cited responsible party:
missing
ISBN:
978-0-7785-6499
ISSN:
978-0-7785-6500
Association Type:
Association type code:
crossReference
Aggregation Info:
AggregateInformation:
Aggregate Data Set Name:
Citation:
Title:
Ecological sites of the Kazan uplands subregion: first approximation
Date:
Date:
Date:
2017-02-24
Date type:
Date type code:
publication
Cited responsible party:
missing
ISBN:
978-1-4601-3321-7
ISSN:
978-1-4601-3320-0
Association Type:
Association type code:
crossReference
Aggregation Info:
AggregateInformation:
Aggregate Data Set Name:
Citation:
Title:
Ecological sites of the Upper Boreal Highlands subregion: first approximation
Date:
Date:
Date:
2017-03-09
Date type:
Date type code:
publication
Cited responsible party:
missing
ISBN:
978-1-4601-3357-6
ISSN:
978-1-4601-3358-3
Association Type:
Association type code:
crossReference
Aggregation Info:
AggregateInformation:
Aggregate Data Set Name:
Citation:
Title:
Ecological sites for the Lower Boreal Highlands subregion
Date:
Date:
Date:
2016-12-01
Date type:
Date type code:
publication
Cited responsible party:
missing
ISBN:
978-1-4601-3169-5
ISSN:
978-1-4601-3170-1
Association Type:
Association type code:
crossReference
Aggregation Info:
AggregateInformation:
Aggregate Data Set Name:
Citation:
Title:
Ecological sites for the Athabasca Plain subregion
Date:
Date:
Date:
2017-01-05
Date type:
Date type code:
publication
Cited responsible party:
missing
ISBN:
978-1-4601-3175-6
ISSN:
978-1-4601-3176-3
Association Type:
Association type code:
crossReference
Aggregation Info:
AggregateInformation:
Aggregate Data Set Name:
Citation:
Title:
Urban Primary Land and Vegetation Inventory (uPLVI)
Date:
Date:
Date:
2015-01-01
Date type:
Date type code:
publication
Cited responsible party:
missing
Other citation details:
uPLVI covers the City of Edmonton, including a 3.2km buffer.
Following on the Province of Alberta’s vegetation inventories, the uPLVI is an ecological information
tool that has been designed to:
1. Maintain a land cover inventory that is replicable and utilizes standards and protocols adopted by
natural resource practitioners;
2. Maps natural and semi-natural areas as well as areas of anthropogenic use within the Edmonton
region that can be modified and updated over time; and
3. Provides a framework that, if built upon, could assist in land use planning for the broader Capital
Region of Alberta, Canada.
Association Type:
Association type code:
crossReference
Spatial representation type:
Spatial representation type code:
vector
Spatial resolution:
Resolution:
Equivalent scale:
Representative fraction:
Denominator:
10000
Language:
Language Code:
eng
Character set:
Character set code:
utf8
Topic category:
Topic category code:
biota
Topic category:
Topic category code:
environment
Environment description:
Version 6.2 (Build 9200) ; Esri ArcGIS 10.7.1.11595
Extent:
Extent:
Geographic element:
Geographic bounding box:
Extent type code:
true
West bound longitude:
-120.4012422
East bound longitude:
-110.00562662
South bound latitude:
52.03673474
North bound latitude:
58.02615539
Temporal element:
Temporal extent:
Extent:
Time period:
Begin date:
2008-01-01T00:00:00
End date:
2015-12-31T00:00:00
Extent:
Extent:
Geographic element:
Geographic bounding box:
Extent type code:
true
West bound longitude:
-120.401242
East bound longitude:
-109.200207
South bound latitude:
51.877919
North bound latitude:
58.141393
Supplemental Information:
The ecological classification hierarchy in Alberta consists of the following levels (largest to smallest
unit): Natural region, Natural subregion, Ecosection, Ecodistrict, Ecological site (Range Site), Ecological
site phase and Plant community .
Natural Subregions
A subregion is characterized by vegetation, climate, elevation, latitudinal and/or topographic differences
within a natural region (Natural Regions Committee 2006). Each subregion has a reference site. This is
defined as the vegetation-soil ecosystem that reflects the regional climate. It is the ecosystem that is
found on deep, well to moderately well-drained sites, medium soil textures and mid-slope positions where
soil or topographic conditions do not override that of climate. It may not be the most common ecosystem but
it typifies the subregion. There are 21 natural subregions within Alberta.
Ecosection
The Ecosection will further split the Natural subregion and will represent areas with similar physiographic
features (ie. areas of higher elevation, changes in climate between north and south etc.). An ecosection may
be defined by grouping various ecodistricts.
Ecodistrict
The ecodistrict level is a unique pattern of slope, landform, soils and vegetation. Mapping of this unit is
usually done at a scale of 1:100,000 within the whole province. This level of the classification hierarchy
may or may not be unique to a subregion.
Ecological Site (Range Site)
Ecological sites are ecological units that develop under similar environmental influences (climate, moisture
regime, nutrient regime) (Beckingham, Corns and Archibald, 1996) and are unique to a subregion. An
ecological site is a distinctive kind of land with specific physical characteristics that differs from other
kinds of land in its ability to produce a distinctive kind and amount of vegetation (Task Group on Unity and
Concepts 1995).
Ecological Site Phase
An ecological site phase is a subdivision of the ecological site based on the dominant tree species or
variations in specific environmental influences. Differences in phases of the same ecological site may be
expressed as differences in plant species abundance or pedogenic processes. Ecological site phases have a
distinct range in tree canopy composition and understory floristics.
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Feature catalogue description:
Compliance code:
false
Language:
Language Code:
eng
Included with dataset:
true
Feature types:
missing
Feature catalogue citation:
Citation:
Title:
Primary Land and Vegetation Inventory (PLVI)
Date:
Date:
Date:
2008-01-01
Date type:
Date type code:
creation
Date:
Date:
Date:
2015-12-31
Date type:
Date type code:
revision
Cited responsible party:
missing
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Distribution:
Distribution format:
Format:
Name:
Shapefile
Version:
10.7.1
File decompression technique:
ZIP
Distribution format:
Format:
Name:
File Geodatabase
Version:
10.7.1
File decompression technique:
ZIP
Distributor:
Distributor:
Distributor contact:
Responsible party:
Organisation name:
Alberta Environment and Parks, Government of Alberta
Position name:
Provincial Geospatial Centre
Contact info:
Contact:
Phone:
Telephone:
Voice:
7804277374
Facsimile:
7804220712
Address:
Address:
Delivery point:
14th Floor, Oxbridge Place, 9820-106 Street NW
City:
Edmonton
Administrative area:
Alberta
Postal code:
T5K 2J6
Country:
Country:
CA
Electronic mail address:
AEP.Data@gov.ab.ca
Hours of service:
08:15 to 16:30 Monday to Friday
Contact instructions:
This is the point of contact regarding distribution of the data set. Queries about distribution of
the data set submitted through facsimile or electronic mail must include the salutation
"Attention: Provincial Geospatial Centre; Dataset: Primary Land and Vegetation Inventory (PLVI)"
Role:
Role code:
distributor
Transfer options:
Digital transfer options:
Units of distribution:
MB
Transfer size:
503
Online:
Online Resource:
Linkage:
URL:
https://extranet.gov.ab.ca/srd/geodiscover/srd_pub/biota/LandsRange/PrimaryLandAndVegetationInventoryPLVI.zip
Protocol:
FTP
Name:
PrimaryLandAndVegetationInventoryPLVI.zip
Description:
ZIP file containing SHP and GDB
Function:
Online function code:
download
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Data quality:
Scope:
Scope:
Hierarchy level:
Scope code:
dataset
Lineage:
Lineage:
Statement:
The file geodatabase and feature class schema were created by each contractor using a script which defined
the fields and domains.
Contracts completed before November 2010, used an older set of PLVI rules and specifications. Submission
datasets 1 through 14 did not require that detailed forest site information such as species and density
were mandatory for Treed Fens (TF), Treed Wetlands (WT) and Tree Clearing (CIT), and as such, these
attributes are blank. These contracts also did not have Anthropogenic Impact Percentage or the Image
Year filled in. Submissions 13 and 14 had their Anthropogenic Impact percentage later filled in by
Government of Alberta staff.
Begining as submission 20, the Percent Pine attribute was added. All submissions before this have a vale
of zero.
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
For each contract, the contractor delineates the PLVI polygons using aerial photography. The minimum
mapping units is 10ha for Naturally Non-vegetated polygons and Developed Non-vegetated Polygons. For
Vegetated polygons, the minimum polygon size is: modified areas (10ha); Naturally Non-wooded
Shrub/Graminoid or Wetland Areas in the Lower Foothills, Upper Foothills, Montane, Subalpine,
Central Mixedwood, Lower Boreal Highlands, Upper Boreal Highlands, Northern Mixedwood, Kazan
Uplands, Peace Athabasca Delta and Athabasca Plain (20ha); Natural Non-wooded Shrub/Graminoid or
Wetland Areas in the Central Parklands, Foothills Parkland, Peace Parkland, Dry Mixedwood and
Northern Fescue natural subregions (5ha); Naturally wooded Areas - for heterogeneous landscapes
(20ha); Central Parkland and Northern Fescue natural subregions where there are pockets of wetland
and forest (10ha) and for homogenous landscapes (40ha); Linear Clearings (50m/10ha) The contractor
attributes each polygon using an Interpreter Database tool which guides them through the hierarchy
to end up with ecosite phase. Map codes are used by the photo interpreter to describe ecological
sites. The map code generally follows the ecosite edatopic grid, but has been modified for ease of
use by the interpreters. Generally the interpreters can distinguish from nine to seventeen map codes
depending on the subregion. The map codes are coded from dry to wet (1 to 9) with nutrient codes
poor to rich (A to E) and include these twenty one codes in the various interpretation databases for
all subregions in the province (1A, 2B, 3B, 3C,3D, 4B, 4C, 4D, 5B, 5C, 5D, 6C, 6D, 6E, 7B, 7C, 7D,
9B, 9C, 9D, and 9E).
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
The data are then run through an audit protocol which includes a spatial audit, attribute audit and a
polygon audit. Once the dataset has passed through the audit, it is added to the PLVI warehouse.
Process step:
Process step:
Description:
In 2016, the ECOSITE_PHASE table was added to the geodatabase structure. Three new fields were added
to the schema. These fields all link to the ECOSITE_PHASE table which provides information such as
descriptive name of ecositephase, and dates that the ecosite phase is active.
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Maintenance information:
Maintenance and update frequency:
Maintenance frequency code:
asNeeded
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