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Interpretation - Mapping Process
Services and Programs/Fact Sheets :
Wetland Conservation Act Fact Sheet :
Geographic Information System (GIS) :
GIS Digital Data :
Natural Resource Inventory (NRI) :
MLCCS - Natural Resource Inventory (NRI) :
Interpretation - Mapping Process
About MLCCS
Time Required
Mapping Process
Resources
Now that you've plotted your paper maps of the project area you can begin interpreting the color infra-red aerial photography
and delineating the identified natural communities on your paper maps.
The smallest area to delineate, often referred to as the Minimum Mapping Unit (MMU), is a decision of paramount importance to effectively use this NRI to accomplish your community's goals.
The Minnesota DNR's MLCCS User Manual recommends a MMU of 0.5 hectares for natural vegetation (1.23 acres) and 1 hectare for cultural communities
(2.47 acres). Although, smaller mmu's like 1 acre, 1/2 acre, or 1/4 acre can be used if time and budget allow it. Because it can be difficult to picture a 2 acre area in your mind
while delineating the boundary of a community on your paper map, it can be very helpful to outline a 2 acre square on a piece of flimsy mylar to slide over your paper map for estimating
size of communities when needed. Also associated with the MMU is a recommended minimum polygon width of 50 feet.
 Interpretation of land cover involves peering through a stereoscope at a pair of color infra-red aerial photos while moving the photos back and forth until you can see the
image in relief. You are then able to differentiate relative height of vegetation from the ground as well as detect differences in shape and varying color signatures of different types of vegetation.
Delineation of community types is a fairly simple process of tracing the boundaries of the many different communities described within the MLCCS Key onto your paper map over the aerial photograph.
A thick, visible lead colored pencil works best for tracing your delineation of community boundaries over the light and dark areas of aerial photography, especially shades of light red.
Delineation of communities can be done from the largerst or most obvious down to the smallest or more subtle. For example, on an aerial photograph depicting the edge of a subarban neighborhood
abutting up to a forested area on one side and a meadow on the other you would first trace the boundary of the suburb to separate it from the natural areas. You could then separate the suburb based
on imperviousness into maintained grass areas (like parks, playgrounds, and cemetaries) and built up areas (like rows of homes and business parks). The next step would then be to separate the forested
area into more detail using the MLCCS Key to more descriptive communities such as clumps of oak woodland, disturbed woodland, and aspen forest. Finally, one could then peform the same process for the
meadow, separating areas of disturbed grasses from wetland and shrubland community types based on the MLCCS Key. To maintain quality and accuracy, interpretation standards have been set. Line error
should be no more than 1/8" at a 1:3,000 scale. This represents approximately 30 feet horizontal accuracy.
Delineating communities.
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Labelling communities.
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After delineating the boundaries of the various community types present you would then label each polygon with the corresponding 5 digit MLCCS classification code, any relevant 3 digit
modifier codes present, and the level of field verification if applicable. For interpretation of natural communities, the accuracy goal is set at 100% for level 1, 95% for level 3, and 90% for levels 4-5.
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