BUREAU OF GEOLOGY


tem (1976). Inventory of state land resources would be achieved
through the coordination of remote-sensing techniques (including aerial
photography) and ground-based observations. Computer storage of such
vast quantities of information could permit organization of the data in a
variety of ways that would expedite management decisions. Within this
scheme, information from various sensors is organized into various levels
of classification ranging from Level I to Level IV. The levels are summa-
rized as follows in the technical report describing the classification sys-
tem:
 "Level I classification uses satellite imagery with very little supple-
mental information. The mapping is usually at a ratio of 1:1,000,000. At
this ratio only a general classification based on major differences in land
cover can be made.
 "Level II classifications are based on high altitude and satellite imagery
combined with topographic maps. The mapping is normally at a ratio of
1:1,000,000 and transferable to 1:24,000 ratio.
 "Level Ill classification are based on medium altitude remote sensing
at a scale of less than 1:24,000 combined with detailed topographic
maps and substantial amounts of supplemental information, i.e., field
observation.
 "Level IV classification uses low altitude imagery with most of the
information being derived from supplemental sources.
(This level is not included within this document.)
600 Wetlands: (Level I)
 "Forested wetlands are areas that are subject to permanent or pro-
longed periods of inundation or saturation and/or exhibit vegetative com-
munities characteristic of this hydroperiod.
610 WETLAND-CONIFEROUS FOREST: (Level II).
 "These wetlands have a tree crown areal density of 10 percent or
 more (Crown closure requirement), and have a dominant tree
 crown of the coniferous species, and are a result of natural seed-
 ing.
 611 Cypress: (Level III)
 "These forested areas are dominated by a crown closure in
 either bald cypress or pond cypress. Principal associates are
 tupelo, gum, and maple.
 612 Pond Pine: (Level III)
 "These are forested areas dominated by a crown closure in
 pond pine. Pond pine dominates wetter flats with low pH,
 often associated with the inland reaches of marshes or
 much swamps.
 620 WETLAND-HARDWOOD FOREST: (Level II)
 "These wetlands have a dominant tree crown of the hardwood
 species meeting the crown closure requirement and are a result of
 natural seeding.


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