FAO - Africover Data Set Metadata

This dataset is a reaggregated version of the original national Africover landcover multipurpose database. It contains all natural vegetation with a herbaceous component. The land cover has been produced from visual interpretation of digitally enhanced LANDSAT TM images (Bands 4,3,2) acquired mainly in the year 1999. The land cover classes have been developed using the FAO/UNEP international standard LCCS classification system.

Purpose:

The purpose of the Africover landcover database is to provide the information required for natural resource assessment and management, environmental modeling and decision-making.

Completedness/Progress Code:

Complete

Theme Keywords:

Landcover, environment, natural resources, agriculture, forest, rangeland, management

Place Keyword:

Eritrea

ISO Topic Category:

Earth Cover

Supplemental Infomation:

This data set is a reaggregated version of the original national data set; it is intended for free public access. Thematic aggregation is the way that the end user customizes the Africover database to fulfil his/her specific requirements. The Africover database gives equal level of detail to Agriculture as well as Natural vegetation or Bare Areas etc. Generally a single user does not need this level of detail for each class type; therefore he/she will enhance the information of one land cover type and will generalize or erase the information related to other land cover aspects. The most powerful way to conduct an aggregation exercise is to use the classifiers as basic elements of the exercise. This gives the user the maximum flexibility on the use of data.
See 'Inside MADE' for more details.

Direct Spatial Reference Method:

Vector

Data Format:

ESRI ArcView Shapefile (.shp)

Scale of the Dataset:

1:100 000

Dataset Language:

English

Dataset Character Set:

usAscii

Resource Provider:

Mr. Antonio Di Gregorio - FAO Africover

Point of Contact:

Mr. Antonio Di Gregorio - FAO Africover

Custodian:

Mr. Antonio Di Gregorio - FAO Africover

Owner:

Mr. Yemane Tekleyohannes - National Food Information System - Ministry of Agriculture

Originator:

Mr. Antonio Di Gregorio - FAO Africover

Processor:

Mr. John Latham - FAO

Publisher:

Mr. Antonio Di Gregorio - FAO Africover

Distributor:

Mr. John Latham - FAO

Lineage Statement:

The land cover was interpreted from LANDSAT imagery (Bands 4,3,2) acquired mainly in the year 1999, verified by field work, digitised, checked for topological and attribute errors and mosaiced. Thematic aggregation was then performed.

Data Quality Comment:

Creation of the aggregated classes takes into account the Africover cartographic standards. In the Africover database, due to the MMA (Minimum Mappable Area) chosen, the concept of Mixed Unit is introduced using the inherent characteristics of the study area. For example: Land cover class A can be spatially represented in different ways:

· As single map unit A
· As mixed map unit were A is the dominant feature (more than 50% of polygon area) A/B
· As mixed map unit were A is not the dominant feature (from 20 to 49% of polygon area) B/A
· As mixed map unit were A is not the dominant feature (from 10 to 20% of polygon area) B/A (this is valid only for “Isolated Agricultural Fields”)

Due to the fact in Africover a mixed unit can have up to three classes A/B/C an aggregation class (called 1) can be represented in four (five for agriculture) different ways:

· 1 (where 100% of polygon area represent the aggregation class)
· 1a (60% app.)
· 1b (40% app.)
· 1c (20-30% app.)
· 1d (15% app. Only for agriculture)

The user can further aggregate these classes according to his/her needs.
See 'Inside MADE' for more details.

Restrictions:

The data remains full property of the owners. It can be accessed, reproduced and distributed given that the owner information is explicitly acknowledged and displayed in the copyright information (I.E. Produced by FAO - Africover). The Authors do not assume any responsibilities for improper use of the data.

Update Frequency:

As Needed

Reference System Information:

Geographic Reference System
Units:	Decimal Degrees
Ellipsoid:	WGS 84
Datum:	WGS 84

Spatial Representation:

East Bounding Longitude:

43.24

West Bounding Longitude:

36.43

North Bounding Latitude:

18.00

South Bounding Latitude:

12.36

Extended Information:

Project Code:

GCP/RAF/287/ITA

MCDB File Type:

normal

Entry Type Code:

dataset

Minimum Viewing Scale:

1:1 000 000

Maximum Viewing Scale:

1:100 000

Data File Name:

er-grass-agg

Metadata Information:

Metadata Language:

English

Metadata Character Set:

usAscii

Metadata Provider:

Mr. John Latham - FAO

Metadata Time Stamp

2002-11-12

Metadata Standard Name:

ISO 19115

Metadata Standard Version:

DIS

Data Definitions:

Data Classification:

Public Domain

Data Type:

Thematic Aggregation

Web Map:

Link(s):

Not Available

Data Access:

File:

File	Size	Class
er-grass-agg	4480254 (bytes)	Public
Proceed to Download >>

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CD:

If you require the data set on CD instead of download >>
Be advised that you shall be required to pay for the Packaging and Postage of the CD to your location.
Africover shall take case by case consideration for the provision of the data set on CD using the reason supplied

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Important Note: The Africover Data Sets are NOT for commercial or private use.

When you will download this file, you will have as annex the full procedure done for the thematic aggregation. To understand the technical criteria adopted for this aggregation, please go to: Aggregation (see "Thematic aggregations: customizing the data to answer your needs")