Abstract
Predicting Map Error by Modeling the Sacramento River Floodplain
Track: Environmental Management
Author
We quantified the map accuracy for the Sacramento River Monitoring and Assessment Project to help land and water managers better plan for restoration efforts. While map errors are quantifiable and even predictable, linking the causes of error to complex environmental and geographic variables would improve decision making. We evaluated patterns of GIS-induced map error on over 32,000 acres based on environmental and GIS variables like floodplain age and edge complexity. We conducted extensive field validation and used spatial statistics to compare environmental variables with vegetation map inaccuracies. We then constructed a multivariate model to predict errors in certain vegetation types. We field validated 15% of map polygons (n=8,067) which were 85% correct (K=0.83). Using validated polygons, we found errors occurred most frequently on older floodplains but rates varied by vegetation type. By incorporating error in attribution and spatial assignment, restoration planners have a more realistic assessment of current conditions.
Joshua Viers
UC Davis
University of California, Davis
1 Shields Ave.
Davis, California 95616
United States
Phone: 530-754-6051
E-mail: jhviers@ucdavis.edu
Alexander Fremier
University of Idaho
Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
Univeristy of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho 83844-1136
United States
Phone: (208) 885-6405
E-mail: afremier@uidaho.edu
Rachel Hutchinson
University of California, Davis
Department of Environmental Science & Policy
1 Shields Avenue
Davis, California 95616
United States
Phone: 530-754-6051
E-mail: rahutchinson@ucdavis.edu