Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping (TEM)

Introduction

The Forest Investment Account (FIA) eligible activity Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping is part of the Resource Inventories activity area. Eligible criteria descriptions are given on the Resource Inventories Area Expectations page. Forest Investment Account funding recipients interested in undertaking Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping projects are required under their recipient agreement with PricewaterhouseCoopers to adhere to RISC standards or Best Practices standards established by government. The lists below: (Mandatory and Project specific Standards) provides on-line access to those standards.

Also included is a list (Other Related Information) that provides access to related documents that the user may reference as they develop their project.

In the event a recipient desires to vary from the standards a request must be submitted to PricewaterhouseCoopers who will then forward that request for approval of the variance.

Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping project managers must contact Eco_mail@victoria1.gov.bc.ca to request a unique project identification number (BAPID) for each project, to be used for dataset/digital file identification. Requests for BAPID numbers should only be made once the FIA project has been approved and a qualified contractor has been selected. TEM project managers are also required to submit project deliverables in accordance with the Mandatory Standards listed below. See the list of FIA LBIP Eligible Activities and Deliverable Repositories.

Before the commencement of any base mapping project, recipients must complete the Standard Operating Procedure. The purpose of this Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is to provide direction to government agencies and partners with Government, in the documentation and procedures to be followed during the planning and implementation of mapping projects, inclusive of any aspect that relates to base mapping. The SOP will be applicable to mapping projects which have any component of Government funding for air photos, scanning, ortho photos, aerial triangulation and data exchanges involving such data. http://ilmbwww.gov.bc.ca/bmgs/pba/sop/

 

Mandatory Standards (For All Projects Within This Eligible Activity)

  • Standard for Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping in British Columbia (RIC 1998)
  • Standard for Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping (TEM) - Digital Data Capture in British Columbia (Version 3.0 RIC 2000)
  • Standard for Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping (TEM) - Digital Data Capture in British Columbia (version 3.0 Errata No. 1.0) (PDF 239KB)
  • Terrain Classification System for British Columbia (Version 2 (1997): D. Howes and E. Kenk)
  • Provincial Site Series Mapping Codes and Typical Environmental Conditions
  • Field Manual for Describing Terrestrial Ecosystems (DTEIF) 1998
  • Land Based Investment Program Forest Investment Account Data Management Standard - Data Exchange/Submission of Resource Inventories (PDF 45.3KB)

Project Specific Standards

  • TEM for Sensitive Ecosystem Inventory:
   •  Standard for Mapping Ecosystems at Risk in BC (PDF 728KB)
  • TEM Accuracy Assessment:
   •  Protocol for Accuracy Assessment of Ecosystem Maps (PDF 478KB). See the errata to the TEM data capture standard for deliverable requirements.
   •  A Protocol for Assessing Thematic Map Accuracy Using Small-area
Sampling (PDF 769KB). See the errata to the PEM data capture standard for deliverable requirements.
  • TEM Quality Assurance:
   •  Quality Assurance Guidelines for TEM. See the errata to the TEM data capture standard for deliverable requirements.
   •  Quality Assurance Guidelines for DTEIF. See the errata to the TEM data capture standard for deliverable requirements (PDF 548KB).

Other Related Information

  • A Method for Large-Scale Biogeoclimatic Mapping in British Columbia (PDF 133KB)
  • Ecosystem map accuracy and timber supply applications (PDF 30.1KB)

Please note: Due to government reorganization, Ministry or other agency names, contacts, and website URL's, located within documents listed above, under “ … Standards" or “ Other Related Information”, may have changed since document publication. If current contacts, URL's, or other information is required, please contact eco_mail@Victoria1.gov.bc.ca.