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All Estimated Time: 20-45 minutes

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In order to acquire the best and most accurate information on qualitative land cover, students must visit a sample site. The purpose of the Qualitative Land Cover Sample Site Protocol is to allow students to observe a site and collect field data. How to Collect Qualitative Land Cover Sample Site Data Step 1 Students must first select a 90 m x 90 m area of homogenous land. Students can first measure 90m north and mark the spot with a survey flag. From the first flag, students should measure 90 m. due east and mark that spot with a survey flag. From the second flag, students should measure 90 m. due south and mark with a flag. And from the third flag, students should measure 90 m west and mark that spot with a flag. This will complete a 90 m x 90 m site. (Students can perform this procedure with a 30 m x 30 m site if space is limited.) Step 2 Students can then use a Global Positioning System field unit to determine the longitude, latitude, and elevation of the center of the Land Cover Sample Site. Step 3 In order to find the center of the site, one student should stand approximately in the center of the site while one student stands at the northeast survey flag site and a third student at the southwest survey flag site. The students at the respective flags can direct the student at the center to move between the observing students to the most central location. This should be repeated from the northwest and southwest corners as well. Once the center of the site has been marked, students can take a photo in each of the four directions (North, South, East and West.) Students should have two sets of prints developed and then label each photo with a land cover sample site name and directional aspect. Step 4 Perform the MUC (Modified UNESCO Classification) protocol to determine the MUC class of the site. The MUC system’s level 1 class consists of the following ten classifications: closed forest, woodland, shrubland, dwarf-shrubland, herbaceous vegetation, barren land, wetland, open water, cultivated land and urban.

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Meter tapes Silva compass Rope Marker Flags.

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None.

1) A student scouts out a sample site. 2) Students measure the required distance due East, South and West. 3) A student takes directions from his classmates in order to find the center. Click here to view QuickTime movie of protocol!

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