The Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) Network Standard GIS Data Layers, 2020 version
The USDA Long-Term Agroecosystem Research was established to develop national strategies for sustainable intensification of agricultural production. As part of the Agricultural Research Service, the LTAR Network incorporates numerous geographies consisting of experimental areas and locations where data are being gathered. Starting in early 2019, two working groups of the LTAR Network (Remote Sensing and GIS, and Data Management) set a major goal to jointly develop a geodatabase of LTAR Standard GIS Data Layers. The purpose of the geodatabase was to enhance the Network's ability to utilize coordinated, harmonized datasets and reduce redundancy and potential errors associated with multiple copies of similar datasets. Project organizers met at least twice with each of the 18 LTAR sites from September 2019 through December 2020, compiling and editing a set of detailed geospatial data layers comprising a geodatabase, describing essential data collection areas within the LTAR Network.
The LTAR Standard GIS Data Layers geodatabase consists of geospatial data that represent locations and areas associated with the LTAR Network as of late 2020, including LTAR site locations, addresses, experimental plots, fields and watersheds, eddy flux towers, and phenocams. There are six data layers in the geodatabase available to the public. This geodatabase was created in 2019-2020 by the LTAR network as a national collaborative effort among working groups and LTAR sites. The creation of the geodatabase began with initial requests to LTAR site leads and data managers for geospatial data, followed by meetings with each LTAR site to review the initial draft. Edits were documented, and the final draft was again reviewed and certified by LTAR site leads or their delegates. Revisions to this geodatabase will occur biennially, with the next revision scheduled to be published in 2023.
Resources in this dataset:
Resource Title: LTAR Standard GIS Data Layers, 2020 version, File Geodatabase.
File Name: LTAR_Standard_GIS_Layers_v2020.zip
Resource Description: This file geodatabase consists of authoritative GIS data layers of the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Network. Data layers include: LTAR site locations, LTAR site points of contact and street addresses, LTAR experimental boundaries, LTAR site "legacy region" boundaries, LTAR eddy flux tower locations, and LTAR phenocam locations.
Resource Software Recommended: ArcGIS,url: esri.com
Resource Title: LTAR Standard GIS Data Layers, 2020 version, GeoJSON files.
File Name: LTAR_Standard_GIS_Layers_v2020_GeoJSON_ADC.zip
Resource Description: The contents of the LTAR Standard GIS Data Layers includes geospatial data that represent locations and areas associated with the LTAR Network as of late 2020. This collection of geojson files includes spatial data describing LTAR site locations, addresses, experimental plots, fields and watersheds, eddy flux towers, and phenocams. There are six data layers in the geodatabase available to the public. This dataset was created in 2019-2020 by the LTAR network as a national collaborative effort among working groups and LTAR sites.
Resource Software Recommended: QGIS,url: https://qgis.org/en/site/
Funding
USDA-ARS: NP211
History
Data contact name
Coffin, AlisaData contact email
alisa.coffin@usda.govPublisher
Ag Data CommonsIntended use
The data layers within this geodatabase are intended to be used to represent the current status of sites, instrumentation, and experimental plots and fields describing the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Network. They are intended for visualization, mapping and quantitative analysis, characterizing and modeling LTAR locations.Use limitations
Use of these datasets for modeling applications should include validation methods to verify conclusions about the extrapolation of model results beyond the extent of measurement areas. Use of the data should follow the LTAR Data Sharing Principles and Guidelines, which can be found at: https://ltar.ars.usda.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LTAR_DataSharing_PrincGuide_v1_0.pdf.Temporal Extent Start Date
2011-01-01Frequency
- biennially
Theme
- Not specified
Geographic Coverage
{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[{"geometry":{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[-125.419921875,25.393660521998],[-125.419921875,49.432412580248],[-66.005859375,49.432412580248],[-66.005859375,25.393660521998],[-125.419921875,25.393660521998]]]},"type":"Feature","properties":{}}]}Geographic location - description
These data cover locations of LTAR Network sites within the conterminous US (CONUS).ISO Topic Category
- boundaries
- climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere
- environment
- farming
- geoscientificInformation
Ag Data Commons Group
- Great Basin
- Northern Plains
- Upper Chesapeake Bay
- Platte River - High Plains Aquifer
- Long-Term Agroecosystem Research
- Lower Mississippi River Basin
- Central Plains Experimental Range
- Texas Gulf
- Eastern Corn Belt
- Lower Chesapeake Bay
- Archbold - University of Florida
- Central Mississippi River Basin
- Kellogg Biological Station
- Southern Plains
- Jornada Experimental Range
- Upper Mississippi River Basin
- R.J. Cook Agronomy Farm
- Gulf Atlantic Coastal Plain
- Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed
National Agricultural Library Thesaurus terms
sustainable agricultural intensification; remote sensing; geographic information systems; information management; spatial data; data collection; watersheds; eddy covariance; managers; long term experiments; databases; agroecosystems; field experimentation; instrumentation; quantitative analysis; models; cameras; Long-Term Agroecosystem Research NetworkOMB Bureau Code
- 005:18 - Agricultural Research Service
OMB Program Code
- 005:040 - National Research
ARS National Program Number
- 211
- 216
Pending citation
- No
Public Access Level
- Public
