GEOSPATIAL MULTI-AGENCY COORDINATION (GeoMAC) WILDLAND FIRE PERIMETERS, 2008

By Sandra P. Walters, Norma J. Schneider, and John D. Guthrie

2011

U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 612

ABSTRACT

The Geospatial Multi-Agency Coordination (GeoMAC) has been collecting and storing data on wildland fire perimeters since August 2000. The dataset presented via this U.S. Geological Survey Data Series product contains the GeoMAC wildland fire perimeter data for the calendar year 2008, which are based upon input from incident intelligence sources, Global Positioning System (GPS)data, and infrared (IR) imagery. Wildland fire perimeter data are obtained from the incidents, evaluated for completeness and accuracy, and processed to reflect consistent field names and attributes. After a quality check, the perimeters are loaded to GeoMAC databases, which support the GeoMAC Web application for access by wildland fire managers and the public. The wildland fire perimeters are viewed through the Web application. The data are subsequently archived according to year and state and are made available for downloading through the Internet in shapefile and Keyhole Markup Language (KML) format. These wildland fire perimeter data are also retained for historical, planning, and research purposes.

DISCLAIMERS

This database, identified as DS 612, has been approved for release and publication by the Director of the USGS.  Although this database has been subjected to rigorous review and is substantially complete, the USGS reserves the right to revise the data pursuant to further analysis and review. Furthermore, it is released on condition that neither the USGS nor the United States Government may be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized or
unauthorized use.
    
Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system, or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.  The U.S. Geological Survey shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein.
    
Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
    
Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also contains copyrighted materials as noted in the text.  Permission to reproduce copyrighted items for other than personal use must be secured from the copyright owner.

III. CONTENTS

00README.txt
DS612.pdf
DS612_metadata.met (metadata for this DS 612 report only)

IV. LOCATION OF DATA

The datasets that pertain to this report can be found on the U.S. Geological Survey’s web site at:
http://rmgsc.cr.usgs.gov/outgoing/GeoMAC/historic_fire_data/2008_perimeters_dd83.zip

All GeoMAC wildland fire perimeter data from the years 2000 through present for large fire incidents can be downloaded from the HTTP outgoing dataset site: http://rmgsc.cr.usgs.gov/outgoing/GeoMAC/historic_fire_data/.

Metadata for the GeoMAC wildland fire perimeter data are available at: http://rmgsc.cr.usgs.gov/outgoing/GeoMAC/historic_fire_data/2008_perimeters_dd83_METADATA.htm.

V. INSTRUCTIONS AND DOCUMENTATION FOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY DATA SERIES 612

The metadata files and links to the datasets can be downloaded via the web from:
http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/612, or the URL’s mentioned above.