Dear User,

Important Caution Advisory:

These data can be used in a geographic information system (GIS) for any
number of purposes such assessing wildlife habitat, water quality,
pesticide runoff, land use change, etc. However, the user must have a firm
understanding of how the datasets were compiled and the resulting limitations
of these data.

The National Land Cover Dataset was compiled from Landsat satellite TM
imagery (circa 1992) with a spatial resolution of 30 meters and supplemented
by various ancillary data (where available). The analysis and interpretation
of the satellite imagery was conducted using very large, sometimes
multi-state image mosaics (i.e. up to 18 Landsat scenes). Using a relatively
small number of aerial photographs for 'ground truth', the thematic
interpretations were necessarily conducted from a spatially-broad
perspective.  Furthermore, the accuracy assessments (see below) correspond
to 'federal regions' which are groupings of contiguous states.  Thus, the
reliability of the data is greatest at the state or multi-state level. The
statistical accuracy of the data is known only for the region.

With this in mind, users are cautioned to carefully scrutinize the data to
see if they are of sufficient reliability before attempting to use the
dataset for larger-scale or local analyses.  This evaluation must be made
remembering that the NLCD represents conditions in the early 1990s.

Lastly,

The Land Cover Program at the USGS EROS Data Center would 
like to invite you to become a registered user of the National 
Land Cover Data set.  We intend to compile a database of NLCD 
users in order to understand our customer's needs and 
concerns.  We will appreciate feedback from you regarding your 
application of the NLCD. This information will be used to 
improve the current data set and improve the design of the next 
U.S. land cover mapping effort (NLCD 2000).  We will also be able 
to inform you of new developments (accuracy assessments, updates 
etc.).  

Please email or fax the following info:

Name:
Affiliation:
Address:
City:
State:
ZipCode:

Tel:
Email:

Please characterize your affiliation:  Federal, State, Local, 
University, School, Govt. Contractor, Commercial, Non-Profit, 
Other:___________

System used to analyze the data (Arc/Info, Erdas, etc):

Computer Platform:


Operating System:


Geographic Area of Interest or data sets used:


Application (Problem you intend to investigate or solve):


Suggestions for improvements:


Thanks for you time,

Stephen Howard
Land Cover 
Applications Center

tel 605 594 6027
fax 605 594 6529
email smhoward@edcmail.cr.usgs.gov