Identification info

Metadata Language

English

Character set

UTF8

Dataset Reference Date (Creation)

2023-11-01

Dataset Reference Date (Publication)

2023-11-01

Identifier

NVC_Habitat_Polygons_non_overlapping_dominant_habitat

Presentation form

Digital map

Purpose

This dataset provides a non-overlapping polygon layer containing a single dominant habitat code. This is derived from the NVC conversion data currently in the Habitat map of Scotland as of October 2023.

Credit

© NatureScot (Scottish Natural Heritage)

Maintenance and update frequency

As needed

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

• Habitats and biotopes

Use limitation

Available under the Open Government Licence ( https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence)

Limitations on Public Access

Other restrictions

Other constraints

Available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Limitations on Public Access

Other restrictions

Other constraints

no limitations to public access

Use constraints

Other restrictions

Other constraints

Available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Use constraints

Other restrictions

Other constraints

no conditions to access and use

Use constraints

Other restrictions

Other constraints

Must use the following attribution statement:

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Use constraints

Other restrictions

Other constraints

Must use the following attribution statement:

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Spatial representation type

Vector

Topic category

• Biota
• Environment

 

Reference system identifier

EPSG / 27700 / 6.3(3.0.1)

Distribution Information

 

Data quality info

Quality Scope

Dataset

Statement

This dataset provides a non-overlapping polygon layer containing a single dominant habitat code. This is derived from the NVC conversion data currently in the Habitat map of Scotland as of October 2023. This dataset does not include the Saltmarsh survey 2013, Sand Dune Vegetation survey 2012 or Coastal Vegetated Shingle survey.

The analysis consisted of three main parts as described below.

Processing survey overlaps:

1. The survey coverages dataset was used to assess and process overlaps between surveys.

2. Prioritising overlapping surveys was assessed with the help of an habitat expert. Factors that influenced decision were: age of the survey, quality of the survey, quality of surveyors, expert knowledge, existing survey metadata.

3. Parts of lower priority surveys were removed where they were overlapped by a higher priority survey.

4. For the next step the original NVC polygons dataset was used.

5. Final coverages without overlaps were used to clip their corresponding habitat polygons. Once completed they were quality assured by running a topology rule to identify overlap among habitat polygons. Overlapping habitat polygons within the same survey was a common occurrence and these errors were corrected.

6. The final product of this step was non-overlapping habitat polygons with only NVC data

Adding EUNIS information to original NVC polygons:

1. Habitat Map of Scotland data was extracted using HABMOS_SOURCE = 'NVC conversion data' and exported as a table

2. This table was joined by polygon id to the NVC habitat polygon final dataset. Then the polygon with the join exported. This created a dataset with multiple polygon per polygon id when the habitat was a habitat mosaic.

3. Polygons without a polygon id in HabMoS were excluded.

4. The final product of this step is a non-overlapping survey, multi-polygon dataset (duplicated polygons where the original data was a mosaic) with EUNIS data

Creating a single habitat polygons dataset:

1. A script was created for this step, the requirements were

a. look at the proportions of the habitat mosaic

b. select the habitat with the maximum coverage

c. when proportions were the same then give preference to Annex 1 priority habitats

2. The final product of this step is a non-overlapping survey, single polygon dataset (only polygon with maximum coverage where original data was a mosaic) with EUNIS data.

Notes and caveats:

• Processing survey coverages created slivers

• Clipping habitat polygons to coverages created slivers

• Some of the original NVC polygons had an empty description field. This is the reason why sometimes we have the coverage of a survey not covered completely with habitat polygons.

• Some of the NVC polygons description field didn't have enough information to assign a EUNIS code. These records were given a 'NONE' code. This is why there will be polygons with 'No information' habitat name.

 

Metadata

File identifier

6708c202-ffb9-4bf7-a3c7-70406f30a3d8 XML

Metadata Language

English

Character set

UTF8

Resource type

Dataset

Hierarchy level name

dataset

Metadata Date

2023-12-07T15:11:11

Metadata standard name

UK GEMINI

Metadata standard version

2.3