Look for complete geospatial metadata in this layer's associated xml document available from the download link

* Metric Name: Canopy Vegetation Cover  

* Tier: 1  

* Data Vintage: 06/2020  

* Unit Of Measure: Canopy cover is a 0-100% cover fraction and may be more precisely described as "canopy density." It calculates the proportion of all lidar returns >=5m divided by the total number of returns in that grid cell. This, therefore, does not include all vegetation, but instead describes the density of vegetation in the canopy vertical stratum (veg 5m and taller).  

* Represent element and pillar: No  

* Type and distribution of data: Zero-inflated, right-skewed distribution representing percentages. Raw data values range from 0 to 100.  

* Translation: Where is canopy vegetation cover high?  

* Translation method and outcome: Raw data values translated to range from +1 to -1 representing more favorable to less favorable conditions, respectively. **** The proposition of more favorable is based on the objective of canopy vegetation cover being higher (positive linear slope). More favorable (translated to +1) and less favorable (translated to -1) are based on climate and vegetation regions (Table 6). 

Figure . Histogram and scoring of canopy cover in Southern California

Figure . Histogram of translated canopy cover in Southern California

Figure . Maps displaying raw metric and translated metric canopy cover in
Southern California

  

* Metric Definition and Relevance: This layer represents horizontal cover fraction occupied by tree canopies. Maps community type & fire regime, as well as available habitat for tree-dwelling species.  

* Credits: California Forest Observatory (Salo Sciences), 2020