Methods for Deriving Canada Wide Geo-Spatial Datasets in Support of Environmental Monitoring and Modelling

Satellite remote sensing and numerical modelling are important tools to quantify trends in the environment across Canada. This paper describes methodology and initial results for the production of a new 1-km resolution map of waterbody fraction and 10-km resolution maps of forest cover type (hardwood/softwood) required as input parameters to these approaches. The waterbody fraction map is derived by gridding and aggregating existing national topographic database waterbody entities. The forest cover type map is produced by blending through decision rules a large number of datasets: 1-km resolution land cover based on satellite remote sensing, 1-km digital elevation model, Soil Landscapes of Canada information, and an ecoregion level descriptions of species occurrence. The quality of the water fraction map and forest cover type map is assessed. Applications of both products to national and regional scale mapping and modelling efforts are discussed. Strategies for improving both products are also outlined.