NOTE: Harvard Forest did not provide written metadata. Rather, this metadata was written by the Martha's Vineyard Commission based on a phone conversation with Harvard Forest staff in Dec. 2023.Utilizing Harvard Forest's "Ancient Woodlands" data of 2019, the Martha's Vineyard Commission ran the Identity geoprocessing tool with that dataset and the MVC's 12/22/2023 version of the Open Space Conservation data for Martha's Vineyard. This process retained all of the Ancient Woodlands data and superimposed the attributes of [Level of Protection] and [OS_ID] into the Ancient Woodlands polygons. This permits one to readily analyze the data to see where Ancient Forests are currently protected in perpetuity, etc. Please see the Description section for background about Harvard Forest's delineation of the Ancient Woodlands.A domain table is provided which explains the Level of Protection codes. The [OS_ID] is a numeric ID which links back to the MVC's Open Space Conservation dataset. OS_ID is a unique identifier within that dataset. The numbers before the hyphen is the Town ID. 62 = Chilmark, 89 = Edgartown, 104 = Aquinnah, 221 = Oak Bluffs, 296 = Tisbury, 327 = West Tisbury.The Ancient Woodlands data were produced by Harvard Forest in Dec. 2019. Data for Martha's Vineyard were received from Harvard Forest in November of 2023. Looking at historic maps and older aerial photographs, Harvard Forest noted for 4 time periods when forest was present on the map or photo. Locations where forest was present for all 4 time periods, were regarded as 'Ancient Woodlands'. The 4 time periods reviewed were: circa 1850, circa 1890, 1938, 1993. Then the data were updated, based on Google's November 2018 photos, for recent development or new agricultural areas. Areas where development or agricultural fields existed were removed from the Ancient Woodlands dataset. The areas delineated in this dataset, represent Ancient Woodlands present as of year-end 2018. Please note: Ancient Woodlands are not the same as "Old Growth Forest".The specific citation for the 1850 and 1890 map are unknown. Harvard Forest georeferenced those maps in ArcGIS software. The 1938 black and white aerial photographs were georeferenced by a consultant hired by Harvard Forest. As an aside FYI, the 1993 photographs (color infrared? black & white?) is the same year of photography which was used for The Nature Conservancy's vegetation delineation of Martha's Vineyard. Not sure if Harvard Forest used the exact same photos as the TNC project but the time period is the same.Harvard Forest is in the process of analyzing the potential ecological benefit of these Ancient Woodlands. Preliminary results show these area have more huckleberry than non-Ancient Woodland areas.The Martha's Vineyard Commission did convert the Harvard Forest Ancient Woodlands data from multi-part polygons to single-part polygons prior to running the Identity analysis.
This collection of geo-referenced photos vary with regards to spatial accuracy and resolution. Use the hotlinks below to learn the details of each collection or review MassGIS's new story map explaining all the vintages of aerial photos. Tip: Reviewing that story map might be an easier way to digest the information rather than reviewing the more formal/standard metadata accessible via the hotlinks below.Within the web map certain layers will only be visible at particular zoom extents. If a layer is unavailable to turn on/off, then zoom in or out as needed until the layer becomes active.All photos, except year 1938, are captured during leaf-off (typically late winter/early spring). With the exception of the 1938 & 1990s collection, all photos are in true color. The 1938 & 1990s are in black and white. With regards to Dukes County (which includes the Islands of Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands) these are the applicable years of acquisition for those State-wide collections that span multiple years: "1990s collection" -- Only year 1999 for Dukes County"2001-2003 collection" -- Only year 2003 for Dukes County"2008-2009 collection" - Only year 2009 for Dukes County"2011-2012 collection" - Only year 2011 for Dukes County"2013-2014 collection" - Only year 2014 for Dukes CountyPhoto Details (Metadata)1938 Black & White Aerials (georeferenced & hosted by Harvard Forest)1990s Black & White Aerials2001-2003 Color Aerials2005 Color Aerials2008-2009 Color Aerials2011-2012 Color Aerials2013-2014 Color Aerials2015 Satellite Images - Extra Details2019 Color Aerials2021 Color Aerials2023 Color AerialsParcel Lines -- These data are NOT survey grade and are intended for general reference only. The parcel data comply with the MassGIS Level 3 parcel data standard. Each town in Dukes County hires a GIS Consultant to prepare their digital parcel lines and to link the properties to the respective records from the town's assessing database. The linkage is static and not updated in real-time - it is only 'as current' as the day the data was exported from the assessing database. The Martha's Vineyard Commission does not edit nor maintain any assessing data or parcel lines/property bounds. Each town within Dukes County updates their digital parcel data when they see fit (most, typically, update annually). Click on a specific town in this map to see when their parcel data was updated and by whom. Similarly, clicking on a parcel in this "MA Aerial Photos Since 1990s web map" will show you the applicable Fiscal Year the assessing info was exported.
The MassGIS zoning datalayer represents the boundaries of municipal zoning districts. Because zoning is established at the town level, there is no standard district classification across the state. While districts in different towns may have similar or even identical names, their definitions are often quite different. Generalized codes have been added to make these data useful for regional display. A related table contains detailed information about the districts such as setbacks or text descriptions from each town’s zoning bylaws. Data are available for all communities. (Only primary district information is available for the City of Boston, not additional infomation for its bylaws.) MassGIS stores the data in a statewide ArcSDE layer named ZONING_POLY. Zoning district boundaries change frequently and MassGIS currently has no formal process in place to regularly update these coverages. These data should therefore be used for regional analysis only and not as official zoning maps. The town’s own official zoning map and current copy of the by-law should be considered as the final word on zoning boundary questions or issues. In August, 2007, data were updated for these 93 towns: Adams, Agawam, Amherst, Aquinnah, Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Ayer, Belchertown, Billerica, Bourne, Brewster, Chatham, Chelmsford, Cheshire, Chester, Chesterfield, Chicopee, Chilmark, Clarksburg, Clinton, Cummington, Dalton, Dennis, East Longmeadow, Edgartown, Egremont, Falmouth, Fitchburg, Gardner, Georgetown, Gosnold, Granby, Great Barrington, Groton, Hadley, Hampden, Harvard, Hatfield, Hubbardston, Huntington, Lancaster, Lanesborough, Lawrence, Lee, Lenox, Leominster, Lowell, Ludlow, Lunenburg, Mashpee, Monson, Monterey, New Ashford, North Adams, Northampton, Oak Bluffs, Otis, Palmer, Petersham, Phillipston, Pittsfield, Richmond, Rowley, Royalston, Russell, Salisbury, Sandisfield, Sheffield, Shirley, South Hadley, Southampton, Southwick, Sterling, Stockbridge, Templeton, Tisbury, Townsend, Truro, Ware, Washington, Wellfleet, West Springfield, West Stockbridge, West Tisbury, Westfield, Westminster, Wilbraham, Williamsburg, Williamstown, Winchendon, Worthington, and Yarmouth. Note: Complete metadata is available within the downloaded zip file. This metadata can be viewed with ESRI ArcGIS software, and can be exported to FGDC and ISO metadata formats.
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NOTE: Harvard Forest did not provide written metadata. Rather, this metadata was written by the Martha's Vineyard Commission based on a phone conversation with Harvard Forest staff in Dec. 2023.Utilizing Harvard Forest's "Ancient Woodlands" data of 2019, the Martha's Vineyard Commission ran the Identity geoprocessing tool with that dataset and the MVC's 12/22/2023 version of the Open Space Conservation data for Martha's Vineyard. This process retained all of the Ancient Woodlands data and superimposed the attributes of [Level of Protection] and [OS_ID] into the Ancient Woodlands polygons. This permits one to readily analyze the data to see where Ancient Forests are currently protected in perpetuity, etc. Please see the Description section for background about Harvard Forest's delineation of the Ancient Woodlands.A domain table is provided which explains the Level of Protection codes. The [OS_ID] is a numeric ID which links back to the MVC's Open Space Conservation dataset. OS_ID is a unique identifier within that dataset. The numbers before the hyphen is the Town ID. 62 = Chilmark, 89 = Edgartown, 104 = Aquinnah, 221 = Oak Bluffs, 296 = Tisbury, 327 = West Tisbury.The Ancient Woodlands data were produced by Harvard Forest in Dec. 2019. Data for Martha's Vineyard were received from Harvard Forest in November of 2023. Looking at historic maps and older aerial photographs, Harvard Forest noted for 4 time periods when forest was present on the map or photo. Locations where forest was present for all 4 time periods, were regarded as 'Ancient Woodlands'. The 4 time periods reviewed were: circa 1850, circa 1890, 1938, 1993. Then the data were updated, based on Google's November 2018 photos, for recent development or new agricultural areas. Areas where development or agricultural fields existed were removed from the Ancient Woodlands dataset. The areas delineated in this dataset, represent Ancient Woodlands present as of year-end 2018. Please note: Ancient Woodlands are not the same as "Old Growth Forest".The specific citation for the 1850 and 1890 map are unknown. Harvard Forest georeferenced those maps in ArcGIS software. The 1938 black and white aerial photographs were georeferenced by a consultant hired by Harvard Forest. As an aside FYI, the 1993 photographs (color infrared? black & white?) is the same year of photography which was used for The Nature Conservancy's vegetation delineation of Martha's Vineyard. Not sure if Harvard Forest used the exact same photos as the TNC project but the time period is the same.Harvard Forest is in the process of analyzing the potential ecological benefit of these Ancient Woodlands. Preliminary results show these area have more huckleberry than non-Ancient Woodland areas.The Martha's Vineyard Commission did convert the Harvard Forest Ancient Woodlands data from multi-part polygons to single-part polygons prior to running the Identity analysis.