Coastal Services Center

Data Production

By working closely with other agencies to share technologies, methods, and mapping schemes, the basic C-CAP vision, to provide the best possible national land cover data available to those who manage the nation's coasts, can be achieved with the least duplication of effort and in a consistent, cost effective way.

Common Data Standards and Protocol

NOAA works with the U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS) and several other federal agency programs to produce a consistent, comprehensive National Land Cover Database (NLCD) for the nation. This coordination is facilitated by the Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics (MRLC) Consortium. The MRLC is a group of Federal agencies working together to obtain imagery and derive land cover data for the Nation.

Data products are produced through documented, repeatable procedures and use standard data sources and classification schemes. C-CAP provides the "coastal expression" of these national products.

Performance Based Contracting

NOAA strives to remain flexible in the use of new sensors and techniques to capitalize on potential efficiencies these technologies can offer. NOAA currently uses performance-based contracts with several private industry partners to accomplish the production of C-CAP land cover maps. By using the expertise and capacity these companies offer, NOAA stays current with new technologies and is able to produce data quicker and more efficiently.

Accuracy

Although C-CAP is national in scope, it is regional in approach. Extensive field sampling and validation are part of our data development. C-CAP land cover has an overall target accuracy of 85 percent. All contractors producing C-CAP data are required to meet this accuracy goal.

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