How were the SEM Maps created?

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Mark Kaarremaa 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mark Kaarremaa 
Neil Dawe 
 
STEP 2: Photo 
Interpretation   
 
Following completion of the 
aerial photography, the 
orthophoto images were 
reviewed and analyzed by 
consultants. Using a 
stereoscope to view the 
images and a Geographical 
Information System (GIS) 
program to layer information 
over top of the orthophotos, 
mappers were able to identify 
the vegetation types present. 
This information was 
combined with other existing 
information, including 
topographic and soil mapping 
data to determine ecosystem 
boundaries. 
 
STEP 1: Aerial 
Photography 
 
Aerial photographs of each 
Local Trust Area were flown 
between 2001 and 2007.  
The resulting photographs – 
long, narrow strips – were 
combined to produce an 
image called an orthophoto. 
This data collection was 
completed by Parks 
Canada, the Integrated Land 
Management Bureau, and 
professional consultants in 
accordance with the 
Resource Information 
Standards Committee 
Standard for Terrestrial 
Ecosystem Mapping in BC.  
 
STEP 3: Field  
Sampling 
 
After initial orthophoto 
analysis, the consultants 
travelled to the mapped 
areas to verify interpretation 
and collect site-specific 
ecological data. This field 
sampling was conducted in 
accordance with the 
provincial Field Manual for 
Describing Terrestrial 
Ecosystems. Approximately 
25% of the polygons were 
field checked across the 
Islands Trust Area.  
 
 
How were the Sensitive Ecosystem 
Maps created? 
  
 
 
 
 
The creation of the Sensitive Ecosystem Maps for the Islands Trust Area was a multi-year 
process conducted in accordance with provincial mapping standards. The method that was 
followed involved six main steps. 
 
Laura Stringer 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
STEP 4: Draft Map  
Production 
 
Following completion of field 
sampling, consultants entered 
the final data sets into a 
Geographic Information System 
(GIS) program. This specialized 
program labeled ecosystems 
across the Islands Trust 
landscape. The resulting 
information was analyzed to 
locate the most sensitive 
ecosystems in the islands and 
draft maps were produced.
 
STEP 5: Community 
Input 
 
The draft maps were presented 
to local communities for 
comment. Residents and local 
groups were asked to draw on 
local knowledge to help identify 
any errors or omissions in 
ecosystem identification. 
 
History of Ecosystem Mapping 
 in the Islands Trust Area 
 
The Sensitive Ecosystem Mapping project builds 
upon a long history of ecosystem mapping in the 
Trust Area. This initiative improves on two 
previous sensitive ecosystem mapping projects: 
 
Sensitive Ecosystems Inventory (SEI)  
•   Completed by the provincial and federal 
governments between 1993 and 1999 
•   Intended to increase awareness of 
existence of sensitive ecosystems  
•   Used aerial photos flown at a coarse scale 
of 1:20,000 
•   Interpretation did not include fiel

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