Published

Vegetation Cover

vr.wm-liv-004 · wm-liv-004-vegetation-cover

Describe vegetation cover for an explicitly delimited area through dated, method-qualified observations, classifications and revisions.

World Models Physical world and living systems PHY.LIV.VEG

Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Classifiers What it is Why it exists Distinguishing features What robots and AI may and may not do Moral aspects Owners Links to other meta-models Identity and identifiers Direct properties Recognition Capabilities and actions Hazards and failure modes Standards and interfaces Context of use Sources

Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled

6 bundles · 12 layers · 12 findings · 36 questions

Cover unit and spatial support Identify the vegetation subject and the area over which observations have meaning.

Unit identity and continuity context

Proposed entity root with an adopting steward and a declared identity policy. A stand, reporting area and grid cell are different support kinds; their identifiers must not be interchanged. Zero observed cover can be a valid state of a monitored area.

Unit identity and continuity

Which master identifier and support kind define this vegetation cover unit? identity
Which steward controls revisions, and how is that role distinguished from land ownership? ownership
When extent changes, what rule preserves the unit or creates successor units? lifecycle

Extent and denominator context

Record geometry and its spatial interpretation independently of a displayed map. A plot footprint, sensor pixel and reporting polygon need an explicit support relation before estimates can be transferred.

Extent and denominator

What extent version, coordinate reference system and area denominator apply to the estimate? spatial
How does the observation footprint relate to the reporting unit, including partial coverage? relationship
Which scale, location uncertainty and edge treatment limit this mapped boundary? quality

Vegetation identity and components Represent class assertions and diagnostic components without owning taxonomies.

Class assertion context

Attach a dated assignment to a versioned external vegetation scheme. Keep uncertain, mosaic and competing assignments; a new scheme edition is not automatically an ecological change.

Class assertion

Attach a dated assignment to a versioned external vegetation scheme. Keep uncertain, mosaic and competing assignments; a new scheme edition is not automatically an ecological change.

Which scheme, edition, class and diagnostic criteria support this assignment? classification
How are mixed cover, unclassified areas and competing interpretations represented? exception
Which crosswalk preserves or loses meaning when translating this class? interoperability

Components and diagnostic taxa context

Describe life forms, vegetation components and diagnostic taxon references. Nested components and vertical overlap are not a mutually exclusive partition unless the adopted protocol says so.

Components and diagnostic taxa

Describe life forms, vegetation components and diagnostic taxon references. Nested components and vertical overlap are not a mutually exclusive partition unless the adopted protocol says so.

Which life forms or component definitions were actually assessed? composition
Which diagnostic taxon references support vegetation recognition without becoming local taxon masters? evidence
Which components are nested or overlapping, and which form an exclusive area partition? constraint

Cover and vertical structure Qualify the physical properties of cover and canopy strata.

Cover measurement semantics context

Distinguish green projected cover, canopy, foliar and basal cover. Retain original coding and units. A bounded union fraction differs from the sum of overlapping species or strata estimates; leaf area index and greenness indices are not cover fractions.

Cover measurement semantics

Which cover definition, viewing convention and material state does the value measure? definition
What value, unit, raw code and uncertainty were reported under that definition? measurement
Which range and overlap checks apply, and how are no-data and true zero distinguished? validation

Canopy height and strata context

Retain vertical structure with per-stratum definitions, cover and height evidence. Height class thresholds and growth form conventions depend on the chosen scheme and method.

Canopy height and strata

Retain vertical structure with per-stratum definitions, cover and height evidence. Height class thresholds and growth form conventions depend on the chosen scheme and method.

Which vertical strata and height boundaries were distinguished in this observation? composition
How was canopy height estimated, and what statistic, unit and uncertainty describe it? measurement
Which lower strata were unobservable or omitted, and what can the available canopy evidence support? constraint

Field and remote evidence Describe how observations were obtained and linked to the cover unit.

Field sampling evidence context

Reference field protocols and retained observations; do not prescribe a universal survey method. Proposed records distinguish sampling design from cover calculation and preserve protocol deviations.

Field sampling evidence

Reference field protocols and retained observations; do not prescribe a universal survey method. Proposed records distinguish sampling design from cover calculation and preserve protocol deviations.

Which sampling design, plot or transect and protocol version produced this field estimate? process
Which observer, raw hits or estimates and timing support the recorded result? provenance
What access authority, exclusions and protocol deviations constrain the field evidence? authority

Remote product observation context

Record product identity and processing context before decoding an estimate. A composite date does not mean every pixel was observed at that instant, and a remote product may exclude water or obscured surfaces.

Remote product observation

Which dataset release, sensor inputs and processing lineage produced the raster estimate? provenance
What acquisition interval, composite support and result time apply to this product value? temporal
How do quality flags, scale factors and missing-value codes control acceptance of the pixel? quality

Quality and temporal interpretation Assess fitness of evidence and the meaning of observed differences.

Validation and fitness for use context

Track validation evidence and limitations separately from structural schema validity. Local comparison checks are proposed; neither a source product label nor this research validator establishes accuracy for every unit.

Validation and fitness for use

What reference observations and spatial or temporal matching support an accuracy claim? validation
Which bias, uncertainty and representativeness limits affect this intended use? quality
How are contradictory field and remote estimates retained and resolved? decision

Seasonality and change interpretation context

Compare compatible observations while separating seasonal variation, physical change, reclassification and processing revisions. Disturbance references are explanatory hypotheses unless supported by additional evidence.

Seasonality and change interpretation

Which observation intervals, seasonal states and spatial supports are comparable? temporal
What change estimate and uncertainty remain after method and classification differences are accounted for? measurement
Which disturbance or management evidence supports a proposed explanation, and what remains unknown? event

Record lineage and release Govern revisions, derivations and safe projections of cover evidence.

Revision, custody and retirement context

Proposed record states distinguish draft, reviewed, superseded and retired. Revising geometry, class or estimates preserves lineage; retiring a record is not an assertion that vegetation physically disappeared.

Revision, custody and retirement

Which inputs, activity and accountable role explain this record revision? provenance
Which review, concurrency and supersession rules govern acceptance of the revision? lifecycle
What retention decision governs removal of payloads and continuity of references? retention

Aggregation and controlled disclosure context

A proposed derived statistics or generalized map view retains its denominator, license and provenance. Sensitive locality and contributor information may remain inferable through joins or repeated releases; release is a governed decision.

Aggregation and controlled disclosure

How are compatible units weighted and missing or overlapping areas handled in cover statistics? process
Which disclosure policy and sensitivity assessment govern the proposed audience and resolution? access
Which attribution, license and derivation metadata accompany the released projection? requirement

Classifiers Filled

Family: World Models
Category: Physical world and living systems
Entry kind: entity
Navigation path: NAV.PHY.LIV.VEG
Domain: PHY.LIV.VEG
Industry: Cross-industry
Tags: vegetationcoverphy.liv.veg
Also called: P6

What it is Filled

One governed vegetation cover unit is the root: a mapped stand, fixed reporting area or grid support with persistent identity and versioned extent. Observations, component estimates and class assertions describe that unit at stated times. A map collection references multiple units; a measurement event is not the unit itself. This is a proposed research specification, not an implemented monitoring or management system.

In scope

Cover unit identity, spatial support, extent versions and split or merge continuity.
Natural, semi-natural and managed vegetation including cultivated and urban cover as observed physical cover, with explicit terrestrial or wetland applicability.
Metric definitions, units, fractions, canopy strata, component overlap and unknown or nonvegetated observations.
Field and remote observation references, uncertainty, seasonality, change evidence, derivation and controlled disclosure.

Out of scope

Taxon naming and synonymy, organism identity, species population demography and occurrence master records.
Ecosystem functioning, habitat suitability, land title, land-use authority and agricultural operation execution.
Taxon conservation assessments, protected listings and collection or trade permissions.
Carbon accounting, biomass estimation and ecological health diagnosis from cover alone; aquatic or marine vegetation methods without a separately reviewed profile.
Sensor operation, field access authorization, restoration execution and autonomous intervention in vegetation.

Why it exists Filled

Describe vegetation cover for an explicitly delimited area through dated, method-qualified observations, classifications and revisions.

Distinguishing features Derived, awaiting review

Unlike WM-LIV-001 Taxon; WM-LIV-002 Organism Individual; WM-LIV-003 Population: Reference diagnostic taxa, individuals or population evidence; species cover is not a count or demographic census. P6 taxonomy and population masters are delegated.
Unlike WM-LIV-006 Ecosystem / Biome; WM-LIV-010 Habitat: Reference ecosystem and habitat context. A cover change does not establish ecosystem condition, habitat suitability or biodiversity outcome.
Unlike WM-ACT-011 Agriculture Operation: Managed and crop cover remains observable here; planting, harvest, inputs and work authorization remain in the operation model.
Unlike WM-PLC-001 Terrain / Landform; WM-PLC-003 Water Body; WM-EAR-003 Soil; WM-EAR-005 Natural Hazard: Reference substrate, relief, hydrology and disturbance context. Correlation does not prove a causal effect and this model does not manage their lifecycles.
Unlike WM-LIV-022 Conservation Status Assessment; WM-XCT-003 Projection / Disclosure Policy: Reference assessment and disclosure rules without adjudicating legal protection or owning the policy engine. Publication of cover can expose sensitive taxon localities.
Unlike Legacy P6 Flora & Vegetation and unreviewed supplement: Retain stand geometry, type, cover, height, layering and evidence. Reject the combined flora register boundary, mandatory single class, automatic taxon repointing and unsupported conformance or wildcard imports.

Note: Derived from boundary notes against neighbouring models.

What robots and AI may and may not do Derived, awaiting review

Must not

This research model never deletes referenced taxonomy, population, ecosystem or policy masters.

May

Register a cover unit: Proposed, unimplemented local operation. Establish identity and the initial spatial support without asserting tenure or a class.
Attach a cover observation: Proposed, unimplemented local operation. Link source evidence and preserve original metric, raw encoding and missingness.
Assess local estimate consistency: Proposed, unimplemented local operation. Check required context, metric ranges, masks and applicability without certifying scientific accuracy.
Prepare a change comparison: Proposed, unimplemented local operation. Compare compatible support and metric pairs with uncertainty and break flags.
Propose a unit revision: Proposed, unimplemented local operation. Record correction, split, merge or retirement lineage without changing neighbor masters.
Prepare a governed projection: Proposed, unimplemented local operation. Create a local candidate summary or generalized view for authorized review.

Note: Derived from functions, policies, CRUD and access rules; prohibitions were not authored for agents as such.

Moral aspects Missing, in the backlog

Not described yet. This gap is in the card backlog.

Owners Filled

Steward

Adopting ecology steward supplies namespace, master identity and revision authority.

Roles

Ecology data steward: Set identity, scope, metric profiles and record governance.
Observer or data contributor: Supply method, support, raw evidence, timing and limitations.
Scientific reviewer: Assess class evidence, uncertainty, comparability and contradictions.
Disclosure custodian: Review licenses, sensitivity, audience and permitted generalization.
Record operator: Apply authorized versions, integrity checks and retention dispositions.

Links to other meta-models Filled

references

WM-LIV-001 - Proposed optional binding, not a frozen registry edge. Reference taxon concepts used as diagnostic evidence; nomenclature remains external.
WM-LIV-003 - Proposed optional binding, not a frozen registry edge. Reference species population evidence without treating cover as count or demography.
WM-LIV-006 - Proposed optional binding, not a frozen registry edge. Reference ecosystem context without owning ecosystem assessment.
WM-LIV-010 - Proposed optional binding, not a frozen registry edge. Reference habitat descriptions; cover alone does not establish suitability.
WM-ACT-011 - Proposed optional binding, not a frozen registry edge. Reference cultivation or management actions; observed crop cover is described locally.
WM-PLC-001 - Proposed optional binding, not a frozen registry edge. Reference terrain context; relief and geometry masters remain external.
WM-PLC-003 - Proposed optional binding, not a frozen registry edge. Reference waterbody context where relevant; no aquatic method assumed.
WM-EAR-003 - Proposed optional binding, not a frozen registry edge. Reference substrate context without duplicating soil assessments.
WM-EAR-005 - Proposed optional binding, not a frozen registry edge. Reference disturbance evidence; no local hazard prediction or execution.
WM-LIV-022 - Proposed optional binding, not a frozen registry edge. Reference applicable conservation assessments without deriving status from cover.
WM-XCT-003 - Proposed optional binding, not a frozen registry edge. Reference disclosure rules; local view parameters do not own policy evaluation.

aligned

FAO LCCS 2005 - Proposed optional binding, not a frozen registry edge. Conceptual classification alignment; scheme-specific crosswalk pending.
FGDC-STD-005-2008 - Proposed optional binding, not a frozen registry edge. Plot and class assertion alignment; no blanket conformance.
SOSA/SSN 2017 - Proposed optional binding, not a frozen registry edge. Feature, observation, procedure and time mapping; executable binding pending.
PROV-O 2013 - Proposed optional binding, not a frozen registry edge. Derivation and attribution mapping; not proof of evidence truth.

neighbor

WM-LIV-001 Taxon; WM-LIV-002 Organism Individual; WM-LIV-003 Population - Reference diagnostic taxa, individuals or population evidence; species cover is not a count or demographic census. P6 taxonomy and population masters are delegated.
WM-LIV-006 Ecosystem / Biome; WM-LIV-010 Habitat - Reference ecosystem and habitat context. A cover change does not establish ecosystem condition, habitat suitability or biodiversity outcome.
WM-ACT-011 Agriculture Operation - Managed and crop cover remains observable here; planting, harvest, inputs and work authorization remain in the operation model.
WM-PLC-001 Terrain / Landform; WM-PLC-003 Water Body; WM-EAR-003 Soil; WM-EAR-005 Natural Hazard - Reference substrate, relief, hydrology and disturbance context. Correlation does not prove a causal effect and this model does not manage their lifecycles.
WM-LIV-022 Conservation Status Assessment; WM-XCT-003 Projection / Disclosure Policy - Reference assessment and disclosure rules without adjudicating legal protection or owning the policy engine. Publication of cover can expose sensitive taxon localities.
Legacy P6 Flora & Vegetation and unreviewed supplement - Retain stand geometry, type, cover, height, layering and evidence. Reject the combined flora register boundary, mandatory single class, automatic taxon repointing and unsupported conformance or wildcard imports.

What else AI and robots need to interact with it Incomplete

Sources Filled

Land Cover Classification System - Classification concepts and user manual - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
National Vegetation Classification Standard, Version 2 - Federal Geographic Data Committee
Product User Manual LAI FAPAR FCOVER Version 2.0, 300 m - Copernicus Land Monitoring Service
Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland, and Savanna Ecosystems, Volume 1: Core Methods, Second Edition - Bureau of Land Management
Semantic Sensor Network Ontology - World Wide Web Consortium
PROV-O: The PROV Ontology - World Wide Web Consortium
Current Best Practices for Generalizing Sensitive Species Occurrence Data - Global Biodiversity Information Facility
Rangeland fractional components across the western United States from 1985 to 2018 - United States Geological Survey

Open questions

Restore independent external review before any canonical or publishable-draft promotion.
Verify all source URLs, final destinations, editions, permitted content hashes and licenses outside the sandbox; read the complete field manual and evaluate the mutable remote-product manual version.
Develop ecological profiles for support continuity, overlapping strata, seasonal and sensor changes, nonvascular cover and wetland or submerged settings.
Implement and test nested schemas and bindings with fixtures for masked versus zero values, nested components, changed boundaries, mixed pixels, unknown dates, conflicting observations, aggregation overlap and sensitive joins.
Independent external review absent; Claude and Grok skipped under owner waiver.
Direct HTTP checks not attempted because the sandbox is blocked; coordinator must run check_sources.py. Browser evidence is partial and not a measured HTTP status or byte pin.
Full BLM manual retrieval failed in browser; only selected official indexed excerpts admitted. Source applicability, current editions, licensing and content digests require review.
Executable nested instance schemas, geometry validation, uncertainty propagation, classifier crosswalks and tested storage bindings remain to be implemented.
Marine and submerged vegetation, nonvascular and cryptogam protocols, mixed strata and difficult seasonal cases need specialist profile validation.
No independently tested reference dataset, ecological causal model, biomass conversion or carbon-accounting conformance supplied.

Machine files

Card as JSON Specification AGENTS.md Source Card backlog vercy.card/1

Provenance

world-models research · reviewable-draft

Built from: models/wm-liv-004-vegetation-cover/spec.yaml