New Jersey Geospatial Forum
Preserved Lands/Open Space Task Force
A Methodology to Develop and Maintain a
Comprehensive Database of Preserved Lands and
Other Open Spaces in New Jersey
Tanya Nolte, NJ Conservation Foundation
Brian Embley, The Nature Conservancy
Paul Caris, NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Douglas M. Schleifer, NJ Office of Information Technology, Office of GIS
Yelena Pikovskaya, NJ Office of Information Technology, Office of GIS
Preserved Lands/Open Space Task Force
The Preserved Lands/Open Space Task Force was established by the New Jersey
Geospatial Forum* Executive Committee for the purpose of creating a
methodology for the development and maintenance of a comprehensive database
for preserved lands and other open spaces in New Jersey (PL/OS Database).
The primary purpose for this database is to inform various planning efforts for
government agencies and other organizations involved in the preservation and
management of these lands for public benefit.
*NJ Geospatial Forum is a statewide users
group and the coordinating body for
geospatial
technology
activities
throughout New Jersey.
One of the many functions of the Forum is
to form task forces based on issues or
activities of importance to the Forum
membership.
https://njgin.state.nj.us/OIT_NJGF/index.jsp
Task Force Objectives and Structure
In order to meet the goal – to develop and maintain a preserved lands/open space
database for New Jersey – the Preserved Lands/Open Space Task Force has to fulfill
the following objectives:
• Examine various methodologies to map preserved lands and other open spaces.
• Define categories of preserved lands/open space within a statewide context.
• Identify core and optional attribute information, and develop database schema.
• Define a comprehensive process for the development and maintenance of a
preserved lands/open space dataset in New Jersey.
For that purpose the Task Force was
structured into the following subgroups:
• Research
• Categories and Definitions
• Attributes
• Methodology
Research
Research was conducted on methodologies used by several federal and state
agencies, universities and non-profit organizations throughout the nation that
collect preserved lands/open space data.
The purpose of the research was to educate the task force and determine best
practices, based on the experiences of agencies, institutions and organizations, to
aggregate information, and develop and maintain databases.
The most instructive and useful programs were:
• The Protected Areas Database of the U.S., or PAD-US (USGS GAP project)
• The Nature Conservancy Enterprise Conservation Data Program
• California Protected Areas Database (CPAD)
• Massachusetts GIS Protected and Recreational OpenSpace Schema (MassGIS)
• New Hampshire GRANIT (Geographically Referenced Analysis & Information
Transfer System)
• Vermont Conserved Lands Database
• NY State Environmental Conservation Lands
• The NJ Highlands Council Land Preservation and Stewardship Program
Research (cont.)
The results revealed a variety of approaches to inventory creation and mapping.
Major findings answered the following basic questions.
1. What are the methods of capturing information?
There are two main approaches for mapping lands: property ownership (land
stewardship), or combining this method with the natural resources delineation
(environmental). As a qualitative or quantitative characteristic of a mapped unit, a
protection status category (or level of protection) was often attributed.
2. How are the datasets structured?
For structuring the NJ PL/OS database model, the key components of the PAD-US
database - its geometric structure and core attributes – were taken as an example.
Research (cont.)
3. How are easements handled?
Some programs capture fee simple lands only, and plan to track easements in a
separate database (PAD-US and CPAD), or later in the same database (NY State).
Other programs include easements in their open space data sets: TNC, all the New
England states, and NJ Highlands.
Easements are differently classified:
•by primary use (Conservation, Agricultural, or other) - MassGIS and Highlands;
•by legal restrictions and/or ownership - NH and Vermont .
Research (cont.)
4. What is the base mapping unit?
The programs collecting information on fee simple lands use Tax Parcel as a
minimum mapping unit. The programs tracking easements regard base map unit
smaller than parcel, because an easement boundary can split a parcel.
5. What is a character of polygon boundaries?
Easements very often are surveyed carefully, and their boundaries are natural,
while parcel-base polygons have administrative boundaries of properties. Also,
some programs such as NJ Highlands make their own land delineation. In this cases
land boundaries are environmental as well.
Research (cont.)
Distribution.
Most data sets are available for download on the web in gdb, shapefiles or pdf
formats; some are distributed by request (The Natural Conservancy lands in NJ).
Vermont’s data are distributed depending on database version (public, private, or
full database). The distribution can be either open or strictly limited.
Details about the programs are located in the research.zip file under Preserved
Lands/Open Space on the Current Task Forces Meeting Agendas, Minutes, and
Presentations page of the NJ Geospatial Forum web site at:
https://njgin.state.nj.us/OIT_NJGF/njgf_current_tf_mtg_mts.jsp
Categories and Definitions
Goals of the Categories and Definitions subgroup:
• develop a definition of “preserved land”
• define the categories of land to be included in the database
Categories and Definitions
First recommendation
Broaden the scope of Taskforce from:
Developing a database of Preserved Lands
Developing a database of Preserved Lands and other Open Space
(i.e. open spaces that are not preserved) Lands.
Categories and Definitions
Definition of Preserved Land
Lands permanently protected for agricultural, conservation, historic/cultural,
horticultural or recreation purposes via legal or legislative encumbrance.
Protection of these lands can only be rescinded by legal or legislative action.
Examples of encumbrances include:
• deed restrictions or easements
• lands purchased with dedicated preservation trust fund dollars, etc.
• Inclusion of lands on a Recreation & Open Space Inventory (ROSI) filed with the
Green Acres Program
Categories and Definitions
Categories of land use to be included in the database:
•
•
•
•
•
Agricultural Lands
Conservation Lands
Historic / Cultural Lands
Horticultural Lands
Recreation Lands
In each of these 5 categories, if land is identified as Preserved, it will automatically
be included.
Categories and Definitions
However, for other Open Spaces there are 2 criteria to help specify whether land
will be included in the database:
• Ownership: public, private or non-profit
• Public access
Other Open Spaces
(Does not meet the definition of preserved)
Preserved Lands
Non-Profit
Publicly
Owned
Privately
Owned
Non-Profit
Publicly
Owned
Privately
Owned
No
No
No
No
No
No
Public Public Public Public Public Public Public Public Public Public Public Public
Access Access Access Access Access Access Access Access Access Access Access Access
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-
-
-
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-
+
-
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-
+
-
Horticultural
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-
+
-
Recreation
Land/Facilities
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-
-
-
Agricultural Land
Conservation
Land
Historic / Cultural
Properties
Database Tables and Feature Classes
The PL/OS database has
been designed for three
major spatial components:
• Parcel based open space
• Unit based open space
• Encumbrances*
Parcel
based
open
space
Unit
based
open
space
* Most encumbrances are easements and
most easements do not cover entire
parcels. The encumbrances table can be
joined with parcels data to create a polygon
feature class to identify the parcels the
encumbrances are located within.
Database Structure
Attributes in a Database Structure (cont.)
The basic mapping unit for Open Space architecture is a Tax Parcel.
Most information about open space is stored in the parcel-based
open space table, with the Parcel ID (PAMS_PIN) used as the
primary key to join to a parcels polygon feature class.
Attributes in a Database Structure (cont.)
PAMS_PIN field is also
used to link to other
tables with detailed
characteristics.
Each database table has one or two key fields
for joining to other tables (Parcel ID; OS_Unit
ID, Encumbrance ID).
Attributes
Detailed open space attributes based on PARCELS
Field Name
Field
Abbreviation
Description
Domain
Field Type
Parcel ID
PAMS_PIN
Parcel ID code developed by NJOIT-OGIS (see NJ Parcel
Mapping Standard). Underscores are used to concatenate NJ Parcel Mapping
county/municipality code, block number, lot number and, Standard
if provided, qualifier code.
Open Space Unit ID
OS_ID
Unique ID of the entire open space unit
Assigned unique ID
Text
Official name of the open space unit
Unabbreviated name
Text
Alternate or locally known name of the open space unit
Unabbreviated name
Text
Open Space Unit Name OS_NAME
Alternate Open Space
OS_ALTNAME
Name
Open Space Sub-Unit
OS_SUBNAME
Name(s)
Name(s) of distinct functional sub-unit(s) within the open
Unabbreviated name(s)
space unit
Text
Text
Owner(s) Classification OS_OWNCLASS
Land owner(s) classification
Federal; State; Regional;
County; Municipal; NonProfit; Private
organization; Private
individual; Unknown
Owner Name(s)
OS_OWNNAME
Land owner name(s), from deed
Agency Master List
Text/Drop
down list
Managing Entity(ies)
OS_MANAGE
Agency(ies) responsible for managing the open space
Agency Master List
Text/Drop
down list
Automated
Text
Attributes (cont.)
Detailed open space attributes based on PARCELS (cont.)
Field Name
Field
Abbreviation
Description
Domain
Green Acres List
Field Type
Text/Drop
down list
Primary Use
OS_USE
NJDEP-Green Acres primary use of property
Agricultural Land
OS_AG
Land use is agriculture. Lands characterized by the
production of crops, raising of livestock and other
agricultural commodities.
y/n
Text
Conservation Land
OS_CON
Land use is conservation. Lands characterized by the
protection or management of natural resources.
y/n
Text
Historic/Cultural Land OS_HIST
Land use is historic/cultural. Lands characterized by
historic/cultural sites that are included in, or meet the
criteria for inclusion, in the National or NJ Register of
Historic Places.
y/n
Text
Horticultural Land
OS_HORT
Land use is horticultural. Lands characterized by
horticultural features such as botanical gardens,
ornamental or decorative gardens, community gardens,
arboretums, etc.
y/n
Text
Recreation Land
OS_REC
Land use is recreation. Lands with indoor or outdoor
facilities developed specifically for active or passive
recreational purposes.
y/n
Text
Attributes (cont.)
Detailed open space attributes based on PARCELS (cont.)
Field Name
Field
Abbreviation
Description
Domain
Field Type
OS_ACCESS
Full Public Access - The entire property is open to the
public for a scheduled amount of time on an annual
basis. Entry may be free or an access fee may be
required; Limited Public Access - Less than the entire
Full Public; Limited Public; Text/Drop
property is open to the public for a scheduled amount of Restricted; Unknown
down list
time on an annual basis. Entry may be free or an access
fee may be required; Restricted Access - Authorized
access only; Unknown - Access information unknown
Protection Status
OS_PROSTATUS
Preserved - entire parcel protected by encumbrance;
Partially preserved - less than the entire parcel protected Preserved; Partially
by encumbrance; Unpreserved - entire parcel not
preserved; Unpreserved
protected by enbumbrance
Open Space
Designation Date
OS_DATE
Date the land was designated as open space
Open Space Funding
Source(s)
OS_FUNDSRC
Open space acquisition funding source(s)
Access Type
Text/Drop
down list
Date
Agency Master List
Text/Drop
down list
Attributes (cont.)
Detailed open space attributes based on PARCELS (cont.)
Field Name
Field
Abbreviation
Description
Domain
Field Type
Municipality
MUNI
Municipality automatically entered by referencing
county/municipality code from Parcel ID
Automated
Text
County
COUNTY
County automatically entered by referencing
county/municipality code from Parcel ID
Automated
Text
Open Space Source
Acres
OS_ACRES
Acres specified in deed or survey
Double
GIS Acres
OS_GISACRES
Acres calculated by GIS software
Double
Spatial Data
OS_SPATIAL
Georeferenced GIS or CAD data of open space
Blob
Map Image
OS_MAP
Digital image of open space from site plan, survey, tax
map or other source (e.g. pdf, jpg)
Blob
Comments
Any comments from either the source or aggregator (e.g.
OS_COMMENTS any special circumstances regarding the ownership status
of this property)
Text
Attributes (cont.)
Generalized attributes based on OPEN SPACE UNITS
Field Name
Field Abbreviation
Description
Domain
Field Type
Open Space Unit ID
UNIT_ID
Unique ID of the entire open
space unit
Assigned unique ID
Automated Text
Open Space Unit Name
NAME
Formal name of the open
space unit
Unabbreviated name
Automated Text
Open Space Unit Label Name NAME_LABEL
Abbreviated unit name for
map labels
Abbreviated name
Automated Text
Open Space Sub-Unit Name(s) SUBNAME
Name(s) of distinct functional
sub-unit(s) within the open
Unabbreviated name(s)
space unit
Automated Text
Open Space Sub-Unit Label
Name(s)
SUBNAME_LABEL
Abbreviated sub-unit name(s)
Abbreviated name(s)
for map labels
Automated Text
Owner Name(s)
OWNNAME
Land owner name(s)
Automated Text
Owner(s) Classification
OWNCLASS
Federal; State; Regional; County;
Municipal; Non-Profit; Private
Land owner level classification
organization; Private individual;
Joint; Unknown
Automated Text
Municipality/County Names
MUNICOUNTY
Municipality/County names of
open space unit
Automated Text
GIS Acres
GISACRES
Acreage calculated by GIS
software
Agency Master List
Double
Attributes (cont.)
Detailed encumbrance attributes based on PARCELS
Field Name
Field Abbreviation
Description
Domain
Field Type
Parcel ID
PAMS_PIN
Parcel ID code developed by NJOITOGIS (see NJ Parcel Mapping
Standard). Underscores are used to
NJ Parcel Mapping Standard
concatenate county/municipality code,
block number, lot number and, if
provided, qualifier code.
Encumbrance ID
ENC_ID
Unique ID of the encumbrance
Agricultural Encumbrance
ENC_AG
Encumbrance specifies agricultural
related uses
y/n
Text
Conservation Encumbrance ENC_CON
Encumbrance specifies conservation
related uses
y/n
Text
Historic/Cultural
Encumbrance
Encumbrance specifies historic/cultural
related uses
y/n
Text
Horticultural Encumbrance ENC_HORT
Encumbrance specifies horticultural
related uses
y/n
Text
Recreation Encumbrance
Encumbrance specifies recreation
related uses
y/n
Text
ENC_HIST
ENC_REC
Assigned unique ID
Text
Text
Attributes (cont.)
Detailed encumbrance attributes based on PARCELS (cont.)
Field Name
Field Abbreviation
Description
Domain
Field Type
Protection Status
ENC_PROSTATUS
Preserved - entire parcel protected by
encumbrance; Partially preserved Text/Drop down
Preserved; Partially preserved
less than the entire parcel protected by
list
encumbrance
Protection Mechanism
ENC_PROMECH
Type of encumbrance
Encumbrances Look-up table
Protection Funding
Source(s)
ENC_FUNDSRC
Funding source(s) of encumbrance
Agency Master List
Access Type
ENC_ACCESS
Public Access - The encumbrance
allows for some level of regular public
access; Restricted Access - Authorized Public; Restricted; Unknown
access only; Unknown - Access
information unknown
Text/Drop down
list
Encumbrance Owner
ENC_OWN
Encumbrance owner name(s) shown
on the deed
Agency Master List
Text/Drop down
list
Encumbrance owner(s) classification
Federal; State; Regional;
County; Municipal; Non-Profit;
Automated Text
Private organization; Private
individual; Unknown
Encumbrance Owner(s)
Classification
ENC_OWNCLASS
Text/Drop down
list
Text/Drop down
list
Attributes (cont.)
Detailed encumbrance attributes based on PARCELS (cont.)
Field Name
Field Abbreviation
Description
Domain
Field Type
Secondary right of
enforcement
ENC_SECROE
Entity name with secondary right of
enforcement for encumbrance
Encumbrance Deed
Name/Title
ENC_NAME
Encumbrance name from deed
Text
Encumbrance Description
ENC_DESC
Descriptive encumbrance information
regarding location and configuration on
the property, and size, as measured or
by percentage of property (not metes
and bounds)
Text
Encumbrance Designation
Date
ENC_DATE
Date the encumbrance was designated
Date
Municipality
MUNI
Municipality automatically entered by
referencing parcel ID
Automated Text
County
COUNTY
County automatically entered by
referencing parcel ID
Automated Text
Agency Master List
Text/Drop down
list
Attributes (cont.)
Detailed encumbrance attributes based on PARCELS (cont.)
Field Name
Field Abbreviation
Description
Domain
Field Type
Encumbrance Acres
ENC_ACRES
Encumbered acres specified in deed or
survey
Double
GIS Acres
ENC_GISACRES
Acres calculated by GIS software
Double
Spatial Data
ENC_SPATIAL
Georeferenced GIS or CAD data of
encumbrance
Blob
Map Image
ENC_MAP
Digital image of encumbrance from site
plan, tax map or other source (e.g. pdf,
jpg)
Blob
Deed/Survey Image
ENC_DEED
Digital image of deed and/or survey
Blob
ENC_COMMENTS
Any comments from either the source
or aggregator (e.g. any special
circumstances regarding the ownership
status of the encumbrance)
Text
Comments
Attributes (cont.)
Open Space Information Tracking
Field Name
Field Abbreviation
Description
Domain
Parcel ID
PAMS_PIN
Parcel ID code developed by NJOIT-OGIS
(see NJ Parcel Mapping Standard).
Underscores are used to concatenate
NJ Parcel Mapping Standard
county/municipal code, block number,
lot number and, if provided, qualifier
code.
Open Space Unit ID
OS_ID
Unique ID of the entire open space unit Assigned unique ID
Information Source
OS_SRC
Source of information
Information Source Date
OS_SRCDATE
Date of source of information
Aggregator
OS_AGG
Organization responsible for aggregating
Agency Master List
data
Update Date
OS_UPDATE
Date of last data update
Agency Master List
Field Type
Text
Text
Text/Drop
down list
Date
Text/Drop
down list
Date
Attributes (cont.)
Encumbrances Information Tracking
Field Name
Field Abbreviation
Description
Domain
Field Type
Parcel ID
PAMS_PIN
Parcel ID code developed by NJOIT-OGIS
(see NJ Parcel Mapping Standard).
Underscores are used to concatenate
NJ Parcel Mapping Standard
county/municipal code, block number,
lot number and, if provided, qualifier
code.
Encumbrance ID
ENC_ID
Unique ID of the encumbrance
Assigned unique ID
Text
Information Source
ENC_SRC
Source of information
Agency Master List
Text/Drop
down list
Information Source Date
ENC_SRCDATE
Date of source of information
Aggregator
ENC_AGG
Organization responsible for aggregating
Agency Master List
data
Update Date
ENC_UPDATE
Date of last data update
Text
Date
Text/Drop
down list
Date
Attributes (cont.)
Agency/Organization/Institution Master List Table
Field Name
Field
Abbreviation
Description
Protection Mechanism
Acronym
Easement
ESMT
Deed Restriction (non-easement)
DEED
Transfer of Development Rights
TDR
Pinelands Development Credits
PDC
Fully spelled out address
Recreation & Open Space Inventory
ROSI
Phone number including area
code
State Constitutional Provision
SCP
State Statute
SS
Federal Constitutional Provision
FCP
Federal Statute
FS
Agency/Organization/Instituti
ML_NAME
on Name
Name of agency (nonabbreviated)
Agency/Organization/Instituti
ML_ABBR
on Acronym
Agency acronym or
abbreviation
Agency/Organization/Instituti
ML_CLASS
on Owner Classification
Agency classification
Agency/Organization/Instituti
ML_ADDRESS
on Address
Agency/Organization/Instituti
ML_PHONE
on Phone Number
Agency/Organization/Instituti
ML_WEBSITE
on Website
Encumbrances Type Lookup Table
Website URL
Attributes (cont.)
Green Acres Primary Use Categories Lookup Table
Primary Use
BEACH
BOAT RAMP, DOCK OR MARINA
CAMP
CANAL
COMMUNITY OR CULTURAL CENTER
CONSERVATION AREA
ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
ESTUARY
FAIRGROUND
FARMLAND PRESERVATION
FISH HATCHERY
FISHING ACCESS
FOREST
GAME FARM
GARDENS
GOLF
GREENWAY
HISTORIC SITE
HORSE FARM OR HORSEBACK RIDING
LAKE, POND OR RESERVOIR
MUSEUM
NATURAL AREA
NURSERY
OFF ROAD VEHICLE PARK
PARK
PASSIVE RECREATION
PLAYGROUND
POOL
PRESERVE
RECREATION AREA
RECREATION CENTER OR COMPLEX
RECREATIONAL FIELDS
STREAM CORRIDOR
TRAIL
WATERFRONT
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
WILDLIFE REFUGE
ZOO
Methodology
Methodology Subgroup Objectives
Determine Data Products to be produced
Determine Dataset Update Process
• Database(s)
• Feature Class(es)
• Map Services
• Method
• Applications/Tools
• Schedule
Develop list of available data sources
Identify Potential Agencies for Developing,
Maintaining and Hosting Data
• Federal agencies – NPS, USFWS, etc.
• State agencies – Green Acres, SADC, SHPO,
Pinelands Comm., Highlands Comm., etc.
• County & Municipal agencies – Planning,
Engineering, Parks & Rec., Open Space Comm.,
Historic Comm., etc.
• Non-Profits
• Other
Determine Data Development Process & Technology
Needs
•
•
•
•
•
Data Inventory
Data Input
Data Reconciliation
Data Management/Stewardship
Data Host
• State Agencies
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Academic Institutions
Identify Potential Funding Sources
•
•
•
•
NJDEP
PAD-US/other Federal
Non-Profits
Grants
Beyond Task Force Scope
Implementation
Funding
Other?