Landform Reference Dataset: Chihuahuan Desert Region

Purpose: This repository contains a landform reference dataset for the Chihuahuan Desert region compiled by researchers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). Technical Documentation: LeGrand, Sandra L., Taylor S. Hodgdon, Matthew F. Bigl, Brendan A. West, Jorge A. Ochoa Gonzalez, and Chelsea L. Dandridge. 2025. Expansion of a Landform Reference Dataset in the Chihuahuan Desert for Dust Source Characterization Applications. ERDC TR-22755. US Army Engineer Research and Development Center. Background: This dataset was compiled by combining landform labels from published sources and labels generated through subjective interpretation of basemap imagery. Landform labels represent the dominant landform type within a 500m resolution grid cell. Field Descriptions: Point_ID: A unique identification string associated with the point record. Latitude_Published: Latitude associated with the point record from the original source (decimal degrees). Longitude_Published: Longitude associated with the point record from the original source (decimal degrees). Centroid_ID: A unique identification string associated with the 500m grid cell centroid. Latitude_Centroid: Latitude of the 500m grid box centroid associated with the point record (decimal degrees). Longitude_Centroid: Longitude of the 500m grid box centroid associated with the point record (decimal degrees). Landform_Type: Official landform classification determined by the analyst that corresponds to a predefined mapping schema. Landform_Type_Published: Landform classification from original source. Confidence_Level: A subjective, qualitative score reflecting the analyst’s self-assessed confidence in their chosen landform designation. Ranges in integer values from 0 to 3. Comments: Any relevant notes associated with the point record, including analyst commentary and information derived from published sources. Reference: Reference information associated with the point record. Cook_Point: Indicates the total number of landform reference examples in the grid cell that originated from the Cook et al. 2022 ERDC report. BLM_Point: Indicates the total number of landform reference examples in the grid cell that originated from the BLM Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) dataset. NRCS_Point: Indicates the total number of landform reference examples in the grid cell that originated from the USDA NRCS pedon dataset. Derivation: Letter (A, B, or C) to indicate if the landform designation was derived from published data. A = Landform type and location were derived from a published source. B = Landform designation was subjectively determined by an analyst to be a continuation of a neighboring landform point identified in a published source. C = Landform designation was subjectively determined by an analyst.