Oakland County Land Use Metadata

Complete Metadata and Definitions...
For an explanation of how the land use inventory was created (metadata) or land use category definitions, click on respective link below or scroll down for a general overview of Oakland County's Land Use data.

Metadata

The link above will direct you to the Metadata Explorer.  Enter the keyword "land use" to locate land use metadata. 

Land Use Category Definitions

General Overview...
Oakland County's annual land use program creates parcel-specific, digital land use data.  This means that each parcel is assigned a single, dominant land use using the County's Geographic Information System (GIS).  For more information about GIS, click here.

There are three basic steps used to create this data. 

First, the majority of parels are assigned a land use automatically based on certain assumptions. 

Second, the remaining parcels are assigned a land use code manually using reference data such as ownership information.

Third, the parcels are combined with the roads, railroads, and lakes to create a final land use map.