# Alternative Text Description for Generalized Land Use (2023) ## TABLE OF CONTENTS - Map Overview - Geographic Context - Key Insights - Visual Elements - Symbol Guide - Additional Information - Data Context ## MAP OVERVIEW This map displays generalized land use patterns across Florida based on 2023 parcel data compiled for the Florida Department of Transportation. The dataset consolidates 99 original parcel-specific land use classifications into 17 generalized categories, showing how land is utilized throughout the state. The map reveals a complex mosaic of land uses including agricultural areas, public lands, residential development, and natural water features. ## GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT The map covers the entire state of Florida, extending from the panhandle in the northwest to the Florida Keys in the south. Major cities labeled on the map include Jacksonville in the northeast, Orlando in the central region, Tampa and St. Petersburg on the west coast, Miami in the southeast, and Cape Coral on the southwest coast. The map also shows portions of neighboring states including Alabama, Georgia, and the Straits of Florida to the south. The Atlantic Ocean borders the eastern coast while the Gulf of America borders the western and northwestern coasts. ## KEY INSIGHTS The map reveals several significant land use patterns across Florida. Agricultural land use (shown in dark green) dominates much of the interior and northern portions of the state, forming large contiguous blocks particularly in the panhandle and central regions. Public and semi-public lands (shown in blue) are extensively distributed throughout the state, with particularly large concentrations in southern Florida, the Everglades region, and scattered throughout central and northern Florida. Residential development (shown in yellow) forms dense clusters around major urban centers including Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Cape Coral, typically appearing as concentrated patches along both coasts and near inland cities. Water features (shown in light blue/lavender) are prominently visible, particularly Lake Okeechobee in south-central Florida and numerous smaller lakes throughout the central peninsula. The southeastern coastal region shows a complex intermixing of residential, agricultural, public, and water land uses, reflecting the unique geography of the Everglades and urban development patterns in the Miami metropolitan area. ## VISUAL ELEMENTS ### Generalized Land Use (2023) This layer represents the 17 generalized land use categories derived from 2023 Florida parcel data, showing how land throughout the state is designated and utilized. ### Agricultural (dark green) **Appearance:** Solid dark green polygons **Distribution:** Extensively distributed throughout Florida, with particularly large continuous areas in the panhandle region, north-central Florida, and interior portions of the peninsula **Notable locations:** Dominant land use in the western panhandle, substantial presence around Lake Okeechobee, large blocks in north-central Florida between Jacksonville and Tampa, and scattered throughout the interior peninsula **Spatial patterns:** Forms large contiguous blocks in rural areas, often surrounding smaller urban centers, and creates a dominant backdrop in less developed regions of the state ### Public/Semi-Public (blue) **Appearance:** Solid bright blue polygons **Distribution:** Widespread throughout the state with major concentrations in southern Florida, the Everglades region, scattered large blocks in central and northern Florida, and along coastal areas **Notable locations:** Extensive coverage in the southern peninsula (likely including Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve), large areas in the Ocala National Forest region of north-central Florida, and substantial presence in the panhandle **Spatial patterns:** Often forms large, irregular polygons representing protected lands, parks, and conservation areas; frequently adjacent to water features and in less developed regions ### Residential (yellow) **Appearance:** Bright yellow polygons **Distribution:** Concentrated around major urban centers along both coasts and near inland cities **Notable locations:** Dense concentrations in Miami and southeastern coastal areas, Tampa-St. Petersburg metropolitan area, Orlando region, Jacksonville area, Cape Coral and Fort Myers region, and scattered smaller concentrations around other cities throughout the state **Spatial patterns:** Forms compact clusters in urban cores with radial spreading patterns, often interspersed with other land uses in suburban areas, and creates linear patterns along major transportation corridors ### Water (light lavender/blue) **Appearance:** Light lavender-blue polygons **Distribution:** Scattered throughout the peninsula with concentrations in central and southern Florida **Notable locations:** Lake Okeechobee prominently visible as a large feature in south-central Florida, numerous lakes throughout the central peninsula region, coastal water features, and extensive water coverage in the southern Everglades region **Spatial patterns:** Varies from large discrete lake features to complex networks of smaller water bodies, particularly dense in the central lake district and southern wetland areas ### Acreage Not Zoned For Agriculture (mustard yellow) **Appearance:** Mustard or golden yellow polygons **Distribution:** Scattered throughout the state, appearing as isolated patches primarily in transitional or rural areas **Notable locations:** Visible in pockets throughout the panhandle, central Florida, and scattered locations in southern Florida **Spatial patterns:** Typically appears as smaller isolated polygons interspersed among agricultural and other land uses ### Recreation (light green) **Appearance:** Light green polygons **Distribution:** Dispersed throughout the state in smaller concentrations **Notable locations:** Visible in various locations along both coasts and scattered inland, often near urban areas and water features **Spatial patterns:** Generally forms smaller discrete polygons, often adjacent to residential areas or water bodies ### Institutional (purple/magenta) **Appearance:** Purple or magenta polygons **Distribution:** Scattered in small patches throughout the state **Notable locations:** Visible as small isolated features near major urban centers including the Miami area, Orlando region, and other cities **Spatial patterns:** Appears as small discrete polygons, typically within or adjacent to developed urban areas ### Centrally Assessed (gray) **Appearance:** Gray polygons **Distribution:** Sparsely distributed across the state in isolated locations **Notable locations:** Visible in scattered locations throughout Florida, often appearing as linear features **Spatial patterns:** Often appears as linear corridors, likely representing utility corridors or similar infrastructure ### Industrial (light pink/lavender) **Appearance:** Light pink or lavender polygons **Distribution:** Scattered in small concentrations throughout the state **Notable locations:** Visible near major urban centers and port areas, including locations around Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville, and other cities **Spatial patterns:** Typically forms small discrete clusters near transportation infrastructure and urban centers ### Retail/Office (red) **Appearance:** Bright red polygons **Distribution:** Concentrated in small patches within and near urban centers **Notable locations:** Visible as small features in major metropolitan areas including Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville **Spatial patterns:** Appears as very small discrete polygons within commercial and urban core areas ### Other (orange) **Appearance:** Orange polygons **Distribution:** Scattered sparsely throughout the state **Notable locations:** Visible in isolated locations across Florida, with no clear regional concentration **Spatial patterns:** Appears as small discrete features interspersed among other land uses ### Vacant Nonresidential (tan/beige) **Appearance:** Tan or beige polygons **Distribution:** Scattered in small amounts throughout the state **Notable locations:** Visible in isolated locations, often near developing areas **Spatial patterns:** Appears as small discrete polygons, often in transitional or developing areas ### No Data Available (dotted pattern) **Appearance:** Gray dotted or stippled pattern **Distribution:** Scattered very sparsely throughout the state **Notable locations:** Visible in a few isolated locations where parcel data may be incomplete **Spatial patterns:** Appears as small isolated patches with minimal presence on the map ### Parcels With No Values (cross-hatched pattern) **Appearance:** Cross-hatched or diagonal line pattern **Distribution:** Minimal presence on the map **Notable locations:** Rare occurrences scattered across the state **Spatial patterns:** Appears as very small isolated features where land use values are missing ### Mining (dark gray) **Appearance:** Dark gray polygons **Distribution:** Very limited presence visible on the map **Notable locations:** Minimal visibility at this map scale, likely present in specific extraction areas **Spatial patterns:** Appears as small discrete features where present ### Right-of-Way (black) **Appearance:** Black polygons or linear features **Distribution:** Limited visibility at this map scale **Notable locations:** Likely present along major transportation corridors but difficult to distinguish at this scale **Spatial patterns:** Would typically appear as linear features along roads and highways if visible ### Overlapping Patterns The map shows complex interactions between land use categories, particularly in transitional areas between urban and rural zones. Residential development often appears surrounded by or interspersed with agricultural land, especially at the urban fringe. Public lands frequently adjoin water features and agricultural areas. The southern Florida region shows particularly complex patterns where residential, agricultural, water, and public lands create an intricate mosaic reflecting the unique Everglades ecosystem and surrounding development. ## SYMBOL GUIDE - **Dark green (solid):** Agricultural land use - **Blue (solid):** Public/Semi-Public lands including parks, preserves, and government properties - **Bright yellow (solid):** Residential development and housing - **Light lavender/blue (solid):** Water bodies including lakes, rivers, and coastal waters - **Mustard yellow (solid):** Acreage Not Zoned For Agriculture - **Light green (solid):** Recreation areas and facilities - **Purple/magenta (solid):** Institutional properties including schools, hospitals, and government facilities - **Gray (solid):** Centrally Assessed properties - **Light pink/lavender (solid):** Industrial properties and facilities - **Bright red (solid):** Retail/Office commercial properties - **Orange (solid):** Other land uses not fitting primary categories - **Tan/beige (solid):** Vacant Nonresidential land - **Gray dotted pattern:** No Data Available - **Cross-hatched pattern:** Parcels With No Values - **Dark gray (solid):** Mining operations - **Black (solid):** Right-of-Way for transportation and utilities - **Light lavender (solid):** Vacant Residential land ## ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This map represents a generalized view of Florida's land use patterns based on 2023 parcel data. The 17 categories shown are consolidated from the original 99 detailed land use classifications maintained in Florida's parcel database. Important changes were implemented in 2015: Value 009 now represents "Residential Common Elements / Areas" (maintaining Generalized Land Use code 11 - RESIDENTIAL), and Value 080 now represents "Vacant Governmental" (reclassified from Generalized Land Use code 7 - OTHER to code 8 - PUBLIC/SEMI-PUBLIC). The field previously labeled LANDUSE15 is now referred to as LUGEN_CODE in the current dataset. At this statewide scale, smaller land use features may not be individually distinguishable, and the map is best used for understanding regional patterns rather than parcel-level detail. This layer updates the previous FGDL layer LU_GEN_2022.shp. ## DATA CONTEXT **Data Source:** The data is derived from 2023 parcel-specific land use information compiled for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The original 99 land use classes from Florida's parcel database were consolidated into 17 generalized categories for broader analysis and mapping purposes. Data source layer name: LU_GEN_2023. **Definition Query:** No definition query or filter criteria was applied to this dataset. **Scale Information:** This map shows statewide coverage at a scale appropriate for regional land use pattern analysis. At this scale, individual parcels are not distinguishable, and small land use features may not be visible. The map is most appropriate for understanding county-level and regional land use distributions rather than site-specific analysis. **Coordinate System:** NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087) **Time Period of Content:** The data reflects land use classifications as of 2023, based on Florida's parcel database maintained by county property appraisers and compiled by FDOT. **Limitations:** Some areas show "No Data Available" or "Parcels With No Values" categories where parcel information may be incomplete or pending update. The generalization from 99 to 17 categories necessarily combines some distinct land uses into broader categories, potentially masking finer distinctions in land use patterns. The map reflects assessed land use classifications which may not capture recent changes or ongoing development activity that has not yet been recorded in the parcel database. Users should be aware of the 2015 reclassification changes when comparing this dataset to earlier versions. **Map Coverage:** The map covers the entire state of Florida from the panhandle in the northwest to the Florida Keys in the south. Small portions of neighboring states (Alabama, Georgia) and the Straits of Florida are shown for geographic context but contain no land use data. --- The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.