The LULC databases, which contain information on all vegetation, were used to create the cash crop exposure database. Since these LULC maps were developed at a very fine resolution, the file sizes were extremely large, and direct use of the LULC data sets is not suitable for a loss analysis. Thus, cash crops were indexed in a distinct database by sampling the LULC data on an 80-by-80 meter grid for most countries. For the larger countries (PG, WS, and FJ), the sampling grid was taken at 270 by 270 meters. These different sampling resolutions balanced accuracy and economy, and allowed for the detection of cash crops even in small atolls. In addition, the crop types indicated in the LULC maps, which sometimes included multiple crops in one area, were mapped appropriately to a similar crop classification, in which the replacement costs and damage functions could be easily assigned. Compiled by AIR Worldwide.
