Design Tool for
Inventory &
Monitoring (DTIM)
Design Tool for Inventory &
Monitoring (DTIM)
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Provide the Forest staffs with a method for designing
plot-based portions of their monitoring program
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Help determine key inventory and monitoring
questions.
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Evaluate existing data to estimate current conditions
and monitor trends
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Identify unmet information needs and sample sizes to
meet precision requirements, then estimate
acquisition costs.
Inventory & Monitoring Toolkit
• Design Tool – to identify monitoring needs,
and to specify sampling design to balance
cost and precision in order to address
monitoring questions.
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Portable Data Recorder Tool – software on PDR to collect,
validate, and transfer data. Not currently part of DATIM.
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Database and Compilation Tool – to store and compute
calculated fields
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Spatial / Tabular Analytical Tools – use standard methods or
spatial means of specifying area for which to estimate tables
and maps.
Role of Design Tool for I&M (DTIM)
FIA and Regional
Data Sources
Information Needs
Design Tool
Forest Plan
Monitoring Guide
Plot List
Computed
Variable Protocols
List of Tables
Protocol Sample
Design
Data
Recorder
Field Data
Compilation
Tool
Database
Spatial Data
Analysis
Tool
Results for Forest
Planning or
Cumulative Effects
Monitoring Steps
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Typically, inventory planning starts with identifying the area to
be sampled and the attributes to collect.
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However, the survey will be better if planning starts with
identification of the objectives – begin with the end in mind
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The four tools address most of the 15 monitoring steps NIMAC
has identified:
– Design Phase
– Data Collection
– Data Storage and Compilation
– Data Analysis and Decision Making
The Planning Phase
The Design Tool could help with the first 9 monitoring steps
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Identify customers and set broad objectives
Select monitoring questions
Select attributes
Assemble and evaluate existing data
Set time/cost and precision constraints
Select sampling and plot designs
Select Plots
Plan field work
Train
The PDR Tool
10. Collect data – Portable Data Recorder software can be
customized based on the planning phase.
11. Enter and store data – the data should be entered and
checked while in the field using PDR software, then
transferred electronically to the office.
The Compilation Tool
12.Compile data – the FVS compilation tool computes
derived variables, such as basal area or biomass,
and stores them in an enhanced version of FSVeg.
The Analytical Tool
13.Assess and interpret data – use the spatial/tabular
analytical tool to ask questions of the data and
compare the study area to the forest matrix.
Final Steps in Adaptive Management
14.Evaluate objectives and monitoring protocol.
Did
the data collected meet the information needs?
15.Decide on future forest/grassland management
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Biennial Monitoring Reports
Watershed Assessments
Climate Scorecard
Plan Amendments or
Revisions
Broad-scale monitoring
Design Tool for Inventory &
Monitoring (DTIM)
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Designed to guide the survey planner through much
of the first nine steps
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Nationally and Regionally defined needs (pre-loaded
in DTIM):
– Create expert question/objective pick list. Customize
question/objective list to region
– Input national and regional inventory cost data
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User defined needs (with help of expert):
– Objectives, key I&M questions, remeasurement cycle,
identification of population(s)
– Identify tables and maps to answer questions
The Planning Phase
The Design Tool could help with the first 9 monitoring
steps
1.
Identify customers and set broad objectives – pick
from list of broad objectives based on desired
conditions or outcomes
2.
Select monitoring questions – pick from list of
generic questions based on the chosen objectives
3.
Select attributes – pick from list of metrics for the
questions chosen, then select from list of
categorical attributes used to make tables to
answer the questions. Then pick any additional
attributes of interest
Plan Goals to Be Monitored
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Ecosystem Restoration
Wildlife Habitat
Forest Health
Control of Invasives
Biological Diversity
Forest Fire Effects
Forest Productivity
Mitigation & Adaptation
Example Questions/Variables
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What is the distribution of tree species across the forested
landscape? What tree species are increasing or decreasing in
ecological importance?
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Are forests replacing themselves? What factors are impacting
regeneration?
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What is the composition and diversity of understory vegetation
by forest type? Is native understory richness declining over
time?
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What invasive species are present? How are they responding
to management?
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What is the distribution of structural or age classes and how is it
changing?
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What are the growth and mortality rates by species ?
Attribute List
Area attributes:
•Land use
•capable of producing timber
•Habitat type
•forest type
•age class
•stand size
Understory Attributes:
• Number of seedlings/saplings
• Deer damage on seedlings
• Invasive plant species presence
• % cover of invasive plant
species
•tree species
•diameter class
Overstory Attributes:
• Number of trees
• Net volume of all live trees
• Net volume of growing stock
• Gross Growth growing stock
• Net volume of saw timber
• Net growth growing stock
• Removals growing stock
• Biomass all live - aboveground
• Mortality growing stock
• Number of snags
• Density of downed woody material
• Stocking level (density)
•tree species
•diameter class
•tree grade
From Objectives to Attributes
Broad
Objectives
Monitoring Questions
Metric
No.
Indicator
Metric
3
Tree growth and
mortality rates
Volume, acres
Tree condition
% having poor
crowns or dead,
acres
Crown condition
% having poor
crowns, acres, basal
area, volume)
Tree regeneration
Acres, Seedling,
sapling, and tree
stems/ac;
Tree harvest
Volume, acres
Tree growth and
mortality rates
Volume, acres
Tree harvest
Volume, acres
4
Forest Health
What is the current status
and trends in health of the
forest ?
5
6
29
Forest Productivity
and Sustainability
What are the components
of growth, harvest, and net
change?
3
29
Evaluate Existing Data
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Identify the various data sources for evaluation
Use ATIM for FIA data and its Regional data, if any
Identify limitations of all appropriate sources.
If can answer the monitoring questions with existing
data, then stop.
– Else re-evaluate information needs
– Or Explore Alternatives.
The Planning Phase
4.
Assess existing data – use the Analytical Tool on
FIA or other existing data to determine whether
they are sufficient to answer the questions, or to
assess their variability if they are not adequate.
Explore and Select Monitoring
Alternative
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Consider Costs
Consider Options
– Precision
– Protocols
– Sampling Design
– Plot Design
– Information Management
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Select Inventory
The Planning Phase
5.
Set time/cost and precision constraints – If existing
data are inadequate, then identify the costs of each
component of monitoring. Specify precision and
scale of analysis for key metrics.
6.
Develop an efficient plot and sampling design –
balance cost and precision in order to address
monitoring questions. Based on the plot design
chosen, determine sample size.
Plot Design: Design Optimization Features
 Identify the different subplot
kinds: overstory,
understory, soils, etc
 Specify the size of each
 Specify the number of them
 Specify their spatial
arrangement (distance)
Sampling Design: Plot Selection
7.
Select plots – select plot locations in a spatially balanced
way based on chosen sample size and sampling rules.
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Random
Spatially Balanced
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Systematic (grid or other tessellation)
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SFC – Space Filling Curve
Field Planning
8.
Plan field work – generate field manual text for
selected attributes
9.
Train – generate training materials for selected
attributes. Follow up QA/QC is an option.
Provide Guidance for an
Implementation Plan
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Determine Software Needs
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Migrate and prepare any prior plot data
Data Recorder
Auditing/Editing software
Data loading into the Data Mart
Compilation Tool – prepare data for analysis
Determine Equipment Needs
Populate Work Plan
Develop Contract, as appropriate
Contact DATIM Project Leader
Charles T. “Chip” Scott
National Inventory & Monitoring
Applications Center (NIMAC)
Forest Inventory & Analysis
USDA Forest Service
11 Campus Blvd., Suite 200
Newtown Square, PA 19073
610-557-4020
ctscott@fs.fed.us
www.nrs.fs.fed.us/nimac