FOREST INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS
NORTHEAST FIELD GUIDE
FOREST INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS UNIT
NORTHEASTERN RESEARCH STATION
FOREST SERVICE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
VERSION 1.6
JANUARY 2002
********************************************************************
“Anyone who establishes a permanent plot should recognize that he or
she hereby assumes responsibility for furnishing workers with a
complete picture of conditions on the plot at the time of its
establishment. Not only must each plot be properly marked and all
measures be in near perfect order, but all notes and records must be
complete. Otherwise, the plots may fail to yield the desired results and
those who in later years become responsible for their care and for the
analysis of the data, may be led to serious mistakes.”
(U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service 1935.)
********************************************************************
Forest Inventory and Analysis
Northeast Field Guide
Forest Inventory and Analysis Unit
Northeastern Research Station
Forest Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Version 1.6
January 2002
(WWW version revised April 2002.)
Please direct questions or comments about this document to:
Kathryn M. Tillman
Forest Inventory and Analysis Unit
USDA Forest Service
11 Campus Blvd., Ste. 200
Newtown Square, PA 19073
Phone: 610-557-4053
Email: kmtillman@fs.fed.us
NOTE TO USER: Version 1.6 contains regional clarification to the
previous version 1.5. The hi-lighted (shaded) text indicates additional
text. Version 1.5 should no longer be used upon receipt of this field
guide.
Boxed shaded text applies to MAINE only.
Northeast Field Guide, Version 1.6
January 2002
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Variable
Chapter / Section
Page
1.000
-----------
Introduction
Field Guide Layout
Units of Measure
General Description
Plot Integrity
5 Panel Cycle
1
2
3
4
5
6
2.000
--2.110
2.120
---------
7
7
8
9
9
11
12
12
--2.160
2.170
2.181
2.182
--2.210
2.220
2.230
2.240
--2.310
2.320
2.330
2.340
Plot Establishment
Plot Photo
Starting Point
Course to Plot
Photo Calculations Procedures
Chaining to the Plot
Chaining Slope Distances
Establishing Subplots 2 - 4 When Subplot 1 Is
Inaccessible
At Plot Center
Plot Center Witness
Plot Diagrams
Sketch Map of Plot Location
General Notes
Field Edits
Field Edit
Field Edit / Month
Field Edit / Day
Field Edit / Year
Office Edit
Office Edit
Office Edit / Month
Office Edit / Day
Office Edit / Year
3.000
3.100
3.110
3.120
3.130
3.140
3.145
3.150
3.155
Plot Data
State
Unit
County
Plot Number
Sample Kind
QA Status
Crew Type
Phase
21
21
21
21
21
22
23
23
23
i
15
17
18
18
18
18
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
Northeast Field Guide, Version 1.6
January 2002
Variable
Chapter / Section
Page
3.160
3.170
3.180
3.190
3.200
3.210
3.220
3.230
3.240
3.250
3.255
3.260
3.270
3.280
3.290
3.295
3.400
Month
Day
Year
Previous Land Use
Previous Month
Previous Year
Cruiser
Tally
Trail or Roads
Horizontal Distance to Improved Road
Road Access
Public Use Restrictions
Recreation Use 1, 2 and 3
Water on Plot
Terrain Position
Site Productivity Class
Manual Version
25
25
25
25
26
26
27
27
27
28
28
29
29
30
30
32
33
3.300
---
GPS Coordinates
GPS Unit Settings, Datum, and Coordinate
System
Collecting Readings
Degrees of Latitude
Minutes of Latitude
Seconds of Latitude
Degrees of Longitude
Minutes of Longitude
Seconds of Longitude
Number of Readings
Elevation
Location of GPS Reading
GPS Error
GPS Serial Number
34
34
Condition Class Data
Determination of Condition Class
Condition Class Attributes
Condition Class Number
Condition Class Defining (Delineation)
Variables
Condition Class Status
Delineating Condition Classes Differing in
Condition Class Status
39
39
40
41
41
--3.310
3.320
3.330
3.340
3.350
3.360
3.361
3.365
3.370
3.375
3.380
4.000
----4.300
--4.310
---
ii
34
36
36
37
37
37
37
37
38
38
38
38
41
42
Northeast Field Guide, Version 1.6
January 2002
Variable
-------
Chapter / Section
Page
42
46
51
4.320
----4.330
4.340
4.350
4.360
4.370
4.380
--4.400
4.405
4.410
4.420
4.431
4.432
4.433
4.434
4.435
4.436
4.491
4.492
4.493
4.494
4.495
4.496
4.440
4.450
4.460
4.465
4.470
“Five Execptions”
Condition Class Status Definitions
Delineating Condition Classes Within Accessble
Forest Land
Land Use Class
Forest Land
Nonforest Land
Forest Type
Stand-Size Class
Regeneration Status
Reserve Status
Tree Density
Owner Group
Ancillary (Non-Mapping) Variables
Owner Class
Private Owner Industrial Status
Artificial Regeneration Species
Stand Age
Disturbance 1
Disturbance Year 1
Disturbance 2
Disturbance Year 2
Disturbance 3
Disturbance Year 3
Treatment 1
Treatment Year 1
Treatment 2
Treatment Year 2
Treatment 3
Treatment Year 3
Physiographic Class
Timber Management Class
Stand History
Stand Structure – Maine Only
Stocking Class
4.000
--4.100
4.200
4.211
4.212
4.213
Boundary Data
Reference Procedure
Subplot Number
Plot Type
Boundary Change
Contrasting Condition
Condition Class Number
86
86
88
88
89
89
89
iii
53
53
56
59
68
70
70
71
72
73
73
74
74
75
76
77
77
78
78
78
78
79
79
79
79
79
79
81
83
83
84
Northeast Field Guide, Version 1.6
January 2002
Variable
Chapter / Section
Page
4.214
4.215
4.216
4.217
Left Azimuth
Corner Azimuth
Corner Distance
Right Azimuth
90
90
90
91
4.000
4.100
4.105
4.106
4.107
4.110
4.120
4.125
4.130
---
Subplot Data
Subplot Number
Slope Correction
Subplot Center Condition Class
Microplot Center Condition Class
Subplot Slope
Subplot Aspect
Snow / Water Depth
Crown Closure – Maine Only
Mulitiple Condition Example
92
92
92
92
93
93
94
94
95
96
5.000
5.100
5.110
5.120
5.140
5.200
5.300
Seedling Data
Subplot Number
Species
DBH
Reproduction Number
Condition Class Number
Number of Stems
97
97
97
97
98
98
98
5.000
Shrub and Vine Data for the Maine Inventory
99
6.000
6.100
6.105
6.110
6.120
6.130
6.140
--6.150
--6.155
6.160
6.170
6.175
6.180
6.190
6.200
Tree and Sapling Data
Subplot Number
Tree Record Number
Species
Horizontal Distance
Azimuth
Tree History
Diameter
Diameter at Breast Height (DBH)
Special DBH Situations
Diameter Check
Condition Class Number
Tree Condition Class
Lean Angle
Tree Grade
Sawlog Length
Bole Length
101
102
102
102
103
104
105
109
110
110
118
118
119
119
120
121
122
iv
Northeast Field Guide, Version 1.6
January 2002
Variable
6.205
6.206
6.207
6.210
6.220
6.230
6.240
6.250
6.260
6.264
6.270
--6.271
6.272
---
Chapter / Section
Page
122
123
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
131
133
133
134
136
139
--6.274
6.275
6.276
6.290
6.300
6.310
6.320
6.330
6.340
6.350
Total Length
Actual Length
Length Method
Board-Foot Cull
Percent Soundness (of Board-Foot Cull)
Cubic-Foot Cull
Percent Soundness (of Cubic-Foot Cull)
Crown Class
Compacted Crown Ratio
Uncompacted Crown Ratio
Cause of Death
Tree Damage
Damage Location 1
Damage Type 1
Legal Combinations of Damage Type by
Damage Location
Damage Severity 1
Damage Illustrations
Procedures to Record Multiple Occurrences of
the Same Damage
Procedures to Measure Circumference Affected
Damage Location 2
Damage Type 2
Damage Severity 2
Tree Class
Merchantability Class
Decay Class
Utilization Class
Previous DBH
Previous Tree Class / Merchantability Class
Tree Notes
7.000
--7.001
7.005
7.100
7.105
7.110
7.120
7.130
7.140
Site Tree Data
Site Tree Selection
Site Tree Number
Subplot Number
Condition Class Number
Condition Class List
Species
Diameter
Site Tree Length
Tree Age at Diameter
161
161
162
162
162
162
163
163
163
163
6.273
-----
v
141
147
154
154
154
154
154
155
157
157
159
159
159
160
Northeast Field Guide, Version 1.6
January 2002
Variable
Chapter / Section
Page
8.000
8.100
8.110
8.120
Ownership Data
Ownership Information
Information Quality
Owner Contact
165
165
166
166
9.000
---------------
Nonforest / Denied / Hazardous / Water Plots
Overview
Plot Data
GPS Coordinates
Condition Class Data
Boundary Data
Subplot Data
Tree Data
167
167
168
173
175
180
180
182
#
Appendices
1
State, Unit and County FIPS Codes
183
2
Eastern U.S. Site-Tree Selection Criteria and
FIA Forest Type Algorithm For The U.S.
193
3
Productivity Guide
203
4
-----------
U.S. Tree, Shrub and Vine Species Codes
Trees
Deciduous Shrubs
Evergreen Shrubs
Dwarf Shrubs
Vines
205
205
209
210
211
212
5
-----------------
Specific Tally Procedures
Alternates
Census Water
Reserved Land
Plot Diagram Rules
Regular Tally Procedures
Reconciling The Previous Tally
Previous Tree History Codes
Previous Trees That Are Not On The History
Files
Special Instructions For The Ohio Inventory
Special Instruction For The New York Inventory
213
213
213
213
214
216
216
217
220
-----
Page
vi
221
224
Northeast Field Guide, Version 1.6
January 2002
#
---
Appendices
Other Previous Plot Designs
6
Determination Of Stocking Values For Land
Use Classification
229
7
Glossary
237
8
Quality Control / Quality Assurance Program
245
9
-----------
Tree Grades
Hardwood
Defects In Hardwood Logs
Tie and Timber
Eastern White Pine
White Pine Diameter Limits For Red and Black
Knots
Spruce, Fir, Cedar, Tamarack and Hemlock
Southern Pine
261
261
262
263
264
265
267
---------
Percent Cull Tables, Scaling Deduction
Methods, And Slope Correction Table
Percent Cubic-Foot Cull Volume Table
Percent Board-Foot Cull Volume Tables
Methods Of Determing Scaling Deduction
Slope Correction Table
11
Tally Sheet Guide
271
12
-----
NEFIA Special Studies
Pennslyvania’s Regeneration Assessment
Delaware River Basin Soil Collection
283
283
290
----10
vii
Page
226
265
266
267
268
269
270
Northeast Field Guide, Version 1.6
January 2002
Codes changes from version 1.5 to version 1.6 are listed below.
3.140 Sample Kind – new code
5
Remeasurement of a NEFIA or FHM plot – remeasurement of a previously
established 4-point fixed radius plot.
3.210 Previous Year – previously 1988 to 1996, now 1988 to 1997
3.400 Manual Version – previously 15, now 16
4.330 Forest Type – new code
201 Douglas-fir: Sites – unmanaged or abandoned Christmas tree plantations in the
Northeast.
4.211 Boundary Change – new code
9
Boundary no longer exists and requires deletion. Enter previous crew’s boundary
data exactly from history file printout.
6.140 Tree History – new codes
11
multiple forked tree – the product of two previously measured trees that are now
treated as one tree. Accounts for new stem from code 13 and 14 created by
“Special DBH Situation” rule 8 Figure 13E where the second fork is no longer
recognized. (Used in conjunction with codes 13 and 14.)
13
multiple forked tree – the first of two previously measured trees, treated as one
now. This code reconciles previous tree only. (Used in conjunction with code 11.)
14
multiple forked tree – the second of two previously measured trees, treated as one
now. This code reconciles previous tree only. (Used in conjunction with code 11.)
38
previously tallied tree that is now on land that is denied access
39
previously tallied tree that is now on land that is hazardous
Tree Species Codes – added
765
766
921
927
Canada plum
wild plum
peachleaf willow
white willow
P. nigra
P. americana
S. amygdaloides
S. alba
Shrub Species Codes -- removed
923
crack willow
S. fragilis
Note: Crack willow is actually a tree in the Northeast. If it is encountered, it should be
coded as 920 (Salix spp.).
viii