The Forest Inventory and Analysis Database: Database Description and Users Manual Version 3.0 for Phase 2 Forest Inventory and Analysis Program U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service 2 FIA Database Description and Users Guide, version 3.0, revision 1 Foreword July, 2008 Foreword Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) is a continuing endeavor mandated by Congress in the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the McSweeney-McNary Forest Research Act of 1928. FIA's primary objective is to determine the extent, condition, volume, growth, and depletions of timber on the Nation's forest land. Before 1999, all inventories were conducted on a periodic basis. With the passage of the 1998 Farm Bill, FIA is required to collect data on plots annually within each State. This kind of up-to-date information is essential to frame realistic forest policies and programs. USDA Forest Service regional research stations are responsible for conducting these inventories and publishing summary reports for individual States. In addition to published reports, the Forest Service can also provide data collected in each inventory to those interested in further analysis. This report describes a standard format in which data can be obtained. This standard format, referred to as the Forest Inventory and Analysis Database (FIADB) structure, was developed to provide users with as much data as possible in a consistent manner among States. FIADB files can be obtained for any State inventory conducted after 1988 (Eastern U.S.) or 1994 (Western U.S.). Files for many State inventories conducted before this time may also be available; however, some data fields may be empty or the items may have been collected or computed differently. Annual inventories use a common plot design and common data collection procedures nationwide, resulting in greater consistency among FIA units than earlier inventories. Data field definitions note inconsistencies caused by different sampling designs and processing methods. 3 FIA Database Description and Users Guide, version 3.0, revision 1 Table of Contents July, 2008 Foreword.................................................................................................................................... 3 Chapter 1 -- Introduction ........................................................................................................... 6 Purpose of this Manual........................................................................................................... 6 The FIA Program.................................................................................................................... 6 The FIA Database................................................................................................................... 8 Chapter 2 -- FIA Sampling and Estimation Procedures ............................................................ 9 Sampling and Stratification Methodology ............................................................................. 9 Plot Location .......................................................................................................................... 9 Plot Design, Condition Delineation, and Types of Data Attributes..................................... 11 Types of Attributes............................................................................................................... 12 Expansion factors ................................................................................................................. 13 Accuracy Standards.............................................................................................................. 14 Chapter 3 -- Database Structure............................................................................................... 15 Table Descriptions................................................................................................................ 15 Keys Presented with the Tables ........................................................................................... 18 Data Storage and Format...................................................................................................... 19 Survey Table (Oracle table name is SURVEY) ................................................................... 20 County Table (Oracle table name is COUNTY).................................................................. 23 Plot Table (Oracle table name is PLOT).............................................................................. 25 Subplot Table (Oracle table name is SUBPLOT) ................................................................ 36 Condition Table (Oracle table name is COND) ................................................................... 41 Subplot Condition Table (Oracle table name is SUBP_COND).......................................... 68 Tree Table (Oracle table name is TREE) ............................................................................. 72 Seedling Table (Oracle table name is SEEDLING)........................................................... 102 Site Tree Table (Oracle table name is SITETREE) ........................................................... 106 Boundary Table (Oracle table name is BOUNDARY)...................................................... 112 Population Evaluation Group Table (Oracle table name is POP_EVAL_GRP)................ 116 Population Evaluation Table (Oracle table name is POP_EVAL)..................................... 120 Population Estimation Unit Table (Oracle table name is POP_ESTN_UNIT).................. 122 Population Stratum Table (Oracle table name is POP_STRATUM)................................. 125 Population Plot Stratum Assignment Table (Oracle table name is POP_PLOT_STRATUM_ASSGN) ................................................................................... 128 Population Attribute Table (Oracle table name is POP_ATTRIBUTE) ............................ 131 Population Evaluation Attribute Table (Oracle table name is POP_EVAL_ATTRIBUTE)............................................................................ 133 Chapter 4 – Calculating Population Estimates and Their Associated Sampling Errors........ 135 Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................. 156 Literature Cited...................................................................................................................... 157 Appendix A. Index of Column Names .................................................................................. 159 Appendix B. Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Design Codes and Definitions by Region.......................................................................................................... 173 Appendix C. State, Survey Unit, and County Codes............................................................. 180 Appendix D. Forest Type Codes And Names ....................................................................... 222 Appendix E. Administrative National Forest Codes And Names ......................................... 224 Appendix F. Tree Species Codes, Names, And Occurrences................................................ 226 4 FIA Database Description and Users Guide, version 3.0, revision 1 Table of Contents July, 2008 Appendix G. Tree Species Group Codes............................................................................... 236 Appendix H. Damage Agent codes for PNW........................................................................ 237 Appendix I. FIA Inventories by State, Year, and Type......................................................... 242 5 FIA Database Description and Users Guide, version 3.0, revision 1 Chapter 1 July, 2008 Chapter 1 -- Introduction Purpose of this Manual This manual is the definitive guide to the Forest Inventory and Analysis database (FIADB). This document replaces General Technical Report NC-218 (Miles and others 2001), which covered Version 1.0 of the FIADB, and subsequent updates that appeared as online documentation to the FIADB through Version 2.1. Although it is used widely within the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program, a substantial part, if not the majority, of the intended audience includes those outside FIA who are interested in using FIA data for their own analyses. Awareness of the potential uses of FIA data by users outside the FIA community is growing, and the data become increasingly useful as additional data are collected. However, as is the case with any data source, it is incumbent upon the user to understand not only the data definitions and acquisition methods, but also the context in which the data were collected. This manual is intended to help current and potential users understand the necessary details of the FIADB. This manual has four chapters. The remainder of chapter 1 includes general introductions to the FIA program and the FIA database, including brief histories of both. It provides a convenient overview for those who have an interest in using FIA data, but have not yet become familiar with the FIA program. Chapter 2 provides descriptions of FIA sampling methods, including plot location and design, data measurement and computation, and general estimation procedures. Chapter 3 describes the tables that comprise the database, the attributes stored in each table, and the linkages between tables. Descriptions of the attributes, their data format, valid values, and other important details are given, but the appropriate field manuals should