- The goal of this summer was to continue obtaining Continuous Forest Inventory (CFI) plot information of desired forest types that are not sufficiently covered in the data previously acquired. In order to achieve this goal, it was necessary to establish new plots as well as visit existing plots throughout the northeastern states.
- Throughout the summer, crews visited Heiberg Forest, NY and surrounding state forest land; Huntington Memorial Forest, NY and its surrounding area; the Catskill Forest Preserve, NY; Allegany State Park, NY; Allegheny National Forest, PA; Nash Stream Forest, NH and White Mountain National Forest, NH.
- When the base station was used, it was positioned on a predetermined, nearby point of known coordinates and manned throughout the time that plot locations were occurring in the forest. These control points were of the highest order that could be found in the vicinity of each forest. Information on control points can be found at the Federal Base Network page.
- A procedure similar to last summer's was followed for establishing preexisting CFI plots. However, crews did occupy each plot center with a GPS receiver for 180 epochs instead of 120 epochs to ensure enough data for processing and to help collect enough data for resolving ambiguities between the code and carrier phase of the GPS unit.
- This summer a larger team allowed for the ability to establish plots and use GPS equipment to locate them in areas that contained desired forest types where no existing plots were. The team was composed of four, 2-person plot identification crews and two, 1-person GPS Crews. A GPS crew generally located plot centers for two plot identification crews. By talking to regional foresters, a basic knowledge of the forest could be gained prior to arrival at each forest. This ensured that specific forest types that were previously not sufficiently covered could be acquired. Once the general locations of the desired forest types were determined, the crew would establish a 15 chain grid throughout the area with the starting point located by the senior crew chief. Navigation of the 15 meter grid was done by hand compass and referenced the magnetic declination of each area taken from USGS quad maps.
- From the starting point the Plot Identification Crew navigated to their first plot, followed by a GPS crew, who after finishing locating the plot center, navigated to another Identification Crew on an adjacent grid line. At times crews deviated from the 15 chain grid in order to locate a plot with regards to a specific tree type, forest type or to avoid private property.
- Plot Center was located by a two-foot piece of rebar hammered to ground level and tied with colored plastic ribbon. This would be the only marking of the plot as to not disturb the natural condition of the forest, but to provide a means of locating the plot in the future, if desired. Rebar was carried by the member of the Plot Identification Crew not pacing at that time, to avoid influencing the hand compass.
- At each plot, tree measurements including: tree type, tree height, diameter at breast height (DBH), tree position within the plot as well forest type, slope, aspect, small tree count, (greater than 2.5 cm but less than 7.5 cm DBH) and species was recorded with a TDS Ranger. Tree height was only recorded for large trees (those large enough to be recorded fully) in the four cardinal directions of the Compass. Between plots, the crew would stop every 5 chains (Subplots) and take note at the basic forest make-up. Directions were measured with a hand compass, Distances with a cloth tape, tree heights with an Abney level or Biltmore stick, and diameters with a diameter tape or Biltmore stick.
- Plot center location was done using a Leica GPS300 Receiver and plot photos were taken using a Kodak DC5000 digital camera. One photo was taken vertically from near the plot center to show canopy, while two others were taken horizontally in opposite cardinal directions, to show the forest.
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