Field Work Procedures: Summer 2002

Identification Information

Citation:
Citation Information:
Title: Field Work Procedures: Summer 2002
Description:
Abstract: Fieldwork was continued throughout the northeastern states; including the Heiberg Forest Area, NY and the surrounding area; Huntington Wildlife Forest and surrounding area, NY; Catskills Forest Preserve, NY; Allegany State Park, NY; Allegheny National Forest, PA; Nash Stream Forest, NH; and Bunnell Forest Preserve, NH, and Nahmakanta, ME. Continuous Forest Inventory (CFI) Plots were obtained for forest types not sufficiently covered previously. It was necessary to locate already established as well as create new plots to gain desired forest types. This data will be used in conjunction with last years data to help state foresters better their management procedures.

Purpose: This fieldwork will be used as ground reference including location and plot information for satellite imagery analysis. The added data will help provide a more accurate representation of each forest type to help increase the use of remote sensing for forest management procedures by state foresters.

Supplemental Information: Leica GPS 300 and GPS 500 series receivers were used at each location. Newly established plots were set-up 15 chains apart throughout an area known to have forest types not sufficiently represented in previous years' datasets. At each plot, forest inventory information such as tree height, tree location within the plot, diameter at breast height, and tree type were recorded using a TDS Ranger (Detailed information on data collected can be found here). While this information was being collected, a GPS receiver was positioned at the plot center for at least180 epochs or 15 minutes in order to better locate the position. The base station was set-up on a control point of the highest order that could be found in the vicinity of each forest. Detailed information on field procedures can be found here.

Time Period of Content:


Time Period Information:
Range of Dates/Times:
Beginning Date: 5/13/2002
Ending Date: 8/30/2002

Status:
Progress: In Work
Maintenance and Update Frequency: As needed
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme Keyword Thesaurus: None
Theme Keyword: Huntington Wildlife Forest
Theme Keyword: Heiberg Memorial Forest
Theme Keyword: Catskill Forest Preserve
Theme Keyword: Allegany State Park
Theme Keyword: Allegheny National Forest
Theme Keyword: Nash Stream Forest
Theme Keyword: Bunnell Forest Preserve
Theme Keyword: Nahmakanta
Theme Keyword: CFI Plots
Theme Keyword: GPS data
Theme Keyword: Leica receivers
Theme Keyword: Leica base station
Theme Keyword: Trimble receivers
Theme Keyword: TDS Ranger
Access Constraints: These receivers have a precision of a decimeter to meter, however not all points are this precise. Consult individual forest spreadsheets for specific plot data.
Point of Contact:

Contact Information:
Contact Person Primary:
Contact Person: Bill Stiteler
Contact Organization: SUNY-ESF
Contact Position: Research Scientist
Contact Voice Telephone: 315-470-6939
Contact Electronic Mail Address: wmstitel@syr.edu

Data Quality Information

Completeness Report: This fieldwork has provided plot location information for a representative number of plots at each forest. However, some forests have more plots acquired than others. This fieldwork will continue next summer to add to forest types that still need more data collected.

Positional Accuracy:


Horizontal Positional Accuracy:
Horizontal Positional Accuracy Report: The receivers have a precision of roughly a decimeter to a meter. Due to the nature of the readings, some plots are more precise than others. For the exact precision of a specific plot center, consult the individual forest reference data.
Lineage:

Process Step:

Process Description: The crew had a basic knowledge of where certain forest types are located within each forest. GPS sub-crews carried a map of the forest, a compass and a two-way radio to aid in locating the CFI plots. Plots were set-up to be 15 chains apart in the areas of desired forest types. Each crew carried a compass, map of the forest, rebar (and hammer to ensure the rebar is unobtrusive in the forest) to mark the center of each plot, a TDS Ranger to record plot information, diameter tape or Biltmore stick, cloth meter tape, and a clinometer. They used a Leica GPS 300 or 500 series receiver to loacte the center of the plot. A series of digital pictures were taken at each plot. Each tree within the plot would be measured; height, dbh, location within the plot and type. Between plots, the crew would stop every 5 chains to take note of the forest type. In certain forests, the crew would locate existing CFI plots. A procedure similar to teh summer of 2000 was followed for these existing plots; with the exception of setting up the GPS receiver on the center of each plot for 180 epochs instead of 120 epochs for better location. Process Date: Summer 2002
Process Contact:

Contact Information:
Contact Person Primary:
Contact Person: Bill Stiteler
Contact Organization: SUNY-ESF
Contact Position: Research Scientist
Contact Voice Telephone: 315-470-6939
Contact Electronic Mail Address: wmstitel@syr.edu

Spatial Data Organization Information

Spatial Reference Information

Horizontal Coordinate System Definition:
Geographic:
Geographic Coordinate Units: Degrees, minutes, and decimal seconds
Geodetic Model:
Horizontal Datum Name: WGS84
Ellipsoid Name: WGS84
Semi-major Axis: 6378137
Denominator of Flattening Ratio: 298.257223563

Entity and Attribute Information

Overview Description:
Entity and Attribute Overview: The plot centers were recorded in geographic WGS84, UTM NAD 27, and UTM NAD 83. Tree data within each plot is also available on the individual forest spreadsheet. This includes information on tree type, dbh, crown position, size, etc. Entity and Attribute Detail Citation: Individual forest personnel and archives.

Distribution Information

Distributor:

Contact Information:
Contact Person Primary:
Contact Person: Bill Stiteler
Contact Organization: SUNY-ESF
Contact Position: Research Scientist
Contact Voice Telephone: 315-470-6939
Contact Electronic Mail Address: wmstitel@syr.edu

Distribution Liability: The user is required to consult the accuracy of each plot and use only for the intended accuracy.
Custom Order Process: Distribution is exclusively through the website of the project.

Metadata Reference Information

Metadata Date: 8/1/2001
Metadata Review Date:
Metadata Future Review Date:
Metadata Contact:

Contact Information:
Contact Person Primary:
Contact Person: Bill Stiteler
Contact Organization: SUNY-ESF
Contact Position: Research Scientist
Contact Voice Telephone: 315-470-6939
Contact Electronic Mail Address: wmstitel@syr.edu

Metadata Standard Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata