Plot Level Variables National Manual Version 1.55

Plot Level VariablesPlot Level Variables

National Manual Version 1.55

StateState

Arkansas 05 Georgia 13

No change

CountyCounty

No change

Plot NumberPlot NumberPlots numbers are now 4 digits:

0001-0999 Standard field plots

4001-4999 Intensification plots

9000-9999 Temporary and supplemental plots

P3 Hexagon NumberP3 Hexagon NumberNo change, P3 plots only

P3 Plot NumberP3 Plot NumberNo change, P3 plots only

Sample KindSample Kind1 Initial plot establishment (new plots)

2 Fixed plot remeasurement

3 Replacement plot (lost plot)

9 Prism plot remeasurement/ Fixed plot establishment

Arkansas: SK 1, 3, and 9

Georgia: SK 1, 2, and 3

Manual VersionManual VersionVersion 1.55, Updated May 25, 2001

Current and Past DatesCurrent and Past DatesFormat: Year, month, day

Example: 20011001

QA StatusQA Status1 Standard production plot

2 Cold check

3 Reference plot (off grid)

4 Training/practice plot (off grid)

5 Botched plot file

6 Blind check

7 Hot check of production plot

Usually use code 1 If working with QA on a plot, code 7

Crew TypeCrew Type1 Standard field crew

2 QA crew (at least one QA person on plot

Cruiser NumberCruiser NumberNo change

Number of Accessible Forest Number of Accessible Forest Land ConditionsLand Conditions

No change

Number of Tree EntriesNumber of Tree Entries• Only includes trees and saplings• Seedlings are tallied separately • Still record an entry for no tree and sapling tally

Number of Prism Points Number of Prism Points Remeasured or Subplot Centers Remeasured or Subplot Centers

RevertedReverted

No change (SK 9 ONLY)

Trails or RoadsTrails or RoadsCode the nearest trail or road within 1 mile of plot center:

0 None within 1 mile

1 Paved road or highway

2 Improved gravel road

3 Improved dirt road

4 Unimproved dirt road

5 Human access trail

Road AccessRoad AccessRecord the first road access restriction encountered while traveling to the SP:

0 None

1 Road blocked by locked gate or cable

2 Road blocked by human-made obstruction

3 Road blocked by natural occurrences

4 Posted no motorized vehicle signs

9 Other

Public Use RestrictionsPublic Use RestrictionsRecord restrictions posted for the plot area:

0 None

1 Keep out/ no trespassing

2 No hunting or fishing

3 No dumping

9 Other

Recreation Use 1,2,3Recreation Use 1,2,3Record up to three signs of the following recreation use on the four subplots:

0 No evidence of recreation use

1 Motor vehicle (4-wheel drive, ATV, motorcycle)

2 Horse riding, dog team trails, ski trails

3 Camping

4 Hiking

5 Hunting/ shooting

6 Fishing

7 Boating– launch site or dock

9 Other

Human DebrisHuman DebrisNo change

Water on PlotWater on PlotWater sources on the four subplots that are not already identified on the plot: either too small to qualify as non-census water, or water in an accessible forest land condition:

0 None

1 Permanent streams/ponds

2 Permanent swamp, bog, marsh

3 Ditch/ canal

4 Temporary streams

5 Flood zones

9 Other temporary water

Horizontal Distance to Horizontal Distance to Improved RoadImproved Road

No definitional change Codes are now one digit categories:

1 100 ft or less

2 101 to 300 ft

3 301 to 500 ft

4 501 to 1000 ft

5 1001 to 0.5 mile

6 >0.5 to 1 mile

7 >1 mile to 3 miles

8 >3 miles to 5 miles

9 Greater than 5 miles

Horizontal Distance to Urban Horizontal Distance to Urban or Built-Up Landor Built-Up Land

No definitional change

Use the new one digit distance codes

Horizontal Distance to Horizontal Distance to Agricultural LandAgricultural Land

No definitional change

Use the new one digit distance codes

Size of Contiguous Forest LandSize of Contiguous Forest Land

No change

GPS CoordinatesGPS Coordinates

Average 180 readings

Try to keep error reading no more than +/- 70 feet

Elevation is recorded in feet, and above mean sea level

New option of reporting offset coordinates

GPS UnitGPS Unit New item

Codes:

0 GPS coordinates not collected

1 Rockwell PLGR

2 Other brand capable of field averaging

3 Trimble GeoExplorer or Pathfinder Pro

4 Recreational GPS (Garmin, Magellan, etc.)

GPS Serial NumberGPS Serial Number New item

Record 6 digit serial number of the GPS unit

LatitudeLatitudeNo change

LongitudeLongitudeNo change

GPS ElevationGPS ElevationChange: Now recorded in feet and mean sea level

GPS ErrorGPS Error• New item

• Make every effort to collect readings with <= 70 ft of error

Number of ReadingsNumber of Readings• New item

• Make every effort to average 180 readings

Azimuth and Distance to PCAzimuth and Distance to PC

• New items

• Do not code if coordinates are collected at PC

• Do not code if coordinates are range calculated with a PLGR unit within 200 feet of plot center

• If position is obtained more than 200 feet from plot center, record coordinates of where you are standing and the azimuth and distance to plot center

Plot Level NotesPlot Level Notes

The EndThe End