2015 Regional Management Team

MeetingAlbany, New York

Group Leader Update Bob Ilgenfritz

Data Collection

Down Woody MaterialVegCrownsSoilsLichens and Ozone

Enhanced Forest Indicators

Indicator Assessment & Intensity Level

• Assessment level w/ a proposed national minimum: Full, Moderate, Rapid

• Sampling intensity w/ a proposed national minimum: Expansions of the P3 grid:

1/16th, 1/8th, 3/16th, 1/4th to all P2 plots

National Proposed Core Minimum - DWM

Moderate Assessment• Current P2+ protocol• 2 transects / subplot

Proposed 1/4th intensity from current 1/8th for P2+

National Proposed Core Minimum - VEG

Moderate Assessment• More than Rapid or current

P2+ assessment but not the full - P3 assessment

• Cover of 4 most abundant species by growth habit/height class

Proposed 3/16th intensity from current 1/8th for P2+

Proposed Core Minimum - Crowns

Rapid Assessment• Current P2+ protocols• Crown variables reduced from

six P3 to two:– Dieback– Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio

Proposed 3/16th intensity from current 1/8th P2+

National Proposed Core Minimum - Soils

Rapid assessment

• Not current P2+ protocol – Current is the “Full” assessment or

old P3• One forest floor and soil core.

Proposed 1/8th plot intensity from current 1/16th P2+

Lichens & Ozone

• core optional – no proposed minimums

• Special projects - targeting special study areas of high concern.

• Not currently part of NRS P2+ effort so this would need $$$$$$ to implement.

Next Steps

• Additional funding necessary to support any effort more than current P2+

• AB, DAB, IMB work together: • Change proposals

• Melissa Powers state rep on DAB• 218-322-2516• melissa.powers@state.mn.us

• Field guide• Specify IM requirements -

Programming, database…

INDICATORASSESSMENT LEVEL

PLOT INTENSITY

DWM Moderate 1/4th

VEG Moderate 3/16th

CROWNS Rapid 3/16th

SOIL Rapid 1/8th LICHEN & OZONE Special Projects

*not necessarily collected on the same plot

PROPOSED NATIONAL CORE MINIMUMS

Image-based Change Estimation (ICE)

Overview

• National Project to Define Land Use (LU), Land Cover (LC), and Change for the two most recent sets of NAIP Imagery using FIA plot locations

• New NAIP Imagery every 2-3 years vs plot visits every 5 to 7 years.

– Why ICE?– Quick Glance at Procedures– NRS Implementation

Why Measure LU, LC, and Change?• 2014 Farm Bill: # 9 of 11 provisions for FIA• (9) Understand and report on changes in land use

and cover– Human change– Nonhuman/natural change– Support estimation strategies for the entire CONUS

• Carbon• Biomass/bioenergy• Landscape health

– Support Land Management• Risk assessments• Mitigation efforts

ProceduresICE Plot Layout

GPS coordinate

ICE Plot – No change

NAIP Imagery Time 1nate NAIP Imagery Time 2nate

ICE Plot - Change

GPS coordinate

NAIP Imagery Time 1nate NAIP Imagery Time 2nate

Land Cover: Identify Cover ChangeNAIP Imagery – Time 1 NAIP Imagery – Time 2

Land Use: Identify Use ChangeNAIP Imagery – Time 1 NAIP Imagery – Time 2

NRS Implementation

• Calendar year 2015 – MD, NE, NH, and VT

• Future implementation based on NAIP Imagery Schedule:

– New Imagery Available Calendar Year 2016:• 12 States:

–DE, IL, IA, KS, ME, MN, ND, NJ, NY, OH, PA, WI

Summary

The ICE project gives us the means to report Land Use, Land Cover and Change across all lands in a shorter cycle length

than FIA plots alone.

Scanning current paper plot sheets

Allegro PDR replacement

Less Paper More Digital FIA

Digital Plot Sheets

• Update from Last year:

– All FY 2016 plots will have current plot sheets scanned and loaded to MIDAS with the plot data files.

– Next remeasurement will have digital files available for use on the next generation tablet PDRs

PDR replacementsPlans to replace our aging PDR inventory over the next 3 years.

Currently two viable options:

• Dell Latitude 12 Rugged 7202:– Test units this winter

• Allegro 2– Similar to the current Allegro – test not needed

Dell Latitude 12 Rugged 7202:

Pros:• Large screen 12”X8” for displaying

imagery and drawing digital plot maps• Greater capabilities – potentially replace

FS laptops• Price - $1800Cons:• Heavy at 3.5 lbs.• Touch screen vs key pad • Size - GPS navigation is cumbersome

Allegro 2

Pros:• Key pad with opposing thumbs entry• Lightweight – 2 lbs.• Ergonomic design – GPS navigation

Cons:• Small screen – limited imagery display, no

digital drawing capability• Price - $2,600

Questions

USDA Forest Service, Remote Sensing Applications Center, http://fsweb.rsac.fs.fed.us

Data collection efforts in FY 2016

Urban FIA

Urban FIA Status12-01-2015

16

16

16

16

1616

16