Plot Level Data National Manual Version 1.61 Section 1.0

Plot Level DataPlot Level Data

National Manual Version 1.61

Section 1.0



Section 1.0



Section 1.0

StateState

Louisiana 22

Record the appropriate state code.

CountyCounty

Record the appropriate county code.

Plot NumberPlot Number

Plot numbers are four digits:

0001-0999 Standard field plots

4001-4999 Intensification plots

9000-9999 Temporary and supplemental plots

P3 Hexagon NumberP3 Hexagon Number

P3 plots only

P3 Plot NumberP3 Plot Number

P3 plots only

Sample KindSample Kind

1 Initial plot establishment (new plots)

3 Replacement plot (lost plot)

9 Prism plot remeasurement/Fixed plot establishment

LA does not use:

2 Subplot design remeasurement

Manual VersionManual Version

Version 1.61

Updated June 3, 2002

Current and Past DateCurrent and Past DateChangedChanged

Format: Year month day

Example: 20020610

New ItemNew ItemQA StatusQA Status

1 Standard production plot

2 Cold check

3 Reference plot (off grid– not a true plot)

4 Training/practice plot (off grid– not a true plot)

5 Botched plot file (P3 PDR program only)

6 Blind check

7 Hot check of production plot

Record code 1 on most regular production plots

Record code 7 if field crew works with QA to install a regular production plot

New ItemNew Item Crew TypeCrew Type

1 Standard field crew

2 QA crew (at least one QA person on plot)

Cruiser NumberCruiser Number

Record the unique number assigned to identify individual cruisers.

Number of Accessible Number of Accessible Forest Land ConditionsForest Land Conditions

Record the number of forested conditions on the plot.

Number of Tree EntriesNumber of Tree Entries ChangedChanged

• Only includes trees and saplings (on both subplots and prism points)

• Seedlings are tallied in a separate section

• Include an entry for no tree and sapling tally

on a subplot and prism point

Number of Number of Prism Points Remeasured or Prism Points Remeasured or

Subplot Centers RevertedSubplot Centers Reverted

SK = 9 Plots ONLY: Enter the number of Prism Points

on remeasured forest plots Enter number of subplot centers

that are reverted when plot center has reverted

Trails or RoadsTrails or Roads New ItemNew Item

Code the nearest trail or road within one mile of plot center:

0 None within one mile

1 Paved road or highway

2 Improved gravel road

3 Improved dirt road

4 Unimproved dirt road

5 Human access trail

Road AccessRoad Access New ItemNew Item

Record the first road access restriction encountered while traveling to the starting point:

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 (specify in plot notes)

Public Use RestrictionsPublic Use Restrictions New ItemNew Item

Record restrictions posted for the parcel(s) of land that the plot area occupies:

0 None

1 Keep out/ no trespassing

2 No hunting or fishing

3 No dumping


Not necessarily the same parcel where SP is located.

Recreation Use 1,2,3Recreation Use 1,2,3 New ItemNew Item

Record up to three signs of the following recreation use on the forested portion of any of 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


Human DebrisHuman Debris

Record the presence or absence of human debris on the forested portion of any of the four subplots.

Record the lowest numbered item if multiple forms of debris occur.

0 None1 Noncombustible synthetic (metal, glass, etc.)2 Combustible synthetic (plastic, Styrofoam, tires, etc.)3 Combustible organic material (man-caused: yard waste,

compost, slash piles, etc.)

Water on PlotWater on Plot New ItemNew Item

Water sources on the forested portion of the four subplots that are not identified as a separate condition on the plot:

0 None

1 Permanent streams/ponds

2 Permanent swamp, bog, marsh

3 Ditch/canal

4 Temporary streams

5 Flood zones

9 Other temporary water (specify in plot notes)

Horizontal Distance to Horizontal Distance to Improved RoadImproved Road

ChangedChangedCodes 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 Land or Built-Up Land

ChangedChanged

Use the new one-digit distance codes used for distance to improved road.

Horizontal Distance to Horizontal Distance to Agricultural LandAgricultural Land

ChangedChangedUse the new one-digit distance codes used for distance to

improved road.

Size of Contiguous Forest LandSize of Contiguous Forest Land

Record the code that indicates the size of the contiguous forest around plot center using only the

photo on which the plot is located.

GPS CoordinatesGPS Coordinates ChangedChanged

Attempt to average 180 readings

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

Elevation is recorded in feet above mean sea level

Option of reporting offset coordinates within 200 feet of plot center

GPS UnitGPS Unit New ItemNew Item

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.)

Only record code 0 if coordinates cannot be collected at all within 200 feet of PC (unit is damaged, heavy canopy cover, mountain coves, no GPS unit available, etc.)

Always record readings collected within 200 feet of PC, even if less than 180 readings are obtained or even if error reading is more than +/- 70 feet.

GPS Serial NumberGPS Serial Number New ItemNew Item

Record the six-digit serial number of the GPS unit

Latitude/LongitudeLatitude/Longitude

Record the latitude and longitude to the nearest 100th second

Example:36° 47’ 05.25”

086° 34’ 29.51”

GPS ElevationGPS Elevation ChangedChanged

Now measured in feet above mean sea level

GPS ErrorGPS Error New ItemNew Item

• Record error reading of the averaged coordinates

• Make every effort to collect readings with less than or equal to 70 feet of error

• Record coordinates if cannot obtain an error reading less than +/- 70 feet

Number of ReadingsNumber of Readings New ItemNew Item

• Record number readings averaged

• Make every effort to collect 180 readings

• Record coordinates if cannot obtain 180 error readings

Azimuth and Distance to PCAzimuth and Distance to PC New ItemNew Item

• Leave blank if using a PLGR, even if coordinates are range-calculated.

• We are not using this in the South as long as we are using PLGRs.

Plot Level NotesPlot Level Notes New ItemNew Item

Record notes pertaining to the entire plot or to a plot level item

Questions?Questions?

Documents

Plot Level Data National Manual Version 1.61 Section 1.0