Forest Inventory and Analysis National Program

Program Features

Basic Forest Inventory

Phase 1 is the aspect of data collection related to remotely sensed data in the form of aerial photographs, digital orthoquads, and satellite imagery. This accomplishes two tasks, initial plot measurement via remotely sensed data and stratification. This activity is accomplished in the office. A Phase 1 “photo point” is characterized as forest or nonforest. A subset of the photo points are selected for field data collection (Phase 2).

The Phase 2 component of FIA's Basic Forest Inventory consists of one field sample site for every 6,000 acres. Field crews collect data on forest type, site attributes, tree species, tree size, and overall tree condition on accessible forest land.

To learn more about FIA's Basic Forest Inventory view the FIA Data Collection, Sampling and Plot Design, and Phase 2 and Phase 3: Ground Measurements Fact Sheets in the FIA Library.

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