Forest Inventory and Analysis database

Metadata:
Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: USDA Forest Service
Publication_Date: 2019
Title:
Forest Inventory and Analysis database
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: St. Paul, MN
Publisher: USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2001-FIADB
Description:
Abstract:
The Forest and Inventory database (FIADB) can be used to produce information on a wide variety of forest statistics including forest area, numbers of trees, tree biomass, tree volume, volume of growth, volume of mortality, and volume harvested. These statistics can be categorized by different data elements. The area estimates, for example, can be categorized by county, forest type, ownership, and stand-size, while estimates for numbers of trees, biomass, and volume can additionally be categorized by tree species, and tree diameter. The FIADB structure was developed to provide users with as much data as possible in a consistent manner among States. Frequency of data collection for individual states has varied over time. Annual inventories use a common plot design and common data collection procedures nationwide, resulting in greater consistency among FIA work units than earlier inventories. Many inventories conducted prior to the implementation of the annual inventory are available in the FIADB - the earliest dating back to 1968. However, various data attributes may be nulled or the items may have been collected or computed differently. Data are distributed via the FIA DataMart in the FIADB structure as well as a number of derived structures, reflecting pre-defined subsets of FIADB. Links to field collection manuals and the FIADB user's manual are provided in this metadata document.
Purpose:
The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) research program has been in existence since mandated by Congress in 1928. FIA’s primary objective is to determine the extent, condition, volume, growth, and depletion of timber on the Nation’s forest land. Before 1999, all inventories were conducted on a periodic basis. The 1998 Farm Bill required FIA to collect data annually on plots within each State. This kind of up-to-date information is essential to frame realistic forest policies and programs. In addition to the data, summary reports for individual States are published.
Supplemental_Information:
To protect the integrity of the FIA sample, the exact coordinates of our sample plot locations are kept confidential. This protects the privacy of landowners who allow FIA field crews on their land, as well as protects the plots from any tampering. This policy of location confidentiality is incorporated into law through the Fiscal Year 2000 Consolidated Appropriations Bill (PL 106-113) which amended the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 2276(d)) to include FIA data to the list of items that require confidential treatment.

The original date for this metadata document is 07/18/2019. On 07/29/2022 minor metadata updates were made, which included the correction of old URLs where possible.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 1968
Ending_Date: 2019
Currentness_Reference:
Ground condition
Status:
Progress: In progress
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed
Spatial_Domain:
Description_of_Geographic_Extent:
Continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Palau, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -172.00000
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -57.00000
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 72.00000
South_Bounding_Coordinate: -15.00000
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: biota
Theme_Keyword: economy
Theme_Keyword: environment
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: geospatial
Theme_Keyword: National Geospatial Data Asset
Theme_Keyword: land use land cover theme
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: National Research & Development Taxonomy
Theme_Keyword: Inventory, Monitoring, & Analysis
Theme_Keyword: Assessments
Theme_Keyword: Resource inventory
Theme_Keyword: Natural Resource Management & Use
Theme_Keyword: Forest management
Theme_Keyword: Economics
Theme_Keyword: Timber
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: continental United States
Place_Keyword: Alaska
Place_Keyword: Hawaii
Place_Keyword: American Samoa
Place_Keyword: Palau
Place_Keyword: Puerto Rico
Place_Keyword: Virgin Islands
Taxonomy:
Keywords/Taxon:
Taxonomic_Keyword_Thesaurus:
None
Taxonomic_Keywords: multiple species
Taxonomic_Keywords: plants
Taxonomic_Keywords: trees
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Kingdom
Taxon_Rank_Value: Plantae
Applicable_Common_Name: plants
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:

USDA Forest Service. 2019. Forest Inventory and Analysis database. St. Paul, MN: USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2001-FIADB
Data_Set_Credit:
This project is funded by the USDA Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis program.
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Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
The attributes are considered to be measured accurately. These are authoritative data.
For more information, please see the extensive user guide documentation available in the FIA Library, located online at https://www.fia.fs.usda.gov/library/database-documentation/index.php.
Logical_Consistency_Report:
The entities and attributes are considered to be logically consistent. These are authoritative data.
For more information, please see the extensive user guide documentation available in the FIA Library, located online at https://www.fia.fs.usda.gov/library/database-documentation/index.php.
Completeness_Report:
The entities and attributes are considered to be complete. These are authoritative data.
For more information, please see the extensive user guide documentation available in the FIA Library, located online at https://www.fia.fs.usda.gov/library/database-documentation/index.php.
Lineage:
Methodology:
Methodology_Type: Field
Methodology_Description:
Constructing FIADB data involves substantial field work and in the office processing of field data. For full information, please see the extensive user guide documentation available in the FIA Library, located online at https://www.fia.fs.usda.gov/library/database-documentation/index.php.
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: USDA Forest Service
Publication_Date: Unknown
Title:
various user guides
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document
Online_Linkage: https://www.fia.fs.usda.gov/library/database-documentation/index.php
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Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
FIADB reports a substantial number of estimates categorized in various ways. Below is a list of the more common estimates.

Common Estimates:
Area of sampled land and water, in acres
Area of forest land, in acres
Area of timberland, in acres
Number of live trees (at least 1 inch d.b.h./d.r.c.), in trees, on forest land
Number of standing dead trees (at least 5 inches d.b.h./d.r.c.), in trees, on forest land
Number of growing-stock trees (at least 5 inches d.b.h.), in trees, on timberland
Net merchantable bole volume of live trees (at least 5 inches d.b.h./d.r.c.), in cubic feet, on forest land
Net merchantable bole volume of standing dead trees (at least 5 inches d.b.h./d.r.c.), in cubic feet, on forest land
Net merchantable bole volume of growing-stock trees (at least 5 inches d.b.h.), in cubic feet, on timberland
Net sawlog volume of sawtimber trees, in board feet (International 1/4-inch rule), on timberland
Aboveground biomass of live trees (at least 1 inch d.b.h./d.r.c), in dry short tons, on forest land
Aboveground biomass of live trees (at least 1 inch d.b.h./d.r.c), in green short tons, on forest land
Aboveground biomass of standing dead trees (at least 5 inches d.b.h./d.r.c.), in dry short tons, on forest land
Aboveground carbon in live trees (at least 1 inch d.b.h./d.r.c), in short tons, on forest land
Aboveground and belowground carbon in standing dead trees (at least 1 inch d.b.h./d.r.c), in short tons, on forest land
Average annual net growth of sound bole volume of trees (at least 5 inches d.b.h./d.r.c.), in cubic feet, on forest land
Average annual net growth of merchantable bole volume of growing-stock trees (at least 5 inches d.b.h.), in cubic feet, on timberland
Average annual mortality of sound bole volume of trees (at least 5 inches d.b.h./d.r.c.), in cubic feet, on forest land
Average annual mortality of trees (at least 5 inches d.b.h./d.r.c.), in trees, on timberland
Average annual mortality of merchantable bole volume of growing-stock trees (at least 5 inches d.b.h.), in cubic feet, on timberland
Average annual removals of sound bole volume of trees (at least 5 inches d.b.h./d.r.c.), in cubic feet, on forest land
Average annual removals of merchantable bole volume of growing-stock trees (at least 5 inches d.b.h.), in cubic feet, on timberland
Acronyms used:
d.b.h. = diameter at breast height
d.r.c = diameter at root collar
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
For more information and complete details, please see the extensive user guide documentation available in the FIA Library, located online at https://www.fia.fs.usda.gov/library/database-documentation/index.php.
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Distribution_Information:
Distributor:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Research & Development, Forest Inventory & Analysis
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: Forest Inventory & Analysis
Address: USDA Forest Service
Address: 1400 Independence Ave SW
City: Washington
State_or_Province: DC
Postal_Code: 20250-0003
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 703-605-4177
Resource_Description: RDS-2001-FIADB
Distribution_Liability:
The USDA Forest Service makes no warranty, expressed or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, nor assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, reliability, completeness or utility of these geospatial data, or for the improper or incorrect use of these geospatial data. These geospatial data and related maps or graphics are not legal documents and are not intended to be used as such. The data and maps may not be used to determine title, ownership, legal descriptions or boundaries, legal jurisdiction, or restrictions that may be in place on either public or private land. Natural hazards may or may not be depicted on the data and maps, and land users should exercise due caution. The data are dynamic and may change over time. The user is responsible to verify the limitations of the geospatial data and to use the data accordingly.
Standard_Order_Process:
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: XLSX
Format_Version_Number: see Format Specification
Format_Specification:
Microsoft Excel Open XML format spreadsheet file
File_Decompression_Technique: No compression applied
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/fia/datamart/datamart.html
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: ASCII
Format_Version_Number: see Format Specification
Format_Specification:
Comma-delimited ASCII text file (CSV)
File_Decompression_Technique: No compression applied
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/fia/datamart/datamart.html
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: SQLite3
Format_Version_Number: see Format Specification
Format_Specification:
SQLite3 open source database (SQLite)
File_Decompression_Technique: No compression applied
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/fia/datamart/datamart.html
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: Postgres
Format_Version_Number: see Format Specification
Format_Specification:
PostgreSQL open source database (PGD)
File_Decompression_Technique: No compression applied
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/fia/datamart/datamart.html
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: EVALIDator
Format_Version_Number: see Format Specification
Format_Specification:
Online database query interface and API
File_Decompression_Technique: No compression applied
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/fia/datamart/datamart.html
Fees: None
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Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20220728
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Research & Development, Forest Inventory & Analysis
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: Forest Inventory & Analysis
Address: USDA Forest Service
Address: 1400 Independence Ave SW
City: Washington
State_or_Province: DC
Postal_Code: 20250-0003
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 703-605-4177
Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001.1-1999
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