Fire Lab tree list: A tree-level model of the conterminous United States landscape circa 2014

Metadata:

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Raster

Raster_Object_Information:

Raster_Object_Type: Pixel

Row_Count: 97279

Column_Count: 154180

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Local:

Local_Description:NAD_1983_Albers
Authority: Custom
Projection: Albers
false_easting: 0.0
false_northing: 0.0
central_meridian: -96.0
standard_parallel_1: 29.5
standard_parallel_2: 45.5
latitude_of_origin: 23.0
Linear Unit: Meter (1.0)

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983

Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80

Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.0000

Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.25722210088

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: national_c2014_tree_list

Entity_Type_Definition:

raster digital data file

Entity_Type_Definition_Source:

USFS Researchers

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: OID

Attribute_Definition:

Unique primary key field automatically generated.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Value

Attribute_Definition:

Numeric field that holds a unique identifier for each forest plot (identical to the tree list identifier or “tl_id” field)

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Riley et al. (2016)

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Count

Attribute_Definition:

Number of pixels to which a tree list identifier was assigned.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

ESRI

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: tl_id

Attribute_Definition:

Numeric field that holds a unique identifier for each forest plot (identical to the “Value” field)

Attribute_Definition_Source:

FIA: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/fia/datamart/datamart_access.html

Overview_Description:

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

Below is a description of the data files included in this publication and their relationship to each other and the FIA DataMart.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The tree list raster (\Data\national_c2014_tree_list.tif) can be linked to tree data in the tree table (\Data\Tree_table_CONUS.txt) via the the tree list identifier values (“tl_id”) or sequence numbers (“CN”); the latter corresponds to a unique identifier used by FIA. (Note that FIA uses the attribute name “CN” in the “PLOT” table and “PLT_CN” in other tables but these are equivalent.) The “CN” field signifies a single visit to a plot. All plot CNs utilized in this analysis were single condition, 100% forested, physically located within the boundaries of CONUS and were obtained from FIA in December of 2012.


DATA FILE DESCRIPTIONS

\Data\national_c2014_tree_list.tif:
Raster dataset (GeoTIFF file), and associated files, representing model output generated by random forests imputation of forest inventory plot data measured by Forest Inventory Analysis (FIA) to unsampled (and sampled) spatial locations on the landscape for circa 2014 conditions. The primary attributes of the raster are a plot identifier (“tl_id”) and sequence number (“CN”) which can be used to link the raster to information available in the FIA Datamart via the sequence number (CN) field in the PLOT table to produce tree-level maps or to map other plot attributes. Predictor variables in the random forests imputation were chosen to optimize the prediction of aboveground forest carbon. These include topographic variables (slope, aspect, and elevation from the FIA PLOT and COND tables), true plot location, vegetation (forest cover, height and vegetation group assigned to each plot via FVS and LANDFIRE methods), disturbance (years since disturbance and disturbance type as derived from LANDFIRE disturbance rasters), and biophysical variables (maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, photosynthetically active radiation, and vapor pressure deficit derived by overlay of the plot coordinates with LANDFIRE biophysical rasters). Variables and methods are defined in the detailed section above.


\Data\TL_CN_Lookup.txt:
Comma-delimited ASCII text file containing a list of the unique forest plot identifiers (“tl_id”) and associated survey record numbers (“CN”) for the imputed Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) plots.

Variables include:

OID = Unique identifier for each row

Value = Unique identifier for each forest plot (identical in content to “tl_id” field)

Count = Number of pixels to which this forest plot was imputed

CN = Sequence number (or “PLT_CN”) field in FIA DataMart TREE table (equivalent to CN field in PLOT table); a unique sequence number that identifies a survey record. Note that CN signifies a unique visit to a plot. This field is a text field due to its length and should not be converted to a numeric field or most software programs will round or truncate it.

tl_id = Unique identifier for each forest plot (stands for “tree list ID”; identical in content to “Value” field in this table and equivalent to “tl_id” field in “national_c2014_tree_list.tif”)


\Data\Tree_table_CONUS.txt:
Comma-delimited ASCII text file containing a list of tree attributes for all imputed Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) plots.

Variables include:

tl_id = Unique identifier for each forest plot (stands for “tree list ID”; equivalent to “tl_id” field in “national_c2014_tree_list.tif”)

CN = Field in FIA DataMart PLOT table (equivalent to PLT_CN field in TREE table); a unique sequence number that identifies a survey record

INVYR = FIA inventory year (from FIA PLOT table)

STATECD = State code. Bureau of the Census Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) two-digit code for each State. (from FIA PLOT table)

State_Abbreviation = Two-letter state abbreviation code

UNITCD = FIA survey unit code (from FIA PLOT table)

COUNTYCD = County code, equivalent to FIPS codes from the Bureau of the Census (from FIA PLOT table)

PLOT = Phase 2 plot number. Does not uniquely identify a plot unless used in combination with other variables (from FIA PLOT table), hence we use the unique sequence number (“PLT_CN”).

SUBP = Subplot number (from FIA TREE table)

TREE = Tree record number. A number used to uniquely identify a tree on a subplot. (from FIA TREE table)

STATUSCD = Status code. Indicates whether the sample tree is live, cut, or dead at the time of measurement. As per Burrill et al. (2017): “0=No status - Tree is not presently in the sample (remeasurement plots only). Tree was incorrectly tallied at the previous inventory, currently not tallied due to definition or procedural change, or is not tallied due to natural causes. 1=Live tree. 2=Dead tree. 3=Removed - Cut and removed by direct human activity related to harvesting, silviculture or land clearing. This tree is assumed to be utilized.” (from FIA TREE table)

SPCD = Tree species code (from FIA TREE table, see FIADB User Guide for a description of the codes: https://www.fia.fs.usda.gov/library/database-documentation/)

DIA = Tree diameter in inches at breast height (4.5 feet above ground line on uphill side of tree) or root crown for woodland species (at the ground line or stem root collar, whichever is higher). (from FIA TREE table)

HT = Total height of a tree in feet from the ground to tip of apical meristem. If main stem is broken, the total height is estimated. (from FIA TREE table)

ACTUALHT = Actual height of a tree in feet from the ground to the highest remaining portion of the tree still attached to the bole. (from FIA TREE table)

CR = Compacted crown ratio (percent of tree bole supporting live healthy foliage when compared to height (ACTUALHT)). (from FIA TREE table)

TREEID = unique TreeID: State_Abbreviation & Format([UNITCD],"0") & Format([COUNTYCD],"000") & Format([PLOT],"000000") & Format([subp],"00") & Format([tree],"0000000")

TreeVisitID = unique tree visit ID: State_Abbreviation & Format([UNITCD],"0") & Format([COUNTYCD],"000") & Format([PLT_CN],"00000000000000") & Format([subp],"00") & Format([tree],"0000000")

TPA_UNADJ = The number of trees per acre that the sample tree theoretically represents based on the sample design. (from FIA TREE table)

Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

Burrill, Elizabeth A.; Wilson, Andrea M.; Turner, Jeffrey A.; Pugh, Scott A.; Menlove, James; Christiansen, Glenn. 2017. The Forest Inventory and Analysis Database: database description and user guide for Phase 2 (version 7.2). U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. https://www.fia.fs.usda.gov/library/database-documentation/

Riley, Karin L.; Grenfell, Isaac C.; Finney, Mark A. 2016. Mapping forest vegetation for the western United States using modified random forests imputation of FIA forest plots. Ecosphere. 7(10): e01472. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1472 and https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/53114

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20240201

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Karin Riley

Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station

Contact_Position: Research Ecologist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical

Address: 5775 W. Broadway

City: Missoula

State_or_Province: Montana

Postal_Code: 59808

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 406-329-4806

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: karin.l.riley@usda.gov

Contact Instructions: This contact information was current as of original publication date. For current information see Contact Us page on: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS.

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998