Materials and Methods

Data collected in the field

Data collected in the field in forest inventory operations can be divided in two broad categories:
1) Plot Data
- PERSON(S) WHO MAKES THE MEASUREMENTS.
- INSTRUMENTS USED.
- LOCATION OF THE PLOT. Sector ID, Stand ID, and geographic coordinates, as well as the datum or type and data of the cartography or aerial photographs used to locate the plot in the field.
- UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION FOR THE PLOT (A NUMBER OR CODE). Consecutive numbers are desirable.
- SPECIES OF TREES IN THE PLOT.
- TYPE OF PLOT AND CHARACTERISTICS OF PLOT SET-UP. Dimensions, area, shape of the sampling unit, number of sub-compartments.
- OBSERVABLE FEATURES OF THE SITE. Altitude, slope amount and type, soil type, drainage conditions, characteristics and composition of undergrowth, aspect (general orientation of the slope regarding north, south, etc.), general remarks on the health and condition of the stand and signs of the presence of possible pests, evaluating how widespread they seem to be.
2) Tree data
- SECTOR, STAND AND PLOT TO WHICH THE TREE BELONGS.
- TREE SPECIES. In the case of multiple species plantations or natural, non-homogeneous stands, it must be possible to record tree species for each individual.
- NUMERICAL ATTRIBUTES MEASURED. DBH, tree height and the measurements used to calculate it, crown diameter or radii. In the case of log scaling, length of the tree trunk, diameters and bark thickness at stump height as well as at each 1/10th of tree length; weight and part of the tree from where samples were taken, if they were, should also be recorded.
- QUALITATIVE ATTRIBUTES MEASURED. Crown position, stem or crown defects, diseases or otherwise abnormal or undesirable conditions observed on each individual tree; height to which DBH was measured and additional remarks, if needed. In the case of log scaling, parts of the tree measured; note if samples were taken or not.
The Digi-Tally was developed to cover field data collecting and digitizing of both plot and tree data in real time while in the field.

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