Forest Inventory and Analysis National Program

FIA Library

Field Guides, Methods and Procedures
 

FIA Field Guide for Phase 2 Measurements
 

This version 3.0 of the FIA field methods guide was released 10/2005, and describes the current set of nationally consistent core field procedures used by all FIA units for projects which begin after the date of release.  This version of the field guide covers all core and core optional measurements collected on Phase 2 plots (the standard base FIA sample grid, 1 sample location per roughly 6,000 acres). 

The field guide is distributed electronically as a .pdf file

Download the Phase 2 Measurement Field Guide, Version 3.0

Download the Phase2 Measurement Field Guide, Version 4.0

Download the addendum to the Phase2 Measurement Field Guide, Version 4.0

FIA Field Methods for Phase 3 Measurements
 

These documents describe current (2006 field season, 3.0) protocols for FIA Phase 3 measurements (formerly known as Forest Health Detection Monitoring plots). These measurements are collected on a 1/16^th subset of the standard base FIA grid plots. All documents are in .PDF format. Chapter numbers follow the numbers established for the Phase 2 measurement field guide. 


Version 3.0

•   Documentation of major changes in P3 Field Guide
•   Ozone Bioindicator Plants (Eastern US)
•   Ozone Bioindicator Plants (Western US)
•   Lichen Communities
•   Soil Measurements and Sampling
•   Crowns: Measurements and Sampling
•   Vegetation Diversity and Structure
•   Down Woody Materials
   
  
  Version 4.0
• Documentation of major changes in P3 Field Guide
• Lichen Communities
• Soil Measurements and Sampling
• Crowns: Measurements and Sampling
• Vegetation Diversity and Structure
• Down Woody Materials
• Ozone Bioindicator Plants
• Download the addendum to the Phase 3 Measurement Field Guide chapters, Version 4.0
• Ozone Bioindicator Plants chapter revised from addendum, October, 2008
• Lichen Communities chapter revised from addendum, October, 2008

Documentation of Algorithms for Determining Stocking, Stand Size Class, and Forest Type  

Download the Documentation