Nevada Photo-Based Inventory Pilot (NPIP) photo sampling procedures

Tracey Frescino; Gretchen Moisen; Kevin A. Megown; Val J. Nelson; Elizabeth Freeman; Paul L. Patterson; Mark Finco; James S. Menlove

doi:10.2737/RMRS-GTR-222

Treesearch

Nevada Photo-Based Inventory Pilot (NPIP) photo sampling procedures

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Tracey Frescino, Gretchen Moisen, Kevin A. Megown, Val J. Nelson, Elizabeth Freeman, Paul L. Patterson, Mark Finco, James S. Menlove

Year:

2009

Type:

General Technical Report

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/RMRS-GTR-222

Source:

Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-222. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 30 p.

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Download (PDF 3.50 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/32477.pdf

Abstract

The Forest Inventory and Analysis program (FIA) of the U.S. Forest Service monitors status and trends in forested ecoregions nationwide. The complex nature of this broad-scale, strategic-level inventory demands constant evolution and evaluation of methods to get the best information possible while continuously increasing efficiency. In 2004, the "Nevada Photo-Based Inventory Pilot" (NPIP) was launched and involved the acquisition and processing of large-scale aerial photography (LSP) throughout the State of Nevada. The over-arching goals of this pilot are to exceed information requirements, accelerate inventory timelines, and reduce inventory costs. Meeting these objectives requires the development of several complex and inter-related procedures, including photo-sampling protocol, statistical estimators, cover measurement techniques, and improved methods for mapping forest and nonforest attributes. This report documents the first of these procedures, the photo-sampling protocol for the NPIP project.

Keywords

Nevada, photo-based inventory, photo interpretation, quality control, large-scale aerial photography (LSP)

Citation

Frescino, Tracey S.; Moisen, Gretchen G.; Megown, Kevin A.; Nelson, Val J.; Freeman, Elizabeth A.; Patterson, Paul L.; Finco, Mark; Brewer, Ken; Menlove, James. 2009. Nevada Photo-Based Inventory Pilot (NPIP) photo sampling procedures. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-222. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 30 p.