Adding uncertainty to forest inventory plot locations: effects on analyses using geospatial data

Alexia A. Sabor; Volker C. Radeloff; Ronald E. McRoberts; Murray Clayton; Susan I. Stewart

doi:10.1139/X07-067

Treesearch

Adding uncertainty to forest inventory plot locations: effects on analyses using geospatial data

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Alexia A. Sabor, Volker C. Radeloff, Ronald E. McRoberts, Murray Clayton, Susan I. Stewart

Year:

2007

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1139/X07-067

Source:

Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 37(11): 2313-2325.

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Download (PDF 165 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/46149.pdf

Abstract

The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program of the USDA Forest Service alters plot locations before releasing data to the public to ensure landowner confidentiality and sample integrity, but using data with altered plot locations in conjunction with other spatially explicit data layers produces analytical results with unknown amounts of error. We calculated the potential error from using altered location data in combination with other data layers that varied in mean map unit size. The incidence of errors associated with the use of altered plot locations exhibited a strong inverse relationship to the mean map unit size of the other data sets used in the analyses.

Citation

Sabor, Alexia A.; Radeloff, Volker C.; McRoberts, Ronald E.; Clayton, Murray; Stewart, Susan I. 2007. Adding uncertainty to forest inventory plot locations: effects on analyses using geospatial data. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 37(11): 2313-2325.