Vegetation Data Thesaurus
Table Definitions and Descriptions
PRIMARY DATA TABLES
Compartments: This Table lists all management compartments on the forest. This table is linked to the Plots table. All records in the plots table must be linked to a compartment identified in this table.
Compnum: The compartment identifier.
Acres: compartment size in acres.
Type: This is the main management method used in the compartment. Allowable types are E, U, and R. E=even-aged, U=uneven-aged, R=reserve.
Style: Identifies the Silvicultural method used in the compartment
Even-aged:
- CT = Commercial Thin. Even-aged stands that haven't been recently regenerated (> 70 years old)
- P##=Even-aged Plantation where ## is the planting year. These compartments are fully managed.
- SW##= Shelterwood harvest where ## is the harvest year
- SWR## = Naturally regenerated even-aged stand using Shelterwood method where ## is the year the shelterwood/seedtrees were removed.
- YR=Young Growth Reserve (Plant and walk away. No further management)
Uneven-aged:
- G=Group Selection. Harvest openings > ¼ acre and less than 2 ½ acres
- ITS = Individual Tree Selection. Harvest openings < ¼ acre generally < 1/10 acre
- OSR= Repeated Overstory Removal (Thin from above)
Reserve:
- OR = Old Growth Reserve. No commercial harvesting. Management activities limited to those which mimic natural processes.
- AR = Administrative Reserve. Management Limited to that necessary for safety (HQ area) and protection of other non-timber resources (e.g. archeological sites).
Plots: This Table contains primary plot information. This table is linked to the compartments table through the compnum field. All records in this table must have a valid entry in this field. This table is linked to all other primary data tables through the Plotid field.
PlotID: A 10-digit charcter field, format CCCC-PPPPP, where CCCC = the compartment number and PPPPP = the plot number. Ex: compartment 10, plot 26 would be written 0010-00026. Plots greater than 50 and less than 500 are regeneration plots. Plots in the 50000 series are group regeneration plots. Plots number 999 refers to special plots usually encorperating the entire compartment.
Compnum: The compartment number
Aspect: Aspect in one of the cardinal directions (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW). F = flat or no direction.
SoilType: a one or two digit code.
Slope: Average plot slope in percent.
Topo: Topographic position on the slope from ridgetop to Valley/creek bottom.
Elev: Plot elevation in feet above sea level.
Comments: a 256 character field containing othe relevant information on the plot.
Plot Inventory Activity: This table contains a record for each activity on a given plot (inventory event). This table is linked to the PLOTS table by the PlotID field. All records in this table must have a corresponding record in the PLOTS table. This table is linked to all other primary data tables by the InvID field. This is a database generated number that connects all related information back to the inventory activity record.
InvID: relational key field
PlotID: secondary key field. See PLOTS table
Plotnum: Plot number
InvYear: the inventory Year. Used to generate summary reports
InvDate: the actual date the plot was measured
Plotsize: The size of the plot in acres. Usually 0.1, 0.05, or 0.01, but could be others.
Crew: initials of the crew members measuring the plot
Crew#: number of people in the crew
InvenType: Inventory Type: N = Normal , R = Regeneration, G = Group regeneration, PH = Post Harvest (only elements that have changed since the last inventory are updated), S = Snag (All snags within the compartment are measured. Other types may be added in the future.
TravelTime: Crew travel time between plots in hours
TotalTime: Total Crew time measuring the plot
Canopy: Above Ground Tree cover in 5% increments
Pcomments: Other useful information relating to the plot in general or at this measurement
Understory Vegetation: This table contains information about non-tree vegetation on the plot. A record containing the following information exists for each plant identified on the plot.
InvID: primary key
PlotID: secondary key
InvDate: measurement date
Species: Four character code identifying plant species
Pcover: Percent ground cover on the plot to the nearest 5%
Aveht: Average height of the species on the plot
REGENERATE DATA: Three Tables exist for this information due to changing standards for collection over time:
TREES - Seedlings: A one record entry containing a tally by tree species of all individuals less than 4.5 feet tall (breast height) and greater than 2 years of age.
InvID: primary key
PlotID: secondary key
InvDate: measurement date
(12 times) SSSeed: (SS=Two character species code, one for each species) Tally of number seen
Trees Regen Tally Normal: A tally by 2 foot size class for all trees less than 4.5 feet tall and greater than 2 years old. One record per tree species per inventory.
InvID: primary key
PlotID: secondary key
InvDate: measurement date
Species: Two letter Species Code
Less than 1 foot: count of trees of this species less than 1 foot tall
1 to 3 feet: count of this species in this height range
3 to 5 feet: count of this species in this height range
Comment: any relevant information on this species regen tallies
Trees Regen Tally regen: A tally by 2 foot size class for all trees less than 25 feet tall, greater than 2 years old and less than 4.5 inches in diameter at breast height. One record per tree species per inventory.
InvID: primary key
PlotID: secondary key
InvDate: measurement date
Species: Two letter Species Code
Less than 1 foot: count of trees of this species less than 1 foot tall
1 to 3 feet: count of this species in this height range
(12 times) X to Y feet: count of this species in this height range. X to Y = 3 to 5, 5 to 7, …23 to 25
More than 25 feet: count of this species > 25 feet tall and less than 4.5 inches DBH
Comment: any relevant information on this species regen tallies
Scat: Used to record scat found on the plot
InvID: primary key
PlotID: secondary key
InvDate: measurement date
Species: One letter Species Code
Age: 1 or 2
Comment:
Fuels Small: This table contains information on fuels data that is less than 3 inches in diameter. Generally there are 0, 1, or 2 fuel lines per inventory event (InvID)
InvID: primary key
PlotID: secondary key
InvDate: measurement date
Azimuth: direction of fuel line (1 to 360 degrees)
Species: primary species composition of fuel on this fuel line
To#24Inch: count of less than 0.25 inch fuel pieces bisecting the line
To1Inch: count of 0.25 to less than 1 inch fuel pieces bisecting the line
To3Ince: count of 1 to less than 3 inch fuel pieces bisecting the line
1FtDuff: depth of duff at 1 foot distance on line
1FtLitter: depth of Litter at 1 foot distance on line
3FtDuff: depth of duff at 3 foot distance on line
3FtLitter: depth of litter at 3 foot distance on line
1FtFuel: depth of total fuel at 1 foot distance on line
2FtFuel: depth of total fuel at 2 foot distance on line
3FtFuel: depth of total fuel at 3 foot distance on line
Fuels Large: This table contains information on 3 inch and greater fuel pieces on fuel transects. There is one record for each piece of fuel of this size.
InvID: primary key
PlotID: secondary key
InvDate: measurement date
Azimuth: direction of fuel line (1 to 360 degrees)
Decay Facter: a one letter descriptor of the state of decay of the fuel. A = solid to E = very rotten or (prior to 5 letter codes) R = rotten and S = Sound
Size: Diameter to the closest inch of the piece of fuel
Trees Live:This table contains individual live tree record data for trees greater than 4.5 feet tall.
InvID: primary key
PlotID: secondary key
Treenum: tree number
InvDate: measurement date
Species: two letter species code. Only codes listed in the TREE NAMES Table are accepted
Ddh: Diameter at Brest Height (to the nearest 0.1 inches)
Theight: Total height to the nearest foot
Crclass: One letter Crown class code
Heightcb: Height to Crown Base. The distance from the ground to the base of the living branches
Damdis: field containing one letter codes referring to damage and disease signs on the tree
Folqual: one letter foliage quaity codes referring to crown health.
Comment: any relevant other information for the tree
Radgro10: Ten year radial growth to the nearest 0.05 inches. Only taken at initial inventories
Radgro5: Five year radial growth to the nearest 0.05 inches. Only taken at initial inventories
Weight: the per acre weight of the tree (if the tree is on a 1/10th acre plot then weight = 10)
Trees Regen:This table contains individual live tree record data for trees greater than 4.5 inches DBH on 1/100 th acre regeneration and group regeneration plots.
InvID: primary key
PlotID: secondary key
Treenum: tree number
InvDate: measurement date
Species: two letter species code. Only codes listed in the TREE NAMES Table are accepted
Ddh: Diameter at Brest Height (to the nearest 0.1 inches)
Theight: Total height to the nearest foot
Crclass: One letter Crown class code
Heightcb: Height to Crown Base. The distance from the ground to the base of the living branches
Damdis: field containing one letter codes referring to damage and disease signs on the tree
Folqual: one letter foliage quality codes referring to crown health.
Comment: any relevant other information for the tree
Radgro10: Ten year radial growth to the nearest 0.05 inches. Only taken at initial inventories
Radgro5: Five year radial growth to the nearest 0.05 inches. Only taken at initial inventories
Weight: the per acre weight of the tree (if the tree is on a 1/10th acre plot then weight = 10)
Trees Snag :This table contains individual dead and standing tree record data for trees greater than 4.5 feet tall and 4.5 inches DBH.
InvID: primary key
PlotID: secondary key
InvDate: measurement date
Treenum: tree number
Species: two letter species code. Only codes listed in the TREE NAMES Table are accepted
ddh: Diameter at Brest Height (to the nearest 0.1 inches)
Toppres: Is the top present (Y) or has it broken off (N)
Woodpeck: is there evidence of woodpecker activity
Barkcond: Percent of remaining bark on the stem to the nearest 5%
Theight: Total height to the nearest foot
Cdeath: a one letter code for the cause of death
Yrdeath: one digit code for time number of years since death
Whard: one digit code for wood hardness. 1= hard to 5 = very soft
Nesthole: the number of nest holes present
Limbcond: one letter code for limb condition. A = newly dead to E = no limbs
Comment: any relevant other information for the tree
Trees Stumps:This table contains individual stump records for stumps greater than 8 inches in diameter
InvID: primary key
PlotID: secondary key
InvDate: measurement date
Treenum: tree number
Species: two letter species code. Only codes listed in the TREE NAMES Table are accepted
ddh: Diameter at Breast Height (to the nearest 0.1 inches)
Heartwood: one letter hardness code for the heartwood A= hard to E = Soft
Woodpeck: is there evidence of woodpecker activity
Barkcond: Percent of remaining bark on the stem to the nearest 5%
Theight: Total height to the nearest foot
Cdeath: a one letter code for the cause of death
Yrdeath: one digit code for time number of years since death
Whard: one digit code for wood hardness. 1= hard to 5 = very soft
Nesthole: the number of nest holes present
Sapwood: one letter hardness code for the sapwood A= hard to E = Soft
Weight: see TREES_ LIVE table
Comment: any relevant other information for the stump
Trees Fallen: This table contains records for fallen or missing trees. Trees should only be recorded here if they existed in one of the other TREE tables at the last inventory and have since fallen or cannot be found. If they were previously recorded in this table they should not be recorded again.
InvID: primary key
PlotID: secondary key
InvDate: measurement date
Treenum: tree number
Species: two letter species code.Only codes listed in the TREE NAMES Table are accepted
Cdeath: a one letter code for the cause of death
Yrdeath: one digit code for time number of years since death
Comment: any relevant other information for the stump
Trees Site: This table contains site tree information. Site trees are those trees which are used to determine the productivity of an area using their age and height.
InvID: primary key
PlotID: secondary key
InvDate: measurement date
Treenum: tree number
Species: two letter species code. Only codes listed in the TREE NAMES Table are accepted
Bhage: Breast height age
Theight: Total height to the nearest foot
Comment: any relevant other information for the tree
Trees PostHarv: This table is not currently fully integrated into the database. It was originally designed to hold just the information that change due to a management activity. The fields are identical to the TREES LIVE table
InvID: primary key
PlotID: secondary key
Treenum: tree number
InvDate: measurement date
Species: two letter species code. Only codes listed in the TREE NAMES Table are accepted
Ddh: Diameter at Brest Height (to the nearest 0.1 inches)
Theight: Total height to the nearest foot
Crclass: One letter Crown class code
Heightcb: Height to Crown Base. The distance from the ground to the base of the living branches
Damdis: field containing one letter codes referring to damage and disease signs on the tree
Folqual: one letter foliage quality codes referring to crown health.
Comment: any relevant other information for the tree
Radgro10: Ten year radial growth to the nearest 0.05 inches. Only taken at initial inventories
Radgro5: Five year radial growth to the nearest 0.05 inches. Only taken at initial inventories
Weight: the per acre weight of the tree (if the tree is on a 1/10th acre plot then weight = 10)
Compartment Activity: This table contains all known management activities and dates that occurred within each compartment during UC ownership (currently only good through 1994 and in need of revision)
Compnum: compartment number
Action: code for the type of action taken
Description: more detailed phrase of the action taken
Start: the staret date
Finish: The finish date
Document Location: location of Activity report as of 1994
Year: the year the action was taken
OTHER TABLES: The Above tables constitute the Data tables for the Database. In addition to the Data tables there are three other types of tables included in the database. The first set consists of tables that are used for data validation purposes. There are 5 tables in this set.
Aspect: This table contains all valid aspect codes.
Aspect: two letter code
Name: the definition of the code
FuelSpeciesNames: Valid codes for use in the fuels data tables
Species: valid species code
Name: Species Name
SoilTypes: Contains valid soil codes and respective names
SoilType: one or two letter soil code
SoilName: corresponding soil name
SiteTreeCodes: Table containing codes and names of valid site tree species
Species: valid species code
Name: Species Name
Tree Names: Table containing all valid tree codes and names
Species: valid species code
Name: Species Name
The second set of additional tables that are included in the database contain information needed by the post processing operations built into the database. These tables are:
Switchboard Items: The Main Menu for the Database
CalcConstants: Contains equation constants for calculating volumes for reports
Cactos Tree Codes: Conversions of Blodgett tree code to CACTOS tree codes
Finally there are two tables that contain information on the Flora that exists on Blodgett Forest:
Plant Families: Contains a list of all plant families identified to date on the forest
Family: Scientific family name (with notes on name changes)
Common-name: Common family name
Family-number: ????
Family-notes: currently blank
BFRS-Code: Four letter Blodgett Forest code to be used in inventory data
Description: A brief description of distinguishing characteristics, if any
Plant Codes and Names:
Sp-Code: National code used by USFS
Name: Scientific name (genus and species)
Common: common name
Family: Scientific family name/association
Fam-num: family-number in PLANT FAMILIES table
In-Herb: Is it in the Blodgett Herbarium? Y/N
Sp-Notes: Various notes about the species
BFRSCode: Blodgett Species code to be used in inventory data
Complant: ?????
Location: vague location description. Seldom used
Description: botanical description on the plant when available
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