Generates tree and or seedling estimates by domain and/or tree domain (and estimation unit). Calculations are based on Scott et al. 2005 ('the green-book') for mapped forest inventory plots. The non-ratio estimator for estimating tree attributes by stratum and domain is used. Plots that are totally nonsampled are excluded from estimation dataset. Next, an adjustment factor is calculated by strata to adjust for nonsampled (nonresponse) conditions that have proportion less than 1. Attributes adjusted to a per-acre value are summed by plot, divided by the adjustment factor, and averaged by stratum. Strata means are combined using the strata weights and then expanded to using the total land area in the population.

modGBtree(
  GBpopdat,
  estvar,
  estvar.filter = NULL,
  estseed = "none",
  landarea = "FOREST",
  pcfilter = NULL,
  rowvar = NULL,
  colvar = NULL,
  sumunits = TRUE,
  returntitle = FALSE,
  savedata = FALSE,
  table_opts = NULL,
  title_opts = NULL,
  savedata_opts = NULL,
  gui = FALSE,
  ...
)

Arguments

GBpopdat

List. Population data objects returned from FIESTA::modGBpop().

estvar

String. Name of the tree-level estimate variable (e.g., 'VOLCFNET').

estvar.filter

String. A tree-level filter for estvar. Must be R syntax (e.g., 'STATUSCD == 1').

estseed

String. Use seedling data only or add to tree data. Seedling estimates are only for counts (estvar='TPA_UNADJ')-('none', 'only', 'add').

landarea

String. The condition-level filter for defining land area ('ALL', 'FOREST', 'TIMBERLAND'). If landarea='FOREST', COND_STATUS_CD = 1; if landarea='TIMBERLAND', SITECLCD in(1:6) & RESERVCD = 0.

pcfilter

String. A filter for plot or cond attributes (including pltassgn). Must be R logical syntax.

rowvar

String. Optional. Name of domain variable to group estvar by for rows in table output. Rowvar must be included in an input data frame (i.e., plt, cond, tree). If no rowvar is included, an estimate is returned for the total estimation unit. Include colvar for grouping by 2 variables.

colvar

String. Optional. If rowvar != NULL, name of domain variable to group estvar by for columns in table output. Colvar must be included in an input data frame (i.e., plt, cond, tree).

sumunits

Logical. If TRUE, estimation units are summed and returned in one table.

returntitle

Logical. If TRUE, returns title(s) of the estimation table(s).

savedata

Logical. If TRUE, saves table(s) to outfolder.

table_opts

List. See help(table_options()) for a list of options.

title_opts

List. See help(title_options()) for a list of options.

savedata_opts

List. See help(savedata_options()) for a list of options. Only used when savedata = TRUE.

gui

Logical. If gui, user is prompted for parameters.

...

Parameters for modGBpop() if GBpopdat is NULL.

Value

A list with estimates with percent sampling error for rowvar (and colvar). If sumunits=TRUE or unitvar=NULL and colvar=NULL, one data frame is returned. Otherwise, a list object is returned with the following information. If savedata=TRUE, all data frames are written to outfolder.

est

Data frame. Tree estimates by rowvar, colvar (and estimation unit). If sumunits=TRUE or one estimation unit and colvar=NULL, estimates and percent sampling error are in one data frame.

pse

Data frame. Percent sampling errors (Confidence level 68 colvar (and estimation unit). Note: for 95 percent sampling error by 1.96.

titlelst

List with 1 or 2 string vectors. If returntitle=TRUE a list with table title(s). The list contains one title if est and pse are in the same table and two titles if est and pse are in separate tables.

raw

List of data frames. If rawdata=TRUE, a list including the processing data used for estimation including: number of plots and conditions; stratification information; and 1 to 8 tables with calculated values for table cells and totals (See processing data below).

Raw data

plotsampcnt

Table. Number of plots by plot status (ex. sampled forest on plot, sampled nonforest, nonsampled).

condsampcnt

DF. Number of conditions by condition status (forest land, nonforest land, noncensus water, census water, nonsampled).

unitarea

DF. Area by estimation unit.

expcondtab

DF. Condition-level area expansion factors.

tdomdat

DF. Final data table used for estimation.

stratdat

Data frame. Strata information by estimation unit.

VariableDescription
unitvarestimation unit
strvarstratum value
strwtvarnumber of pixels by strata and estimation unit
n.stratanumber of plots in strata (after totally nonsampled plots removed)
n.totalnumber of plots for estimation unit
strwtproportion of area (or plots) by strata and estimation unit (i.e., strata weight)
CONDPROP_UNADJ_SUMsummed condition proportion by strata and estimation unit
CONDPROP_ADJFACadjusted condition proportion by strata after nonsampled plots removed
processing data

Data frames. Separate data frames containing calculated variables used in estimation process. The number of processing tables depends on the input parameters. The tables include: total by estimation unit (unit.totest); rowvar totals (unit.rowest), and if colvar is not NULL, colvar totals, (unit.colvar); and a combination of rowvar and colvar (unit.grpvar). If sumunits=TRUE, the raw data for the summed estimation units are also included (totest, rowest, colest, grpest, respectively). These tables do not included estimate proportions (nhat and nhat.var).

The data frames include the following information:

VariableDescription
nhatestimated proportion of trees
nhat.varvariance estimate of estimated proportion of trees
NBRPLT.gt0Number of non-zero plots used in estimates
ACREStotal area for estimation unit
estestimated area of trees nhat*ACRES
est.varvariance estimate of estimated area of trees nhat.var*areavar^2
est.sestandard error of estimated area of trees sqrt(est.var)
est.cvcoefficient of variation of estimated area of trees est.se/est
psepercent sampling error of estimate est.cv*100
CI99leftleft tail of 99 percent confidence interval for estimated area
CI99rightright tail of 99 percent confidence interval for estimated area
CI95leftleft tail of 95 percent confidence interval for estimated area
CI95rightright tail of 95 percent confidence interval for estimated area
CI67leftleft tail of 67 percent confidence interval for estimated area
CI67rightright tail of 67 percent confidence interval for estimated area

Table(s) are also written to outfolder.

Details

If variables are NULL, then it will prompt user to input variables.

Necessary variables:

DataVariableDescription
treetuniqueidUnique identifier for each plot, to link to pltassgn (ex. PLT_CN).
CONDIDUnique identifier of each condition on plot, to link to cond. Set CONDID=1, if only 1 condition per plot.
TPA_UNADJNumber of trees per acre each sample tree represents (ex. DESIGNCD=1: TPA_UNADJ=6.018046 for trees on subplot; 74.965282 for trees on microplot).
condcuniqueidUnique identifier for each plot, to link to pltassgn (ex. PLT_CN).
CONDIDUnique identifier of each condition on plot. Set CONDID=1, if only 1 condition per plot.
CONDPROP_UNADJUnadjusted proportion of condition on each plot. Set CONDPROP_UNADJ=1, if only 1 condition per plot.
COND_STATUS_CDStatus of each forested condition on plot (i.e. accessible forest, nonforest, water, etc.)
NF_COND_STATUS_CDIf ACI=TRUE. Status of each nonforest condition on plot (i.e. accessible nonforest, nonsampled nonforest)
SITECLCDIf landarea=TIMBERLAND. Measure of site productivity.
RESERVCDIf landarea=TIMBERLAND. Reserved status.
SUBPROP_UNADJUnadjusted proportion of subplot conditions on each plot. Set SUBPROP_UNADJ=1, if only 1 condition per subplot.
MICRPROP_UNADJIf microplot tree attributes. Unadjusted proportion of microplot conditions on each plot. Set MICRPROP_UNADJ=1, if only 1 condition per microplot.
MACRPROP_UNADJIf macroplot tree attributes. Unadjusted proportion of macroplot conditions on each plot. Set MACRPROP_UNADJ=1, if only 1 condition per macroplot.
pltassgnpuniqueidUnique identifier for each plot, to link to cond (ex. CN).
STATECDIdentifies state each plot is located in.
INVYRIdentifies inventory year of each plot.
PLOT_STATUS_CDStatus of each plot (i.e. sampled, nonsampled). If not included, all plots are assumed as sampled.

For available reference tables: sort(unique(FIESTAutils::ref_codes$VARIABLE))

Note

ADJUSTMENT FACTOR:
The adjustment factor is necessary to account for nonsampled conditions. It is calculated for each estimation unit by strata. by summing the unadjusted proportions of the subplot, microplot, and macroplot (i.e. *PROP_UNADJ) and dividing by the number of plots in the strata/estimation unit).

An adjustment factor is determined for each tree based on the size of the plot it was measured on. This is identified using TPA_UNADJ as follows:

PLOT SIZETPA_UNADJ
SUBPLOT6.018046
MICROPLOT74.965282
MACROPLOT0.999188

If ACI=FALSE, only nonsampled forest conditions are accounted for in the adjustment factor.
If ACI=TRUE, the nonsampled nonforest conditions are removed as well and accounted for in adjustment factor. This is if you are interested in estimates for all lands or nonforest lands in the All-Condition-Inventory.

sumunits:
An estimation unit is a population, or area of interest, with known area and number of plots. Individual counties or combined Super-counties are common estimation units for FIA. An estimation unit may also be a subpopulation of a larger population (e.g., Counties within a State). Subpopulations are mutually exclusive and independent within a population, therefore estimated totals and variances are additive. For example, State-level estimates are generated by summing estimates from all subpopulations within the State (Bechtold and Patterson. 2005. Chapter 2). Each plot must be assigned to only one estimation unit.

If sumunits=TRUE, estimates are generated by estimation unit, summed together, and returned as one estimate. If rawdata=TRUE, estimates by individual estimation unit are also returned.

If sumunits=FALSE, estimates are generated and returned by estimation unit as one data frame. If savedata=TRUE, a separate file is written for each estimation unit.

stratcombine:
If TRUE and less than 2 plots in any one estimation unit, all estimation units with 10 or less plots are combined. The current method for combining is to group the estimation unit with less than 10 plots with the estimation unit following in consecutive order (numeric or alphabetical), restrained by survey unit (UNITCD) if included in dataset, and continuing until the number of plots equals 10. If there are no estimation units following in order, it is combined with the estimation unit previous in order.

rowlut/collut:
There are several objectives for including rowlut/collut look-up tables: 1) to include descriptive names that match row/column codes in the input table; 2) to use number codes that match row/column names in the input table for ordering rows; 3) to add rows and/or columns with 0 values for consistency. No duplicate names are allowed.

Include 2 columns in the table:
1-the merging variable with same name as the variable in the input merge table;
2-the ordering or descriptive variable.
If the ordering variable is the rowvar/colvar in the input table and the descriptive variable is in rowlut/collut, set row.orderby/col.orderby equal to rowvar/colvar. If the descriptive variable is the rowvar/colvar in the input table, and the ordering code variable is in rowlut/collut, set row.orderby/col.orderby equal to the variable name of the code variable in rowlut/collut.

UNITS:
The following variables are converted from pounds (from FIA database) to short tons by multiplying the variable by 0.0005. DRYBIO_AG, DRYBIO_BG, DRYBIO_WDLD_SPP, DRYBIO_SAPLING, DRYBIO_STUMP, DRYBIO_TOP, DRYBIO_BOLE, DRYBIOT, DRYBIOM, DRYBIOTB, JBIOTOT, CARBON_BG, CARBON_AG

MORTALITY:
For Interior-West FIA, mortality estimates are mainly based on whether a tree has died within the last 5 years of when the plot was measured. If a plot was remeasured, mortality includes trees that were alive the previous visit but were dead in the next visit. If a tree was standing the previous visit, but was not standing in the next visit, no diameter was collected (DIA = NA) but the tree is defined as mortality.

Common tree filters:

FILTERDESCRIPTION
"STATUSCD == 1"Live trees
"STATUSCD == 2"Dead trees
"TPAMORT_UNADJ > 0"Mortality trees
"STATUSCD == 2 & DIA >= 5.0"Dead trees >= 5.0 inches diameter
"STATUSCD == 2 & AGENTCD == 30"Dead trees from fire

References

Scott, Charles T.; Bechtold, William A.; Reams, Gregory A.; Smith, William D.; Westfall, James A.; Hansen, Mark H.; Moisen, Gretchen G. 2005. Sample-based estimators used by the Forest Inventory and Analysis national information management system. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-80. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station, p.53-77.

Author

Tracey S. Frescino, Paul L. Patterson, Elizabeth A. Freeman

Examples

# \donttest{
GBpopdat <- modGBpop(
  popTabs = list(cond = FIESTA::WYcond,  
                 tree = FIESTA::WYtree,        
                 seed = FIESTA::WYseed),      
  popTabIDs = list(cond = "PLT_CN"),            
  pltassgn = FIESTA::WYpltassgn,  
  pltassgnid = "CN",        
  pjoinid = "PLT_CN",         
  unitarea = FIESTA::WYunitarea,
  unitvar = "ESTN_UNIT",        
  strata = TRUE,           
  stratalut = WYstratalut,    
  strata_opts = strata_options(getwt = TRUE)   
)
#> INTENSITY not in dataset.. assuming single intensity plots
#> DESIGNCD not in dataset.. assuming DESIGNCD = 1 (annual inventory)
#> For FIA estimation, adjustment factors are calculated to account for plots with partial nonresponse.
#> ...there are 14 nonsampled forest conditions in the dataset.
#> filter removed 14 records: COND_STATUS_CD != 5
#> calculating adjustment factors...
#> calculating adjustment factors...

tree1.1 <- modGBtree(
  GBpopdat = GBpopdat,         # pop - population calculations
  landarea = "FOREST",         # est - forest land filter
  sumunits = TRUE,             # est - sum estimation units to population
  estvar = "VOLCFNET",               # est - net cubic-foot volume
  estvar.filter = "STATUSCD == 1",   # est - live trees only
  returntitle = TRUE           # out - return title information
)
#> filter removed 2620 records: COND_STATUS_CD == 1
#> multiplying VOLCFNET by TPA
#> getting output...
str(tree1.1, max.level = 1)
#> List of 5
#>  $ est     :'data.frame':	1 obs. of  3 variables:
#>  $ titlelst:List of 10
#>  $ raw     :List of 12
#>  $ statecd : int 56
#>  $ invyr   : int [1:3] 2011 2012 2013

tree1.2 <- modGBtree(
  GBpopdat = GBpopdat,         # pop - population calculations
  landarea = "FOREST",         # est - forest land filter
  sumunits = TRUE,             # est - sum estimation units to population
  estvar = "VOLCFNET",               # est - net cubic-foot volume
  estvar.filter = "STATUSCD == 1",   # est - live trees only
  rowvar = "FORTYPCD",         # est - row domain 
  returntitle = TRUE           # out - return title information
)
#> filter removed 2620 records: COND_STATUS_CD == 1
#> multiplying VOLCFNET by TPA
#> getting output...
str(tree1.2, max.level = 1)
#> List of 5
#>  $ est     :'data.frame':	19 obs. of  3 variables:
#>  $ titlelst:List of 11
#>  $ raw     :List of 14
#>  $ statecd : int 56
#>  $ invyr   : int [1:3] 2011 2012 2013
# }