North Central Research Station

Forest Service—U.S. Department of Agriculture

1992 Folwell Avenue

St. Paul, Minnesota 55108

2002

www.ncrs.fs.fed.us
Contents

Page

BEFORE YOU BEGIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Installing the entire program and database on a hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Installing the main program on a hard drive and putting the database

on another hard drive or leaving the database on the CD . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Changing the Working Directory Paths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

GETTING STARTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

MENUS, ITEMS, BUTTONS, AND DIALOGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Calculate Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

FIA Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Choose Statistic Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

More Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Paths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

SHUTDOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

TUTORIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

TROUBLESHOOTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Problems Starting the Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Problems Running the Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

FIAMODEL VARIABLE FORMULAS AND CONDITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

FIAMODEL Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Formulas and Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

LITERATURE CITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
SUMMARY

FIAMODEL is a geographic information system (GIS) program that summarizes

Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA, USDA Forest Service) data. The model

runsIfrom a project file in ArcView (ESRI 1997). ARC/INFO coverages, ArcView

shapefiles, and lookup tables also contribute to the model. Current volumes,

annual growth, annual mortality, annual net growth, annual removal, and

annual net change of growing-stock can be summarized for any area within a

particular State of interest (e.g., Wisconsin). County borders or FIA survey

units (Hansen et al. 1992) do not confine users of the model. The model creates

tables for single plots or selected combinations of plots. Plots in any geographic

region can be selected. These regions can be selected manually via heads-updigitizing or by using overlays of digital map layers such as soil coverages. The

digital map layers can be displayed in conjunction with the selected plots.

Selections can be limited to reserved timberland or timberland areas.

Timberland is the standard land use class represented in the U.S. Department

of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) statistics

(e.g., Thompson and Sheffield 1997). Selecting plots in specific forest cover

types and/or ownership classes can narrow selections even further. In fact,

selections can be narrowed using almost any of the FIA plot variables.

Inventory summary tables can be produced for all or only selected species.

ArcView Graphical User Inerface is the intellectual property of Environmental

Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) and is used herein with permission.

Copyright©1992-2000 ESRI. All rights reserved. 

Use of product and/or trade names does not constitute endorsement by the

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
FIAMODEL

Users Guide Version 3.0

Scott A. Pugh, David D. Reed, Kurt S. Pregitzer,

and Patrick D. Miles

Scott A. Pugh and Kurt S. Pregitzer, U.S. Department of Agriculture,

Forest Service, North Central Research Station, Houghton, MI.

David D. Reed, School of Forestry and Wood Products, Michigan

Technological University, Houghton, MI.

Patrick D. Miles, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North

Central Research Station, St. Paul, MN.

The FIAMODEL Users Guide contains detailed information about using

geographic information system (GIS) techniques to derive timberland volume and structural information from Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA)

data. Any updated versions of FIAMODEL can be found at the Web

address http://forestry.mtu.edu/data/fiamodel/.

Microsoft Windows 95 or newer; Microsoft Windows NT 4.0

ArcView 3.1 or 3.2 (ESRI 1997)

Memory:

The amount of hard disk space required depends upon the amount of

data associated with the State in question. For example, the model for

Minnesota requires approximately 52 MB of storage space. This does

not count the additional space required when running the model. The

model files will probably never require more than 60 MB of space. This

does not include space for temporary files created when running the

model. Temporary files will probably never occupy more than an additional 80 MB of space. ArcView and the model will run more efficiently if

the appropriate amount of virtual memory is allocated. We recommend

that the maximum amount of virtual memory be set to at least 200 MB.

This amount is set in the Control Panel\System Properties\Virtual

Memory. It means that the user needs at least 200 MB of hard disk

space free in addition to the space required for the model files. ArcView

recommends at least 32 MB of RAM. However, this is really insufficient

when large areas are selected within the model. More RAM and faster

processors will decrease the processing time of the model. As a gauge,

remember that a 450 MHz machine with 132 MB of RAM takes about 7

minutes to calculate statistics for all 12,447 timberland plots in

Minnesota, the State with the most plots.

There are various ways of installing FIAMODEL. Your choice will depend

on the amount of space you have on your hard drive(s). All of the model

files can be saved to the hard drive(s), or part of the model files may be

saved to a hard drive and the rest left on the CD.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

System

Requirements

Installation
a. Copy the FIAMODEL files. Choose Explorer or My Computer to copy

the directory with all the FIAMODEL files to a hard drive with enough

space. This directory is identified by the State abbreviation plus the

inventory year and “fia” (e.g., the Michigan model files would be located

in the “mi93fia” directory). The directory can be a primary directory on

the hard drive, or it can be copied into an existing directory on the

hard drive.

b. Remove the Read-only status. Remove the read-only file status from

the directory that you just copied to the hard drive. Left click on the

hard drive directory. Next, right click and choose Properties. Now

remove the check on the Read-only status box. Next, remove the readonly file status from the subdirectory “amldef.” Remove the read-only

file status from the ArcView project file (e.g., mi93fia.apr). It is not necessary to remove the read-only file status from any more directories or

files unless they are manipulated outside of FIAMODEL.

c. Create a FIAMODEL icon. Connect the FIAMODEL project file to the

windows environment. Select the Start icon in the lower left corner of

the screen and choose Settings and Taskbar & Start Menu.... Within

the Taskbar Properties pop-up window, click the mouse on Start

Menu Programs and choose Add. Choose Browse and select All Files

for Files of Type. Maneuver to the “amldef” subdirectory within the

main FIAMODEL directory and select the ArcView project file (e.g.,

mi93fia.apr). Within the Select Program Folder pop-up window, click

the mouse on Desktop (under the heading “Select folder to place

shortcut in:”) and choose Next. Within the Select a Title for the

Program pop-up window, type a name for the FIAMODEL icon and

choose Finish. Within the Taskbar Properties pop-up window, select

OK. The icon will now appear on the main window. 

d. Initially Run FIAMODEL. Double clicking the icon will initiate the

model. If ArcView is already running, you can initiate the model by

opening the project file. In the latter case, activate the project window

(see figure on page 4, ArcView with view document) and choose File.

Now choose the Open Project item. Choose the project file in the

“amldef” directory and click OK. The first time the model runs, it will

prompt you for the path of the first working directory, the “amldef”

directory for the State in question (e.g., using the D: drive and the

Michigan model could result in a path like the following:

d:\mi93fia\amldef). This directory contains lookup tables, the State

boundary coverage, and associated attribute tables. Next, the program

will prompt you for the path of the second working directory, the “fiapt”

directory associated with the State in question (e.g., using the D: drive

and the Michigan model could result in a path like the following:

d:\mi93fia\fiapt). This directory contains the core lookup tables and

the FIA point coverage. The model will shut down if you specify an

invalid path. If this happens, run the model again and reenter the

paths. The model checks to see if the directory paths exist and it tests

if the “amldef” directory is writeable. Furthermore, the model checks to

see whether each working directory contains an info subdirectory. If

these conditions are met, then the model continues with the start-up.

The model will open the boundary and plot coverages as themes. The

model will fail and shut down if either the boundary or plot coverage is

missing. In this case, place the correct coverages in the working directories and run the model again.

Installing the entire

program and database

on a hard drive

2
a. Copy the “amldef” directory to a hard drive. The “amldef” directory

contains the main program files: ArcView project file, the State boundary coverage, lookup tables, and an output directory for model output

tables. It takes up less room than the “fiapt” directory and should be

on a local hard drive for better performance. Use Explorer or My

Computer and copy only the “amldef” directory to a hard drive with

sufficient room. The “amldef” directory can be placed anywhere on the

hard drive. It should be in a directory named with the State abbreviation plus the inventory year and “aml” to avoid confusion with models

of other States. (Create the appropriate directory if it does not exist.

For example, using the D: drive and the Michigan model could result

in a path like the following: d:\mi93aml.) Remove the read-only file

status from the “amldef” directory, its parent directories, and the project file within the “amldef” directory (see page 2, Remove the Readonly status). The model cannot run if the “amldef” directory is left on

the CD because of the read-only nature of the CD.

b. Copy the “fiapt” directory to another local hard drive or leave it

on the CD. As previously mentioned, the “fiapt” directory contains the

core lookup tables and the FIA point coverage. This directory stores

more information, so it may be necessary to place it on a different hard

drive or access it from the CD. Only access it from the CD if it cannot

fit on any local hard drive. The program will run faster if the “fiapt”

directory is located on a local hard drive. Use Explorer or My

Computer to copy the directory to another local hard drive. This directory can be placed anywhere. However, it should be placed within a

directory named with the State abbreviation plus the inventory year

and “pt” to avoid confusion (e.g., using the D: drive and the Michigan

model could result in a path like the following: d:\mi93pt). It is not

necessary to change the read-only file status of the “fiapt” directory

and its contents unless the directory and its contents are manipulated

outside of FIAMODEL. If the directory will be referenced from the CD,

then leave the CD in the CD reader when running the model. The readonly file status of the “fiapt” directory cannot be changed if it resides

on the CD.

c. Create an icon and run the model. As previously described on page

2, create a desktop icon for FIAMODEL and set the working directory

paths during the initial run.

You may want to change the directory paths for various reasons. For

example, you may want to move the working directories and their contents

to a new location with more space. Or, you may want to keep a copy of the

working directories and their contents in the current location, but run the

model using the working directories in a new location. Whatever the case

may be, two ways of changing the working directory paths should accommodate most situations. First, the working directory paths can be changed

when the model is not running. This is done by moving the working directories to a new location. In this case, the model will shut down automatically after the next start-up because it cannot find the working directory

files. After another start-up, the model will prompt the user for the new

directory paths. Subsequent start-ups will not require any further

prompts. The second way involves specifying the new directory paths while

the model is running and then moving or copying the working directories

and their contents before restarting the model. The model will know the

new directory paths upon start-up and you will not have to enter them

again. Specify new directory paths while the model is running with the

Changing the

Working Directory

Paths

Installing the main

program (“amldef”

directory) on a hard

drive and putting

the database (“fiapt”

directory) on another hard drive or

leaving the database

on the CD

3
View Document Window

Application Window

Menu Bar

Status Bar Project Window Table of Contents

Button Bar

Tool Bar

Assuming the model has been started and the working directory paths

have been specified, a message box will pop up requiring a Current Land

Use Class Selection. Any further reselections will be from the chosen land

use class. A view document will appear on the screen with accompanying

menus, buttons, and tools (see figure below). Several of the menus and

buttons are unique features of the model and the rest are native to

ArcView. The first seven menus are unique features of the model. The help

menu also has an item, About FIA Model, which displays information

about the model. Buttons two through six inclusive are also unique to the

model. 

GETTING STARTED

ArcView with view document

Paths menu associated with the view document (see page 11). Remember

that the ArcView project file is located in the “amldef“ directory. If the project file is moved, then the shortcut properties for the FIAMODEL icon will

have to be changed. A right mouse button click on the icon will reveal the

Properties item. Select this item and then select Shortcut. Change the

Target and Start in paths to the new locations.

4
The model structure is very autonomous, allowing many different FIA plot

selection scenarios. The features of this model can be chosen in many different orders and used in conjunction with the native ArcView features.

However, take care to choose the features in a logical manner. In most

cases, the model will alert you when you have chosen an illogical order.

The features unique to the model will be described in detail. Read the following descriptions carefully, making sure to understand what each item

and button does before starting the exercises in the Tutorial section. The

buttons and one of the items invoke dialogs that are also presented here.

Sets up the view document.

Show Boundary: Allows the user to restart the model with a new view

document. A warning message (“Choose YES to start over with a new

view document.”) appears prior to the Current Land Use Class

Selection. This message allows you to cancel the new view document.

If the model is restarted, then the existing view and its themes are

removed. Next, a Current Land Use Class Selection must be made.

The State and county boundaries are displayed with the boundary

theme. The statefia theme is added to the view but it is not checked as

visible. The statefia theme has all of the FIA plots that meet the

Current Land Use Class Selection criteria.

MENUS, ITEMS,

BUTTONS, AND

DIALOGS

Background

5
Calculates forest inventory variables that can be displayed in tables chosen

within the Choose Statistic Report menu.

Run Wholeare Calculations: Calculates the current volume, annual

growth, annual mortality, annual net growth, annual removal, and

annual net change for the plots (all species combined) in the wholeare

theme (see FIAMODEL Variable Formulas and Conditions on page 34).

The wholeare theme is usually created in the initial plot selection using

the select model buttons and their associated dialogs, which are presented later. Trees/acre by species are also calculated (FIAMODEL

Variable Formulas and Conditions). The results of these calculations can

be displayed using the Choose Statistic Report menu. A warning message will appear if there are no trees/acre data for the selected plots. 

Run Fiaresel Calculations: Calculates the current volume, annual growth,

annual mortality, annual net growth, annual removal, and annual net

change for the plots (all species combined) in the fiaresel theme. The

fiaresel theme is usually created in a reselection of plots from the

wholeare theme. Plots within the wholeare theme are selected based

upon chosen values of FIA plot variables (e.g., land ownership and/or

forest cover type) and the result is the fiaresel theme. This is done in the

FIA Database menu. Trees/acre by species are also calculated for the

fiaresel theme. The results of these calculations can be displayed using

the Choose Statistic Report menu. A warning message will appear if

there are no trees/acre data for the selected plots.

Selects plots from the wholeare or statefia themes based upon chosen values of FIA plot variables and then creates the fiaresel theme with the

selected plots.

Calculate Statistics

FIA Database

6
Reselect Based Upon FIA Attributes: If the wholeare theme has not been

created, then selections are made from the statefia theme. The statefia

theme has all of the plots that met the Current Land Use Class Selection

criteria set when the model started or after initiating the Show Boundary

item in the Background menu. Usually, the fiaresel theme is created from

a selection of the wholeare theme plots.

FIA Plot Reselect by FIA Attributes: Plots within the wholeare or statefia

theme are selected and the fiaresel theme is created from these selections

using the FIA Plot Reselect by FIA Attributes dialog. This dialog pops up

when you choose Reselect Based Upon FIA Attributes. Select plots from

the wholeare or statefia themes based upon the variable you chose under

FIA Variable Selection. Most of the FIA plot variables are available as

selection criteria. You can find definitions of the plot variables in The

Eastwide Forest Inventory Data Base: Users Manual (Hansen et al. 1992).

The manual can be found on the Web

(www.srsfia.usfs.msstate.edu/ewman.htm). Multiple selections can be

made in the same dialog. For example, you can add a forest type after

selecting an ownership type. The FIA Reselection Type window permits

different selection types (pops up after a FIA Variable Selection). The

choices are New, Add, Select From Existing Set, and Add if Not

Selected; Remove if Selected. In the prior example, you could have chosen New for the ownership query, which was the first query. Then, you

could have chosen Add for the forest type query. The resulting selection

would have included plots with the chosen ownership type or the chosen

forest type. If you choose a variable other than forest type, then you can

select a variable value or type from a list of those available in the Field

Value Select window (pops up after choosing owner in the FIA Variable

7
Selection choice box). If forest type is chosen, then the available current

and old forest types are shown in the Available Forest Types window.

Old forest cover type codes are used if corresponding plots were previously included in a forested land use class, but are not currently included in

a forested land use class. Plots like these, which previously belonged to a

forested land use class like timberland or reserved timberland, can contribute to any of the forest variables except current volume. After the

window is displayed, the Forest Type Selection choice box permits you

to select one available forest type. After you select a value or class, the

Done Reselecting – Create Fiaresel Theme button is enabled and you

can click it to create the fiaresel theme. Or, you can make another selection from wholeare or statefia.

Displays summary tables of forest inventory variables calculated using the

Calculate Statistics menu.

Whole Area Stats: Displays the resulting summary tables (General Plot

Summary or Stand Density Summary) for the wholeare theme.

General Plot: Displays the current volume, annual growth, annual mortality, annual net growth, annual removal, and annual net change for

the plots (all species combined). When available, standard errors are

also expressed (see FIAMODEL Variable Formulas and Conditions). The

acreage expressed in this table represents the selected plots. If timberland is selected as the land use class, then each of these plots may

either be currently or previously timberland. The plots that were previously timberland are required to estimate annual variables. This also

applies to acreage expressed in any of the other tables in this model.

Choose Statistic

Report

8
Stand Density: Reports the combined species stand table for the

area-weighted average number of trees/acre (rounded to nearest

whole number) by species and diameter size class for the plots. In

addition, the average basal area and volume per acre are provided.

Basal area and volume per acre are area-weighted averages (see

FIAMODEL Variable Formulas and Conditions). Volume should only

be for live growing-stock trees in the 6-inch d.b.h. class or larger

because the netcfvl variable in The Eastwide Forest Inventory Data

Base: Users Manual (Hansen et al. 1992) is suppose to be 0 for trees

in smaller d.b.h. classes.

FIA Reselect Area Stats: Displays the resulting stand tables (General

Plot Summary or Stand Density Summary) for the fiaresel theme.

Displays summary tables of forest inventory variables by species, diameter, or species and diameter.Management

9
Whole Area: Allows the user to obtain three different summary tables (By

Species, By Diameter, or By Species & Diameter) for the wholeare

theme.

New Area: Must be selected first in the Management Area Choice window to view a summary table for a newly created wholeare theme. A

warning message appears if there is no species information available for

the selected plots.

Previous Area: May be chosen after the New Area selection in the

Management Area Choice window to view additional summary tables

for the wholeare theme.

By Species: Displays the summary table listing the current volume,

annual growth, annual mortality, annual net growth, annual removal,

and annual net change by species. 

By Diameter: Displays the summary table listing the current volume,

annual growth, annual mortality, annual net growth, annual removal,

and annual net change by 2-inch diameter class for all the species

combined. Current volume, annual mortality, and annual removal

should always be 0 for d.b.h. classes smaller than 6 inches because

the netcfvl variable in the Eastwide Data Base should equal 0 for

these classes.

By Species & Diameter: Displays the summary table listing the current volume, annual growth, annual mortality, annual net growth,

annual removal, and annual net change by 2-inch diameter class for

a single or group of selected species.

FIA Reselect Area: Allows the user to obtain the three summary tables (By

Species, By Diameter, or By Species & Diameter) for the fiaresel

theme. 

10
New Area: Must be selected first in the Management Area Choice window

to view a summary table for a newly created fiaresel theme. A warning

message appears if there is no species information available for the

selected plots.

Previous Area: May be chosen after the New Area selection in the

Management Area Choice window to view additional summary tables

for the fiaresel theme.

Displays summary tables of forest inventory variables by forest type.

Wholeare Stats by Forest Type: Displays the plot count, acreage, current

volume, annual growth, annual mortality, annual net growth, annual

removal, and annual net change by forest type for the wholeare theme in

a summary table. 

FIA Reselect Stats by Forest Type: Displays the plot count, acreage, current volume, annual growth, annual mortality, annual net growth, annual removal, and annual net change by forest type for the fiaresel theme in

a summary table.

Sets the paths or locations of the model, working directories.

More Tables

Paths

Change Working Directory Paths – ARE YOU SURE?: Allows the user to

change the working directory paths while the model is running (Set First

Working Directory Path window and Set Second Working Directory

Path window pop up after the item is initiated). After closing the model,

move the working directories to the new locations previously specified in

the Paths menu. The next time the model starts, it will look for the

working directories in their new locations. This is useful if you wish to

work from a copy of the working directories. You can keep the working

directories in their previous locations, but run the model from the copies

in a new location.

11
About FIA Model: Displays the FIAMODEL copyright information.

These select buttons allow the user to choose FIA plots and create the

wholeare theme with the selections. The first button selects FIA plots occurring within polygons of interest belonging to an ancillary polygon theme.

The next two buttons start dialogs that allow the user to select FIA plots

interactively with selection tools. Next, the model creates the wholeare

theme using the selected plots. You can choose these buttons and associated dialogs in any order and as many times as needed to identify the FIA

plots of interest. The first time you enact one of the buttons to make the

first selection of FIA plots, choose New or Add in the FIA Select Type

choice box associated with each button’s dialog. Choices made in the FIA

Select Type choice box determine the way in which plots are selected from

the statefia theme. After making an initial selection and creating the first

wholeare theme, you can make another selection and the model will create

a new wholeare theme. Add, Select From Existing Set, and Add if Not

Selected; Remove if Selected would be appropriate choices after an initial

selection. Otherwise, you can choose New to start with a totally new selection of FIA plots.

Help Displays help items.

The button that starts the FIA Plot Reselect by Polygon Attributes dialog.

12
FIA Plot Reselect by Polygon Attributes: Dialog enabling the user to

select FIA plots based upon polygon theme attributes. FIA plots occurring

within polygons having selected attributes are chosen and a new

wholeare theme is created. Choose the ancillary polygon theme with the

Choose Polygon Theme button. The theme could be a polygon

ARC/INFO coverage or a polygon shapefile (e.g., a soil polygon coverage).

This polygon theme should exist in the latitude-longitude coordinate system. The FIA plots occur in this coordinate system. Choosing the polygon

theme enables the Polygon Select Type choice box. Select from New,

Add, Select From Existing Set, and Add if Not Selected; Remove if

Selected. These selection types apply only to those selections that will be

made upon the previously chosen polygon theme. After choosing the

Polygon Select Type, choose a field or item from the Field Select window (pops up after choosing the Polygon Select Type) showing the available fields of the ancillary polygon theme. Next, the Field Value Select

window pops up and a field value must be chosen. You can make multiple selections from the same polygon theme. Choose the Polygon Select

Type choice box and select another field and value as many times as

needed. After you are satisfied with the selection of ancillary polygon

theme attributes, choose the FIA Select Type and the wholeare theme

will be created. If a wholeare theme already exists, it will be replaced by a

new wholeare theme.

13
The button that initiates the Select with Graphics dialog.

Select with Graphics: Dialog permitting the user to select plots within

interactively drawn graphics. You must first make a choice in the FIA

Select Type choice box. Then, the Graphic Tool Set is enabled and you

can choose a graphic tool to select plots of interest. Based upon the FIA

Select Type chosen, plots will be selected immediately after the graphic

is drawn. Subsequently, the wholeare theme is created. If a wholeare

theme already exists, it will be replaced by a new wholeare theme.

14
The button that initiates the Select with Polygon Theme Shapes dialog.

Select with Polygon Theme Shapes: Dialog allowing the user to select

plots within interactively selected polygons of active polygon themes. You

must first make a choice in the FIA Select Type choice box. Next, the

Polygon Select Tool is enabled and you can pick a polygon or polygons of

interest. Select polygons in any of the active themes by clicking the selection tool. Hold the shift key for multiple selections in different areas.

Based upon the FIA Select Type chosen, plots occurring within the

selected polygons will be selected after the Done Selecting button is chosen. Subsequently, the wholeare theme is created. If a wholeare theme

already exists, it will be replaced by a new wholeare theme.

15
Button that starts the Selected Features dialog.

Selected Features: Displays records corresponding to selected features

within themes. This is a modified version of an example dialog given in

Using the ArcView Dialog Designer (ESRI 1997).

Button that starts the Single Point Selection dialog.

Single Point Selection: Displays information about individually selected

plots. View the stand table for a single FIA plot by selecting it with the single point selection tool. The tool is used to draw a circle around the plot of

interest. The theme with the plot of interest must be listed first in the

view, and be active, and visible. Only one plot is selected even if the circle

is drawn around more than one plot.

16
We recommend two ways to stop the model. The first way is to choose Close

Project from the File menu (project window should be active). This method

allows ArcView to continue running after the model is shut down. The second method shuts down the model and the ArcView application. Choose

Exit from the File menu as the second method. These methods “clean up”

temporary files and change some parameters so the model will start up

properly the next time. Without being cautious, you can adversely shut

down the model. Choosing the “X” button in the upper right hand corner of

ArcView shuts down ArcView and the model. However, “clean up” does not

occur. Upon the next start-up, the model will issue the following message:

Next, the model will shut down and “clean up.” As the warning indicates,

the model will start up correctly upon the next run if it was exited improperly. The model could adversely shut down due to some uncontrollable

events such as a power outage or an operating system failure. If this happens, the previous warning would be issued at the next start-up and the

model would shut down. Again, the model should start up correctly in the

following run. Starting the same model twice will result in the previous

warning. The warning states that the initial model should be closed after

the current one automatically closes. Otherwise unpredictable errors will

occur. The model should start up fine in the next run.

SHUTDOWN

17
The following two examples are given to introduce you to the model and

illustrate some of the model capabilities. There are many other scenarios

besides these two. The example tables and figures are taken from the

Michigan model, but these exercises are appropriate with any State. The

second example requires an ancillary polygon coverage or shapefile. 

Example 1: In this exercise, timberland plots will be selected using county boundaries and an interactively drawn graphic. Summary tables will

be produced for these plots. In addition, a finer selection of plots will be

chosen based upon land ownership and forest cover type. Summary

tables will also be produced for the finer selection of plots.

1. Start the program by double clicking the FIAMODEL icon or by opening the FIAMODEL project file. A message box will pop up requiring a

Current Land Use Class Selection. Any further reselections will be

from the chosen land use class, which should be timberland for this

exercise. A view document will appear with accompanying menus, buttons, and tools. The State boundary theme will be displayed in the view

document window.

TUTORIAL

18
2. Plots will be selected using county boundaries. Select:

to display the Select with Polygon Theme Shapes dialog. Make sure the polygon boundary theme is active by clicking on it

in the table of contents. Select the FIA Select Type by choosing New

for this first selection. The Polygon Select Tool becomes active. Go

into the view document window and select a county with a click of the

left mouse button (Note: Multiple counties may be chosen by clicking

the mouse button within each desired county boundary while holding

the shift key.) Choose Done Selecting after making the selection. The

wholeare theme is automatically created. The theme contains the FIA

plots occurring in the selected county boundaries.

3. Next, a finer selection of plots will be acquired from within the previous

selection. 

Select to display the Select with Graphics dialog. 

Select the FIA Select Type by choosing Select From Existing Set for

this second selection. The Graphic Tool Set becomes active. Choose a

graphic to make a finer selection. Move the cursor somewhere in the

selected counties. (It may be helpful to zoom in around the selected

polygons with the Zoom In tool on the tool bar.) Click, hold, and drag

with the left mouse button if you selected the circle or rectangle. If you

selected the polygon, then create a polygon by left clicking the mouse

to form vertices. Double click when the polygon is complete. A new

wholeare theme is created with FIA plots selected from the previous

selection.

19
4. Summary tables will be created for the FIA plots in the wholeare theme.

Choose Calculate Statistics from the main menu and then select the

Run Wholeare Calculations item. Statistics are calculated. These

statistics can be displayed in the General Plot Summary and Stand

Density Summary tables. If there are no trees/acre data available, a

warning message will appear. In this case, the Stand Density

Summary table will not be available. Next, choose the Wholeare Stats

item within the Choose Statistic Report menu. The Statistics

Summary Type choice box will appear. Choose General Plot. Make the

desired choice in the General Plot Summary choice box. The General

Plot Summary Window displays the General Plot Summary table

(e.g., table 1). The Stand Density Summary table, a table similar to

table 2, may be viewed by selecting Stand Density from within the

Statistics Summary Type choice box, made available as previously

described. If you save the summary tables and print them later, set the

font type to courier and the size to eight point. This will maintain the

correct table format. 

20
Table 1.—General Plot Summary table for plots in wholeare theme (plots selected from Michigan using

county boundaries and a circle graphic)

************************************************************************************

Current volume, annual growth, annual mortality, annual net growth, annual removal, and annual net change for growing

stock in the selected area are reported in thousands of cubic feet. There are 150 plot(s) representing 214800 acres. There

are 147 current timberland plot(s) representing 210000 acres. Errors (1 standard deviation) are given as percentages of

these totals. Annual calculations are based upon the nominal interval from 1980 to 1993. Plots that did not exist in the prior

inventory (nominal year 1980) were not used in the annual calculations. 

WARNING: Percent error only applies if timberland was previously selected.

************************************************************************************

Current Annual Annual Annual Annual Annual

Volume/Error volume growth mortality net growth removal net change

************************************************************************************

Volume 273030.8 10042.4 2880.7 7161.7 3323.7 3838.1

(1,000 cu ft)

************************************************************************************

Error (percent) 5.39 undefined undefined 7.67 38.26 undefined

21
Table 2.—Stand Density Summary table for plots in wholeare theme (plots selected from Michigan using county boundaries and

a circle graphic)

*************************************************************************************The combined species stand table reports the average number of live growing-stock trees per acre for all plots in the selected area. The selected 150plot(s) represent 214800 acres. There are 147 current timberland plot(s) representing 210000 acres. The stand table reports trees per acre only for current timberland plot(s). Dbh class 40 represents trees greater than or equal to 39 inches diameter at breast height.*************************************************************************************DBH BF TAM WS BS JP RP EWP NWC EH RM SM YB PB BA BP BTA QA BLC NRO ABW ELM TOT

2 78 2 3 27 9 2 1 1 0 17 26 0 5 5 4 6 121 8 0 0 0 316 4 36 5 3 19 8 3 1 4 0 12 10 1 5 4 3 2 34 1 0 1 0 150 6 10 3 2 14 4 4 0 8 0 7 8 0 4 2 2 2 80 1 0 0 77 

8 5 1 0 54 1 0 10 0 3 4 0 4 0 1 2 40 1 0 0 46 

10 2 1 1 2 2 1 0 3 0 3 2 0 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 0 0 26 12 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 12 14 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 5 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 TOT 131 12 11 67 30 12 3 28 0 43 52 2 22 11 10 14 174 10 3 2 0 638 *************************************************************************************Average basal area: 86 square ft/acre. Average volume: 1300 cubic ft/acre.Volume is for live growing-stock trees in the 6-inch dbh class or larger.Basal area is for live growing-stock trees in all dbh classes.*************************************************************************************Code Species Code Species Code Species*************************************************************************************BF Balsam fir TAM Tamarack (native) WS White spruce BS Black spruce JP Jack pine RP Red pine EWP Eastern white pine NWC Northern white-cedar EH Eastern hemlock RM Red maple SM Sugar maple YB Yellow birch PB Paper birch BA Black ash BP Balsam poplar BTA Bigtooth aspen QA Quaking aspen BLC Black cherry NRO Northern red oak ABW American basswood ELM Elm TOT Total

*************************************************************************************

22
5. Management tables that summarize forest inventory variables by

species, diameter, and a combination of the two will be displayed for the

wholeare theme. Select Whole Area from Management on the main

menu. Because this is the first management table to be displayed for

the wholeare theme, choose New Area in the Management Area Choice

box. A warning message will appear and management tables will not be

created if there is no species information available. To display subsequent management tables for the wholeare theme, choose Previous

Area in the Management Area Choice box. Define the management

output table by choosing By Species (e.g., table 3), By Diameter (e.g.,

table 4), or By Species & Diameter (e.g., table 5) in the Management

Type choice box. If you choose By Species & Diameter, then the management table may be displayed for any available species of interest. The

species may be selected in the Management Multi-Species Selection

choice box.

Table 3.—Management by Species table for the wholeare theme (plots selected from Michigan using

county boundaries and a circle graphic)

*********************************************************************

Growing stock report for all diameter classes by species (unit: thousands of cubic feet) in the selected area (Whole Area,

214800 acres).

*********************************************************************

Current Annual Annual Annual Annual Annual

Species volume growth mortality net growth removal net change

*********************************************************************

Balsam fir 18625.2 866.4 486.2 380.2 137.5 242.7 

Tamarack (native) 6722.6 175.3 51.1 124.2 0.0 124.2 

White spruce 8866.9 407.2 185.5 221.6 108.2 113.5 

Black spruce 21762.9 606.3 464.5 141.8 136.3 5.6 

Jack pine 23990.2 908.8 226.0 682.8 334.4 348.4 

Red pine 12505.5 483.0 24.1 458.9 0.0 458.9 

Eastern white pine 6664.1 195.5 20.4 175.1 76.7 98.4 

Northern white-cedar 28404.2 688.6 66.2 622.3 0.0 622.3 

Eastern hemlock 126.8 2.2 0.0 2.2 0.0 2.2 

Red maple 19490.4 745.8 38.5 707.3 61.5 645.8 

Sugar maple 23636.1 944.6 80.3 864.3 29.0 835.3 

Yellow birch 2159.5 62.1 15.2 46.9 9.5 37.4 

Paper birch 19652.7 552.0 230.3 321.7 1007.5 -685.8 

Black ash 1899.5 84.8 15.3 69.4 0.0 69.4 

Balsam poplar 6678.9 311.6 75.8 235.8 108.8 127.0 

Bigtooth aspen 16677.4 732.5 106.1 626.4 476.4 150.0 

Quaking aspen 37417.8 1830.7 633.5 1197.2 838.0 359.2 

Black cherry 749.4 14.4 18.2 -3.8 0.0 -3.8 

Northern red oak 10422.1 263.9 46.8 217.1 0.0 217.1 

American basswood 6439.8 163.0 2.0 161.0 0.0 161.0 

Elm 138.9 3.7 94.6 -90.9 0.0 -90.9 

*********************************************************************

Total 273030.8 10042.4 2880.7 7161.7 3323.7 3838.1 

23
Table 4.—Management by Diameter table for the wholeare theme (plots selected from Michigan using

county boundaries and a circle graphic)

*********************************************************************

Growing stock report for all species by diameter (unit: thousands of cubic feet) in the selected area (Whole Area, 214800

acres). Dbh class 40 represents trees greater than or equal to 39 inches diameter at breast height.

*********************************************************************

Diameter Current Annual Annual Annual Annual Annual

class volume growth mortality net growth removal net change

*********************************************************************

2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 

4 0.0 364.8 0.0 364.8 0.0 364.8 

6 44351.7 2510.1 678.7 1831.4 677.5 1153.9 

8 56093.7 2057.8 682.4 1375.4 1072.5 302.9 

10 57595.0 2028.1 591.8 1436.3 649.0 787.3 

12 41748.6 1141.1 357.0 784.1 203.5 580.5

14 26695.6 750.6 301.1 449.6 299.7 149.9 

16 17530.2 481.8 153.3 328.4 373.0 -44.6 

18 11870.5 363.0 40.6 322.4 35.8 286.6 

20 6453.0 134.0 29.4 104.6 12.6 92.0 

22 4837.7 94.6 30.5 64.1 0.0 64.1 

24 2630.0 50.2 10.9 39.3 0.0 39.3 

26 2013.5 42.2 4.8 37.4 0.0 37.4 

28 718.1 13.3 0.1 13.2 0.0 13.2 

30 493.3 10.8 0.0 10.8 0.0 10.8 

*********************************************************************

Total 273030.8 10042.4 2880.7 7161.7 3323.7 3838.1 

Table 5.—Management by Species & Diameter table highlighting quaking and bigtooth aspen in the

wholeare theme (plots selected from Michigan using county boundaries and a circle graphic)

*********************************************************************

Growing stock report for quaking aspen, bigtooth aspen (unit: thousands of cubic feet) in the selected area (Whole Area,

214800 acres). Dbh class 40 represents trees greater than or equal to 39 inches diameter at breast height.

*********************************************************************

Diameter Current Annual Annual Annual Annual Annual

class volume growth mortality net growth removal net change

*********************************************************************

2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 

4 0.0 66.0 0.0 66.0 0.0 66.0 

6 5511.3 501.4 80.9 420.5 265.7 154.7 

8 7762.9 460.5 181.4 279.1 260.4 18.7 

10 12259.5 567.4 172.4 395.0 217.2 177.7 

12 8144.6 309.3 99.7 209.5 103.3 106.3 

14 6387.0 247.0 117.9 129.1 213.3 -84.2 

16 5294.4 191.2 38.0 153.1 254.5 -101.3 

18 4016.3 113.5 19.8 93.6 0.0 93.6 

20 2602.0 64.7 10.0 54.7 0.0 54.7 

22 598.4 8.1 19.4 -11.3 0.0 -11.3 

24 984.3 22.3 0.0 22.3 0.0 22.3 

26 534.5 12.1 0.0 12.1 0.0 12.1 

*********************************************************************

Total 54095.1 2563.2 739.6 1823.6 1314.4 509.2 

6. A general forest type summary table will be displayed for the wholeare

theme. Choose More Tables from the main menu and then select

Wholeare Stats by Forest Type. The General Forest Type Summary

Window appears (e.g., table 6).

24
Table 6.—General Forest Type Summary table for plots in wholeare theme (plots selected from

Michigan using county boundaries and a circle graphic)

**********************************************************************

Current volume, annual growth, annual mortality, annual net growth, annual removal, and annual net change for growing

stock by forest type in the selected area are reported in thousands of cubic feet (214800 acres are represented). Annual calculations are based upon the nominal interval from 1980 to 1993. Plots that did not exist in the prior inventory (nominal year

1980) were not used in the annual calculations. Old forest types will not have any current volume by definition.

*********************************************************************

Current Plot Current Annual Annual Annual Annual Annual

forest type count Acreage volume growth mortality net growth removal net change

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Jack pine 14 20600 22819.4 880.1 211.5 668.5 0.0 668.5 

Red pine 5 5800 12935.7 534.7 43.8 490.9 0.0 490.9 

Balsam fir 15 19700 20540.0 828.6 273.2 555.4 172.9 382.4 

Black spruce 20 27300 21610.0 701.7 280.2 421.4 0.0 421.4 

Northern white-cedar 14 23700 40606.8 908.1 492.3 415.8 0.0 415.8 

Tamarack 2 2500 1052.4 18.5 18.8 -0.3 0.0 -0.3 

White spruce 2 2400 4505.5 108.3 30.3 78.0 0.0 78.0 

Oak-hickory 3 4200 7795.5 153.9 49.7 104.3 0.0 104.3 

Maple-beech-birch 26 36700 62284.0 2129.7 472.0 1657.7 258.2 1399.5 

Aspen 36 54000 57860.8 2746.1 743.1 2003.0 2487.5 -484.5 

Paper birch 7 8900 16736.3 653.4 171.0 482.4 0.0 482.4 

Balsam poplar 3 4200 4284.5 284.4 94.7 189.8 0.0 189.8 

Total 147 210000 273030.8 9947.6 2880.7 7066.9 2918.6 4148.3 

Old forest type

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Jack pine 1 1800 0.0 50.6 0.0 50.6 177.9 -127.3 

Aspen 1 1600 0.0 44.2 0.0 44.2 227.2 -182.9 

Paper birch 1 1400 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 

Total 3 4800 0.0 94.9 0.0 94.9 405.1 -310.2 

7. A subset of the plots in the wholeare theme will be selected based upon

FIA plot attributes. Plots will be reselected based upon their land ownership and forest type. First, a set of plots will be selected based upon a

chosen land ownership type. Next, only plots within the chosen land

ownership type will be selected based upon a chosen forest type. Choose

the Reselect Based Upon FIA Attributes item in the FIA Database

menu. The reselection will be made from the wholeare theme if it exists.

It should exist at this point. The FIA Plot Reselect by FIA Attributes

dialog will appear. Choose owner in the FIA Variable Selection box. Now

choose New in the FIA Reselection Type choice box. Pick an ownership

type from the Field Value Select choice box. The Field Value Select

choice box always shows all of the variable values or types in the

wholeare theme regardless of a previous selection in the FIA Variable

Selection box. Now choose forest type in the FIA Variable Selection

box. Pick Select From Existing Set in the FIA Reselection Type choice

box. The Available Forest Types window will appear identifying the frequencies of the different types in the wholeare theme. This is not restricted to those forest types in the land ownership type you previously chose.

Like the Field Value Select choice box, the Available Forest Types window always shows all of the forest types in the wholeare theme regardless of an earlier selection in the FIA Variable Selection box. Now 

25
If this occurs, choose another forest type by starting over with “Forest

Type” in the FIA Variable Selection box. The formerly selected land

ownership type still defines the existing selection set. After you select a

forest type that occurs in the chosen land ownership type, the Done

Reselecting – Create Fiaresel Theme button is enabled. Click the button to create the fiaresel theme.

8. Summary tables will also be created for the FIA plots in the fiaresel

theme. This time, choose Calculate Statistics from the main menu and

then pick the Run Fiaresel Calculations item. Create the General Plot

Summary and Stand Density Summary tables (e.g., table 7 and 8,

respectively) as previously described in step 4, but choose FIA Reselect

Area Stats in the Choose Statistic Report menu. 

choose a forest type from the Forest Type Selection box in the dialog.

The following message may appear if the selected forest type does not

occur in the land ownership type previously selected:

26
Table 7.—General Plot Summary table for plots in the fiaresel theme (plots selected from State land

occurring in an aspen forest cover type)

**********************************************************************

Current volume, annual growth, annual mortality, annual net growth, annual removal, and annual net change for growing

stock in the selected area are reported in thousands of cubic feet. There are 20 plot(s) representing 30200 acres. There are

19 current timberland plot(s) representing 28600 acres. Errors (1 standard deviation) are given as percentages of these totals.

Annual calculations are based upon the nominal interval from 1980 to 1993. Plots that did not exist in the prior inventory

(nominal year 1980) were not used in the annual calculations.

WARNING: Percent error only applies if timberland was previously selected.

**********************************************************************

Current Annual Annual Annual Annual Annual

Volume/Error volume growth mortality net growth removal net change

**********************************************************************

Volume 31360.9 1589.4 264.8 1324.5 1729.5 -405.0

(1,000 cu ft)

**********************************************************************

Error (percent) 15.89 undefined undefined 17.84 53.04 undefined

27
*************************************************************************************

The combined species stand table reports the average number of live growing-stock trees per acre for all plots in the selected area. The selected 20 plot(s)represent 30200 acres. There are 19 current timberland plot(s) representing 28600 acres. The stand table reports trees per acre only for current timberland

plot(s). Dbh class 40 represents trees greater than or equal to 39 inches diameter at breast height.*************************************************************************************DBH BF TAM WS BS JP RP EWP NWC RM SM YB PB BA BP BTA QA BLC NRO ABW TOT

2 56 1 3 17 000 3 19 40 0 3 0 6 19 198 4 0 0 370 

4 20 1 1 8 000 0 27 15 1 0 5 3 9 59 0 0 0 151 6 12 5 0 2 0 0 0 0 6 15 0 3 10 1 5 28 0 5 0 90 8 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 40 3 0 0 5 12 0 2 0 35 

10 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 00 1 1 1 6 11 0 0 0 23 

12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 7 

14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 

16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 

18 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 

20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

26 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

28 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

TOT 96 8 4 27 010 3 57 73 1 10 17 12 45 317 4 7 0 683 *************************************************************************************Average basal area: 76 square ft/acre. Average volume: 1097 cubic ft/acre.Volume is for live growing-stock trees in the 6-inch dbh class or larger.

T

Basal area is for live growing-stock trees in all dbh classes.*************************************************************************************Code Species Code Species Code Species*************************************************************************************BF Balsam fir TAM Tamarack (native) WS White spruce BS Black spruce JP Jack pine RP Red pine EWP Eastern white pine NWC Northern white-cedar RM Red maple SM Sugar maple YB Yellow birch PB Paper birch BA Black ash BP Balsam poplar BTA Bigtooth aspen QA Quaking aspen BLC Black cherry NRO Northern red oak ABW American basswood TOT Total*************************************************************************************

able 8.—Stand Density Summary table for plots in the fiaresel theme (plots selected from State land occurring in an aspen forest

cover type)

28
9. Management tables will also be created for the FIA plots in the fiaresel

theme. Choose the FIA Reselect Area item in the Management menu.

Again, choose New Area for the first of these management tables and

Previous Area for subsequent output tables. Define the management

table by selecting By Species (e.g., table 9), By Diameter (e.g., table

10), or By Species & Diameter (e.g., table 11) in the Management

Type choice box.

Table 9.—Management by Species table for the fiaresel theme (plots selected from State land occurring

in an aspen forest cover type)

*********************************************************************

Growing stock report for all diameter classes by species (unit: thousands of cubic feet) in the selected area (FIA Reselect

Area, 30200 acres).

*********************************************************************

Current Annual Annual Annual Annual Annual

Species volume growth mortality net growth removal net change

*********************************************************************

Balsam fir 2396.9 132.1 34.2 97.8 32.4 65.5 

Tamarack (native) 408.9 13.9 0.3 13.6 0.0 13.6 

White spruce 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 

Black spruce 164.4 6.3 8.0 -1.6 0.0 -1.6 

Jack pine 141.6 3.5 0.0 3.5 0.0 3.5 

Red pine 1572.6 29.8 0.0 29.8 0.0 29.8 

Eastern white pine 630.3 20.7 6.6 14.0 0.0 14.0 

Northern white-cedar 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 

Red maple 1801.1 80.9 0.0 80.9 50.5 30.4 

Sugar maple 1551.5 95.7 0.0 95.7 29.0 66.8 

Yellow birch 0.0 1.4 0.0 1.4 9.5 -8.1 

Paper birch 1577.4 61.2 16.8 44.4 853.6 -809.2 

Black ash 1200.5 80.0 0.0 80.0 0.0 80.0 

Balsam poplar 1228.8 96.2 5.1 91.1 32.9 58.2 

Bigtooth aspen 4666.3 248.5 37.4 211.1 14.2 196.9 

Quaking aspen 12658.2 661.3 134.7 526.6 707.4 -180.8 

Black cherry 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 

Northern red oak 1219.8 53.9 21.8 32.1 0.0 32.1 

American basswood 142.4 3.9 0.0 3.9 0.0 3.9 

*********************************************************************

Total 31360.9 1589.4 264.8 1324.5 1729.5 -405.0

29
Table 10.—Management by Diameter table for the fiaresel theme (plots selected from State land occurring in an aspen forest cover type)

*********************************************************************

Growing stock report for all species by diameter (unit: thousands of cubic feet) in the selected area (FIA Reselect Area,

30200 acres). Dbh class 40 represents trees greater than or equal to 39 inches diameter at breast height.

*********************************************************************

Diameter Current Annual Annual Annual Annual Annual

class volume growth mortality net growth removal net change

*********************************************************************

2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 

4 0.0 50.6 0.0 50.6 0.0 50.6 

6 7039.0 555.1 79.5 475.6 491.7 -16.1 

8 6201.6 283.4 61.8 221.6 573.3 -351.6 

10 6805.4 298.4 73.1 225.3 456.0 -230.7 

12 3168.3 141.4 19.4 122.0 125.0 -3.0 

14 2155.3 82.2 12.4 69.8 29.6 40.2 

16 1961.9 75.6 18.7 56.9 53.9 2.9 

18 2166.8 55.8 0.0 55.8 0.0 55.8 

20 488.6 10.1 0.0 10.1 0.0 10.1 

22 484.7 8.4 0.0 8.4 0.0 8.4 

26 259.1 7.7 0.0 7.7 0.0 7.7 

28 302.9 10.3 0.0 10.3 0.0 10.3 

30 327.4 10.4 0.0 10.4 0.0 10.4 

*********************************************************************

Total 31360.9 1589.4 264.8 1324.5 1729.5 -405.0

Table 11.—Management by Species & Diameter table highlighting red oak in the fiaresel theme (plots

selected from State land occurring in an aspen forest cover type)

*********************************************************************

Growing stock report for northern red oak (unit: thousands of cubic feet) in the selected area (FIA Reselect Area, 30200

acres). Dbh class 40 represents trees greater than or equal to 39 inches diameter at breast height.

*********************************************************************

Diameter Current Annual Annual Annual Annual Annual

class volume growth mortality net growth removal net change

*********************************************************************

6 243.4 20.9 6.8 14.1 0.0 14.1 

8 245.2 11.6 7.3 4.3 0.0 4.3 

10 0.0 2.0 7.7 -5.6 0.0 -5.6 

16 145.4 3.9 0.0 3.9 0.0 3.9 

18 585.8 15.4 0.0 15.4 0.0 15.4 

*********************************************************************

Total 1219.8 53.9 21.8 32.1 0.0 32.1 

30
10. A stand density table will be created for a single FIA plot. Before selecting

a plot, clear the selected features in the background theme. Choose the

Clear Selected Features item in the Theme menu. This deselects any

features in active themes (themes highlighted in the table of contents)

and makes it possible to see a selected plot in yellow. Another prerequisite is to make sure the fiaresel theme, the theme of interest this time, is

listed first in the view, active, and visible. At this time, your theme is

probably not active. Make the fiaresel theme active by clicking on it. You

should be able to successfully select a plot now. Select 

to display the Single Point Selection dialog. Next, click 

on the selection tool located in the dialog. Then, move the cursor near

the plot of interest. Click, hold, and drag with the left mouse button to

encircle the plot of interest. Only one plot is selected even if the circle is

drawn around more than one plot. The Point Selection Stand Density

Summary Window appears with a table similar to table 12. This procedure may be repeated a number of times.

31
Table 12.—Single point selection table for a plot in the fiaresel theme

*********************************************************

The species stand table for FIA plot 260502103000463 reports the number of live growing-stock trees

per acre by dbh classes. This plot represents 1400 acres. The plot has a 270 degree aspect and a 2

percent slope. Aspen is the current forest type at an age of 43 years. State is the current owner. The

current land use class is Timberland. Dbh class 40 represents trees greater than or equal to 39 inches

diameter at breast height.

*********************************************************

DBH BF TAM BS RM YB PB QA TOT

2 240 30 60 0 0 0 0 330 

4 60 30 60 0 30 0 0 180 

6 20 78 17 0 00 0 115 

8 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 13 

10 0 0 0 8 0 0 24 32 

TOT 320 138 137 8 30 13 24 670 

*********************************************************

Total basal area: 65 square ft/acre. Average volume: 680 cubic ft/acre.

Volume is for live growing-stock trees in the 6-inch dbh class or larger.

Basal area is for live growing-stock trees in all dbh classes.

*********************************************************

Code Species Code Species Code Species

*********************************************************

BF Balsam fir TAM Tamarack (native) BS Black spruce 

RM Red maple YB Yellow birch PB Paper birch 

QA Quaking aspen TOT Total

*********************************************************

11. To quit the model, choose Close Project from the File menu (make the

project window active). Or, choose Exit from the File menu. The second

method closes the model and the ArcView application.

Example 2: This exercise involves selecting plots in areas corresponding to

polygons having specifically chosen attributes or item values within an

ancillary coverage or shapefile. An ancillary polygon theme such as a soil

coverage is required for this exercise. The ancillary theme should exist in

the latitude-longitude coordinate system using decimal degrees.

1. Start the program by double clicking the FIAMODEL icon. If the model

is still running, start over by choosing Show Boundary in the

Background menu. A message box pops up requiring a Current Land

Use Class Selection. Any further reselections will be from the chosen

land use class, which should be timberland for this exercise. A view

document window appears with the State boundary theme.

2. Plots will be selected based upon polygon theme attributes. Select

to display the FIA Plot Reselect by Polygon Attributes dialog.

Select the ancillary polygon theme with the Choose Polygon

Theme button. After you choose the polygon theme, the Polygon

Select Type choice box is enabled. Choose New from the choice box.

After choosing the Polygon Select Type, pick a field from the Field

Select choice box. Next, the Field Value Select window pops up. Select

a field value of interest. Polygons with the chosen attribute are selected

and their corresponding areas will be used to select FIA plots. The

ancillary polygon theme and selected polygons can be displayed by

32
clicking the visibility check box next to the ancillary polygon name in

the table of contents. The selected polygons are highlighted in yellow.

Choose the Polygon Select Type choice box and select another field

and value; this can be done any number of times. Complete the selection process and choose New in the FIA Select Type choice box. The

wholeare theme is created and displayed. The figure below shows FIA

plots that were selected in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan based upon

soil attributes from an ARC/INFO polygon coverage.

3. Tables can be derived and displayed for these plots as in the previous

exercise. In addition, this selection of plots can be manipulated even

further with any of the previously mentioned selection dialogs and

tool.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Problems Starting

the Model

The following message may occur at start-up:

33
If this message occurs, refer to the SHUTDOWN section. If a message occurs

at start-up asking for the location of a theme or a database, then select

Cancel All. The model should continue the start-up and run correctly.

Several unlikely scenarios could cause this.

If the model issues unexpected error messages, then choose Exit from the

File menu. This will shut down the model and ArcView, which is an extra

precaution. Start the model again. A message similar to the following one

may occur when displaying an output table:

Problems Running

the Model

This means that the model cannot write over an existing output table (e.g.,

plotsum.txt) that was previously saved in the output directory. The table

could be open in another program such as a text editor. Either rename the

existing output table or close the existing table in the other program. This

will allow the model to save the current output table next time. If the previous output table still exists with the same name, the current output table

will overwrite it.

If display problems occur, video display may need adjustment or the video

memory may need an upgrade. Titles and messages may appear truncated.

Fix this problem by adjusting the font size in the Control Panel of the operating system. If unusual events like the disappearance of menus or button

bars occurs or the appearance of “ghosts” of previously closed windows

stays on the screen, then video memory is insufficient. This problem can be

solved by adding sufficient video memory.

FIAMODEL estimates current volume, annual growth, annual mortality,

annual net growth, annual removal, annual net change, and average number of trees/acre for growing-stock (not all live trees, rough trees, etc.). The

formulas for estimating these variables on a per tree basis are provided

below. These formulas and the variables used in the formulas were taken

from The Eastwide Forest Inventory Data Base: Users Manual (Hansen et al.

1992). Keep in mind that more specific selections will require more selection

parameters. For example, only plots on forest industry land are included in

the calculations if forest industry is the only ownership type chosen in the

FIA Plot Reselect by FIA Attributes dialog. The formulas for the average

volume and average basal area of all selected plots are also presented on

the next page. These variables are displayed in the Stand Density

Summary window.

FIAMODEL

VARIABLE

FORMULAS AND

CONDITIONS

FIAMODEL Data 

34
The final formula is used to estimate sampling errors associated with the

reported volumes (volume, net growth, and removal). Errors are reported in

the General Plot Summary window. This formula is a modified version of

the formula commonly provided with the published summary bulletins (e.g.,

Thompson and Sheffield 1997). In this model, sampling errors for selected

plots are estimated using unit, sampling errors provided in published bulletins. Usually, several units cover a single State. The sampling error for

selected plots in each unit is weighted by the volume selected in the unit in

relation to the volume selected in all units. This formula does not work with

negative net growth values (volume and removal will always be positive or

0). Therefore, the model uses the absolute value of any negative net growth

value when calculating sampling error for net growth. This can result in a

poor estimate of the standard error if many plots have negative net growth.

However, few plots will ever have negative net growth. Remember that this

formula provides an estimate based on available information. 

Positional accuracy of plots is dependent upon many factors. Locations of

plots in many older inventories were not acquired with global positioning

system units and inherently have error. Even locations of plots in more

recent inventories are adjusted so that the true locations are not revealed.

Each State has their own way of altering plot locations and the user is

advised to contact FIA officials in the State of interest for further details on

positional accuracy. Plot locations, expressed in decimal degrees, are in the

latitude-longitude coordinate system.

The model also reports the acreage represented by the plots. It is important

to note that this acreage is derived from the expacr (Hansen et al. 1992)

variable. Expacr is the area expansion factor representing the number of

acres that the plot represents for calculating areas for variables like ownership and cover type. Note: It is not correct to use the acreage in the output

tables to derive other statistics associated with the forest variables. For

example, volume/acre cannot be correctly calculated by dividing the current

volume with any acreage indicated in the General Plot Summary Window.

A different expansion factor, expvol (Hansen et al. 1992), is used with current volume calculations. In another example, multiplying average

trees/acre by any acreage indicated in the Stand Density Summary

Window does not correctly represent the total number of trees.

Formulas and

Conditions

Current Volume of Growing Stock (single tree):

Selection Parameters:

Tree status is live.

Tree class is growing stock.

Formula:

current volume = netcfvl * volfac * expvol

Annual Net Growth of Growing Stock (single tree):

Selection Parameters:

Tree status is live.

Tree class is growing stock.

Formula:

annual net growth = netcfgr * volfac * expgro

35
Annual Mortality of Growing Stock (single tree):

Selection Parameters:

Tree class is growing stock.

Formula:

annual mortality = netcfvl * mortfac * expmor

Annual Removal of Growing Stock (single tree):

Selection Parameters:

Tree class is growing stock.

Formula:

annual removal = netcfvl * remvfac * exprem

Number of Growing-Stock Trees / Acre (single tree):

Selection Parameters:

Tree status is live.

Tree class is growing stock.

Formula:

average number of trees / acre = volfac * expvol

Annual Growth of Growing Stock:

Formula (calculated from previous variables):

annual growth = annual net growth + annual mortality

Annual Net Change of Growing Stock:

Formula (calculated from previous variables):

annual net change = annual net growth – annual removal

Average Volume of Growing Stock (all plots weighted by area expansion

factor):

Selection Parameters:

Tree status is live.

Tree class is growing stock.

Formula:

Average Basal Area (all plots weighted by area expansion factor):

Selection Parameters:

Tree status is live.

Tree class is growing stock.

Formula:

Sampling Error:

sampling error unit sampling error total volume of unit

selected volume of unit

selected volume of unit

selected volume of all units i i

i

i

i 1

i total selected units

=

=

=

∑ *

36

average volume current volume / expvol i

i 1

# plots

i

i 1

# plots

=

= =

∑ ∑

average basal area ( dbhcur volfac / 576) / expvol 

h

# plots

i

i 1

# trees

i i

i 1

h # plots

= ∗∗ ∑∑ ∑ = =π 2
ESRI. 1997. Using the ArcView Dialog Designer. Redlands, CA:

Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. 74 p.

Hansen, Mark H.; Frieswyk, Thomas; Glover, Joseph F.; Kelly, John F.

1992. The Eastwide Forest Inventory Data Base: users manual. Gen.

Tech. Rep. NC-151. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest

Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station. 48 p.

Thompson, Michael T.; Sheffield, Raymond M. 1997. Forest statistics for

Southeast Georgia, 1996. Resour. Bull. SRS-23. Asheville, NC: U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station.

59 p.

LITERATURE CITED

37
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its

programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family

status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information

(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at

(202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil

Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is

an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Printed on recyclable paper.
Pugh, Scott A.; Reed, David D.; Pregitzer, Kurt S.; Miles, Patrick D.

2002. FIAMODEL: Users Guide Version 3.0. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-223.

St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North

Central Research Station. 37 p.

FIAMODEL is a geographic information system (GIS) program used

to summarize Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA, USDA Forest Service)

data such as volume. The model runs in ArcView and allows users to

select FIA plots with heads-up-digitizing, overlays of digital map layers,

or queries based on specific plot attributes.

KEY WORDS: FIA, GIS, ArcView, model, forest inventory, timberland.