A database strategy for new variables
This article is part of a larger document. View the larger document here.Abstract
The introduction of new variables into the annual inventory system of the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program can create issues with population estimates since evaluations (or expansion factors) based on a full cycle’s worth of data should not be used with new data that have not been collected for a full cycle. This manuscript provides guidance on how to manage evaluations within the National Information Management System Compilation System (NIMS-CS) when new variables/ attributes are added to the Forest Inventory and Analysis annual inventory.