Slide 1

FIA TOOLSForest Inventory & AnalysisWeb-based toolsWelcome to the Webinar on FIATOOLS

1Interactive programs with a User InterfaceAvailable 24-7, on the national FIA Web siteEasy access to the national FIA databaseGenerate Reports with FIDO and EVALIDatorDownload data with DataMartEasy access to other FIA databases

FIA TOOLS

So what are FIA Tools??

They are a group of interactive programs and applications that have been developed and maintained by the Forest Inventory and Analysis program.

And they are all tied together and easily accessible with a handy push-button User Interfacecalled FIATOOLS

The TOOLS have their own webpage on the national FIA website so they are available to you 24-7 as long as you have an internet connection.

This web page has links to a variety of databases, lots of documentation, field manuals, user guides, and other information all the things you might need to work with FIA data.

The primary reason for FIATOOLS is to give all of us easy access to the national FIA database known as FIADB.This is a place where you can generate reports with FIDO or Evalidator And where you can Download data to work with it on your own computer.

FIATOOLS also gives you access to some of the other databases maintained by FIA -Databases that hold different types of information, such as the small woodland owner survey data or timber products output data.

2Todays Presentation

Overview of the FIA Data & Tools web page

Brief tour of the DataMart

Focus is on FIDO Forest Inventory Data Online A tool that helps you produce summary tables & reports and generate simple maps using the most recent version of the FIADB.General overview of the FIATOOLS web page, show you how to get there, and introduce you to the user interface Provide a brief introduction to the FIA Datamart and how to download data and documentation so you can use it on your own desktop

The primary focus is on FIDO

Forest Inventory Data Online A tool that helps you produce summary tables & reports As well as some simple maps ALL using the most recent version of the FIADB

3Getting Started How do you access the FIATOOLS web page?A number of ways

How do you access the fiatools webpage??There are a number of ways

4

http://fia.fs.fed.us/National FIA website Home PageFIDO is accessible from the FIA home page.

Either click on the FIDO link in the right-hand column,

or click on the FIA Data and Tools link in the left-hand column.

5

Or, simply type fiatoolsAddress line of your Internet Browser Quickest and most direct way to bring up the FIATOOLS webpageOr you can simply enter the keyword FIATOOLS on the address line of any browser.

This is the quickest and most direct way to bring up FIATOOLS6

FIA TOOLS web pageFIA TOOLS web pageThis is what the FIATOOLS webpage looks likeThere are a series of 5 buttonsEach one provides you access to data, reporting tools, and documentation

Click on each button briefly explain them7

Heres a larger version of the Datamart Page --

At the Data Mart, you can get FIA data in comma-delimited or MS Access database files.

The Access database includes a long list of queries and a copy of Evalidator that runs within the database.

Also, there are links to database documentation and standard reports on the left panel in the upper corner of the screen.

8

The FIA Library contains documentation for current and past versions of FIADB.9

Recent load history link10

Recent Load History page brings up a map showing dates of data available. There is also a listing of what data has been loaded and when.11

FIADB4 population estimates by state and year link12

All the population estimates are listed for every evaluation that are available.Right click to Export to Excel.FIADB Population Estimates table covers the entire country and every inventory loaded into FIADB. This is one-stop shopping for estimates.13

Standard reports by state link14

Click on a stateThere are number of summary reports that have been run for you and stored in An Excel spreadsheet. You can just download these and either use the numbersDirectly or keep the spreadsheets as a reference.

There are about 30-40 summary tables in these spreadsheets.

There are 3 types or categories of reports

First one -- each report is run for the entire US so if youre interested in national statistics --- You might want to check out this spreadsheet.

The second category has reports for NFS ownerships only. Again, a number of reports pre-run and stored in a spreadsheet, which you can download.

The 3rd group of standard reports is run at the state level. One spreadsheet (or workbook) for every state. To choose a state click on the map and you will be prompted to save the file to disk.

15Thats an overview of the FIA TOOLS webpage and how to download FIA data

Questions ??

16

FIDOForest Inventory Data OnlineWeb ToolFIDO presentation demonstration of the steps needed to complete a summary report.17

How do you start FIDO ?Go to the FIATOOLS web pageClick on FIDO the button!18

FIDO Welcome Page000When you do that, the FIDO welcome page appears with a lot of information on it.

Again it lists the regional contacts for FIDO help, provides information pertaining to system requirements and configuration, and determines whether your computer has the appropriate software to run the application.

Check to make sure that the message: -- Your browser has the required software plug-ins to run this application -- appears in the Browser Check window, as you see here.If you get a message that your computer needs additional software, you will see a link for instructions on installing software for FIDO.

Even though you may have the proper software, you may still need to adjust your browser settings. Click on Click Here for further instructions.

Once finished with the setup instructions, you are ready to run the FIDO application.

From this page the user chooses either the FIA Standard Reports or Custom Retrievals option. The standard reports option runs premade reports, and allows the user to run more than one report at a time.

The Custom Reports option provide more flexibility. Users have the option of designing their own templates or they can choose one of the many premade templates. Users can save their report templates for uploading and use at a later FIDO session.

We will focus on the Custom Reports this is the option selected by most users.Click on the Tool icon for the custom reports.

19

Custom Retrievals welcome page8 steps to create and run a report.This takes you to the Custom Retrievals Welcome Page

Here are the details of the 8-step process to creating a custom report. These buttons are not active on this page, but will be active once you start the Custom report application.

Click on Begin Creating Custom Reports>> button to start.20

FIDO working screenThis takes you to the main working page of FIDO this is where it all happens!

It has 3 main sections

The right hand column displays the 8-steps to building a custom report.

The left hand column contains choices or options that are dependent upon which menu or step you are working on. This changes as you move down the set of buttons on the right.

The middle section of the screen is used to display many different things.the report output -- the results of your work will be shown hereinformation on the menus that are activedisplay maps to select the geographic area for your report.

In past versions of FIDO, using the Home or Back button would take you back to the FIDO welcome page, essentially, clearing all your selections and starting a new session. Now the Home button will take you back to the FIDO welcome page, but your current work will be retained when you go back to a FIDO session (whether you open a new browser or re-enter from the welcome page your current selections remain). The Back button will bring you to the previous window (again, nothing will be lost).

If you really do want to start over and clear out all the reports (including any reports that are partially constructed) in your current session, use the Restart button in the Wizard.

The lower part of the middle section contains the FIDO Wizard, which guides the user through the report making process. It also provides a summary of all the steps completed. Note here that the Wizard is telling the user that a template MUST be selected in this menu, or the program cannot proceed.

SO, at this point the Start New Retreival button is clicked and highlightedThe column on the left has some options for us to selectAnd the Wizard at the bottom is telling us that we Must select a template from the list of options.

21

Start New RetrievalStart New Retrieval Page

So lets see what options we haveWe have a series of report template groups listed on the left.Each group has an orange arrow next to it, meaning there are more options below.

The report template is the basic structure of the report and choosing one is the first step towards generating a report. The user cannot go beyond this screen without first selecting a template (Note that the other buttons or menu items in the right hand column are blacked-out).

The pre-made templates are grouped by the summary attribute (the value to be displayed in the report, e.g. acres of land, number of trees, or tree cubic foot volume).

22Template Categories

Some of the template selections are bundled within main categories (such as Net and Gross Tree Volume).

Either click on the right-facing triangle or check the radio button next to Net to view the selections in that category.23

Template CategoriesClick on the Retrieval Templates/Reports headings to view the lists of associated templates.

The User-defined reports section is a handy place to store and locate reports that you generate and save for future FIDO sessions.

The For power users section contains blank templates for advanced users.24

Template CategoriesClick on the Retrieval Templates/Reports headings to view the lists of associated templates.

The User-defined reports section is a handy place to store and locate reports that you generate and save for future FIDO sessions.

The For power users section contains blank templates for advanced users.25

Select TemplateOnce you select a template, information about that template appears in the middle section of your screen. It shows the title, a description of the row and column variables, General info on how the report is laid out, and the various filters that have been set up for this report. Also, at the top, there are references to the FIADB attributes (e.g., volcfnet is a tree attribute used to compute the volume estimate).

The program will continue only after the user clicks on the Use as Template button.26

Select TemplateOnce you select a template, information about that template appears in the middle section of your screen. It shows the title, a description of the row and column variables, General info on how the report is laid out, and the various filters that have been set up for this report. Also, at the top, there are references to the FIADB attributes (e.g., volcfnet is a tree attribute used to compute the volume estimate).

The program will continue only after the user clicks on the Use as Template button.27

Region of InterestBecause you are using a pre-defined template, FIDO skips down from Start New Retrieval to the Define Region of Interest menu. The Summary Attribute, Design Layout, and Filter Options have already been set up.

(FIDO always jumps to the next required step to complete a report). Users can still navigate back (click on the menu button) to these windows if they want to make any layout changes or select additional filters.

The Region of Interest refers to the state, county(s), survey unit(s), or circular boundary on which your report is based.

Note that the Wizard states that this step is required in order to continue (also note the Hide Wizard option has appeared).

Selections can be made using the list on the left hand column or by using the map in the display window. This demo will show you both options.

Check the box next to Display Google Map to view map of the US.

28

Map DisplayTo get a larger view of the map, click on the Hide Wizard box or the maximize button in the right-hand corner of the display.

Use the navigation buttons on the left side of the map to adjust the view. You can scroll using either the up, down, right, and left arrow buttons or the pan hand. You can zoom using the + and scale.

You can use the hand to grab the map and move the whole image around.

All standard google functions work within this window.

29

Here, weve zoomed in on Wisconsin and Michigan. And Clicked on Google Physical view

In order to see county and survey unit boundaries, click again on the orange arrow next to michigan.30

What is shown is the complete list of Survey units and individual county names When we do this, the county boundaries appear on the map.31

Click on individual counties in the map to select them. The boxes next to the counties are automatically checked when the counties are selected on the map. Or, if you click the county box on the left, you will see that county highlighted on the map.32

Select an entire state by either clicking on the map, or checking the box next to the state in the left column list.

Either way, the state will be highlighted on the map, and the list box for the State will be checked.33

When you have the area or region of interest selected you must click continue.34

Choose Survey YearsThe last continue button will take you to the next step Choose Survey Years

Survey years are the group of years for an inventory FIA creates one stratification for a group of survey years ( meaning there is one set of plot and tree expansion factors for that group).

This varies a bit by state or FIA region. Here you see the stratifications created each year, after another set of plots have been added to the database, have been saved and can be selected. In PNW for example, only the most recent stratification is kept for the full range of available years.

All survey years for which there are FIADB data will appear in the left hand column. They are listed by year and state

The survey year represents the set of plots that are used to make an estimate.

35

Annual and Periodic SurveysClick on the box next to the survey year/state in the left hand column to get more information about the survey. For most states, forestland-based estimations are not available for periodic surveys, as inventories were conducted only on timberland.36

For this demo, only the most recent combined survey is selected per state choosing only one survey per state allows the summary of the individual state reports to be summed by the rows (this will be demonstrated later in the report output)

A trick if you hide the wizard and then unhide it, the updated survey years will appear in the wizard window.

Click on Continue >> and FIDO will bring you to the next step necessary to produce a report

37

Produce ReportAt this point we have completed all the steps needed to customize the report template for our own use.

This screen shows the name of our report in the left column, and that it is ready to be submitted.

At this point, the user has the option of going back and altering the report by clicking on the various menus in the right hand column

(you can now use the back button on your browser it will bring you to the previous window)To produce your report, you need to click the Submit button (once!).

38

Wait for the report to runSpinning circle means its working!Once you submit the report, the editing menus are locked and cannot be accessed.

You need to wait a bit for the report run.

The radio button next to the report will spin as FIDO computes the estimate.

The message in the Report Display tells the user that FIDO is working on it.

When FIDO is done, it shows you the next screen

39

Your report is ready!Options for displayWhen the report is ready, the radio button will cease to spin, a message in the display window will appear indicating that the report is ready.

You will notice new options appear in the left column. These are Display Options for your report. The default format is Html Table

(Forest land is defined as land that is at least 10-percent stocked by trees of any size or has been at least 10-percent stocked in the past).

40

Options for displayGeneral options include customizing the report title, showing empty rows (new with this version the default is to hide empty rows), and metric units.

The default format is Html, but there are also Map, Excel Spreadsheet and PDF formats.

41

Click on display to view the report.

42

Report DisplayThe report appears in the center of the screen.

To get a better view of the report, check the Maximize button in the upper right corner of the Report Display

43

Forest land EstimatesThere are 3 tables displayed in your report. The first one is for the estimates for Michigan 2007.

The Michigan and Wisconsin reports are summed in the last table on the bottom. If more than one survey year per state were chosen for this report, then the summary would only include totals from each of the state report.

Note the different colors of the values in the table output. These indicate the range of percent sampling errors (black estimates have pse of 25% or less, green is 26-50%, and red is greater than 50%). Move your cursor over any estimate to view the percent sampling error

44Timberland Estimates

Below the estimates on forestland are estimates on timberland.45

Table DescriptionsSaving Report Output

There is a print button in the HTML output, however, wide reports (diameter classes) are often cut off. Another way to have an electronic (and nice looking) output is to copy the entire report window and paste it into a spreadsheet or word-processing program.47

Paste into MS Word to retain a clean copy of the output. The exact standard errors, however, are not included in this format.48

Other Output Formats --PDF

PDF output lists the estimates and the errors.49

Other Output Formats -ExcelAnother report output option is to save the file in Excel format.

50Other Output Formats - Map

Other Features Editing ReportIf you change your mind about something (one of the steps already chosen) you can Choose edit to make any changes to your report.

The menus in the right hand column become available for selection.52

All buttons become active again.

Users can change every aspect of the report from changing the summary output to choosing different survey years. EDIT modeThe menus are now available for selection. Users can change every aspect of the report from changing the summary output to choosing different survey years. 53

Other Features Copying a reportClick on the copy button to create another copy of the report.54

A duplicate report appears in the report list.

Users can now click on the EDIT button and change this extra copy.COPY optionDelete the report click the XA duplicate report appears in the report list users can now click on the edit button and change this extra copy.

A report can be deleted from the list by clicking on the x button to the right of the report.55

Other Features Run more reportsClick on Start New Retrieval to add another report56

Select a new reportKeep Area and YearsChoose another report and the template information will be displayed.

Users have the choice of keeping the pre-selected area of interest and survey years. 57

Collect ReportsAll reports in your current session remain active. Select one to redisplay or edit.The reports are kept available for use during the current session.

Use the radio button to select any report for display, edit, copy. Reports can be deleted by selecting the X-box to the right of the report

For use in future sessions, use the save active retrieval function to save the report to the current session, then save the configuration file.58

FIDO Exercise 1 Basic NavigationBasic navigation exercise to familiarize new users to the fundamental steps in producing a report using a pre-made template.59FIDO_Webinar_Exercise 1_Basic_Navigation_1.5.1.05.pdf