Specifications include, but are not limited to: The fieldwork requires the location of individual plots and various measurements including; distances, azimuths, and DBH of individual trees located within the plot parameters. It involves traversing with aerial photography, GPS and compass to relocate the plot. Once located, plots are installed or re-measured and the associated data is recorded on a handheld data recorder. For this contract, FIA Phase 1 (P1) and Phase 2 (P2) plots will be field measured. Urban plots are identified in phase 1 that fall within Census-defined "urban" areas. These plots contain all the P2 variables in addition to both invasive species protocols and urban focused data items as described in the field guides. Urban plots are installed regardless of the presence of trees or other vegetation and have a different plot design than FIA P2, P2+, and P2+ Soils plots. Many Urban FIA plots have few if any trees present on them while some have the potential to be fully forested. They are sampled at a rate of 1 plot for every 6,000 acres of defined urban areas. Additionally, the portion of this sample that is contained within the political boundary of the target city (Minneapolis) will be further intensified in order to provide a minimum sample of approximately 200 plots per city. Thus the size of the target city will dictate the actual sampling intensity and the proximity of urban plots to each other. Smaller cities in area have a greater sampling intensity and the plots are closer to one another than larger cities. Urban plots shall be completed only during leaf on conditions. Objective: The Contractor agrees to furnish all labor, materials, transportation, equipment, and incidentals except Department of Natural Resources (DNR) furnished property, to monument and measure fixed radius ground inventory plots at specified locations for a one (1) year contract. The Contractor agrees to monument and measure FIA plots in accordance with the instructions contained in the most current Northern Research Station, Forest Inventory and Analysis Field Guide, including supplements, available online at http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/fia/data-collection/.
