2013 Regional Management Team MeetingBob Ilgenfritz - Data Collection Group Leader:1. A look back at FY 13 &
looking forward to FY 14
2. Forest Service’s safety sharing.
FY 13 budget & FY 13 Field Accomplishments Continuing Resolution thru FY 13 NRS FIA budget reduced 1.1 Million in FY
2013 from FY 2012 level. Significant decrease in discretionary funds Able to maintain a 5 year cycle in FY 13 due
to prepaying data collection agreements in 2012.
Each state in the NRS region has received at least one annual measurement and one annual remeasurement.
FY 14 planning meeting Cycle length - maximize number of subpanels
Reinvest in FIA program areas outside FIA plots.
Carbon –P2+ plots - DWM & understory Veg NWOS – More courthouse/ownership work TPO – Reinstitute Wood Utilization Studies
Lesser commitments: Pilot test support to NRS RWU’s Urban study in Baltimore
FY 14 final plan Cycle length – 7 year or 10 subpanels
Used two year averages of federal plot production 10 year funding to state cooperators
Feds offer to pick up the plot equivalents from a 10 to 7 yr. cycle in coop states – 3 subpanels
Fund ND/KS/NE contracts and SD agreement on 7 year cycle
“Drop” statewide federal data collection contracts Support 2 NRS Research Work Units - Spring
2014 Susan Stout – Allegheny NF research plots Dan Dey – Sinkin experimental forest
Baltimore Urban Study – Summer 2014 Wood Utilization Studies
Wood Utilization StudyLast done in late 1990 in NE and
NCObjective – support/improve
TPO by determining the proportion of harvested timber that is utilized at the mill and what’s left in the woods.
•
1000 studies in 6 utilization regions for 24 states. Sample stratified by 8 species groups and 3 product types.
FIA Safety Improvements
1. Check out/check in 2. Safety Engagement
Sessions
FIA Check out / Check In Increased number of plots done solo Greater need to assure safe return from
woods
Satellite phones then answering service
Use of SPOT device to check out/check in
SPOT Features One way satellite communication using
two preset messages: Interim OK message Final OK
Tracking feature “Hands” - Send help button “SOS” or 911 button Devise cost - $100 - $125 each Service – $150/yr. w/tracking; $100/yr.
w/o
FIA Check out / Check In Using Dispatch and SPOT
Program with SPOT has evolved since 2009
Started as check out / check in using SPOT devise only – monitored by supervisors
Learning/Improvements & refinements
FIA Check out / Check In Using Dispatch and SPOT Added SPOT with dedicated dispatcher in
2011.
Added interim safe status checks Provide close dispatch support for LOC
Forest Service Safety Sharing
Safety engagements – applications to state cooperators for FIA and other field projects. MIDAS to capture previous safety
issues/challenges on plot Improved near miss reporting Real time weather radios Verbal conflict resolution Aerosol defense sprays