Frequently Asked Questions
Urban Forest Inventory And Analysis
How are plots identified and located?
The cities of Milwaukee and Madison are each broken into 200 polygons of equal area and random sample locations are selected within each polygon to assure unbiased estimates of the urban forest. Urban areas outside those two municipal boundaries are sampled at an intensity of 1 plot for every 1,200 acres, identified in a similar grid fashion. Urban plots are located on both public and private land.
Who collects the data?
Currently, contract crews collect UFIA data. All crews are trained and certified by FIA and routinely checked to assure FIA quality standards are met.
How often are sample locations remeasured?
Each year about one-seventh of the plots are remeasured. All plots in Milwaukee and Madison were established by the end of 2021, with statewide plots established by the end of 2022. A small sample of each year’s plots receive a second visit for quality-control purposes.
What do landowners need to know if a sample point falls on their property?
Landowners will be contacted to request access to their property by field crews. Field crews will not collect information on properties without expressed consent from the landowner. Typically, sampling takes 1-2 hours on-site and does not require access to buildings. The same points are remeasured every seven years. For more information, visit the USDA's Forest Inventory and Analysis: For Landowners webpage.
Are you going to cut my trees?
No.
We don’t have any trees, what are you measuring?
Because the plots are randomly identified, they may be in locations with no trees. It is still important to collect data in these locations in order to better understand other vegetation and land cover.
Who will see the data from my property?
Specific information collected from the research site on your property is not made public. Only once the information is combined with data from other sites do we provide data summaries. Those summaries cannot be linked to your property. Only designated individuals have access to the data from your property, and those individuals must sign confidentiality agreements which hold them legally liable for maintaining confidentiality.
How can I be sure information about my property will not be made public?
It is illegal to release any FIA data that can be linked to a specific landowner.
Is there public access to the urban inventory data?
Resources are available where people can download summary data and reports. For links to those resources, visit our UFIA Plan Overview webpage.
What are some of the benefits of an urban inventory?
By sampling urban trees, their benefits can be quantified, and their management consequences evaluated. Elected officials, planners, land managers and private property owners can use this information to help maximize the benefits of their trees and accomplish their goals for their communities and properties.
Is this urban inventory program similar to a street tree inventory?
No. Whereas a street tree inventory usually includes all managed trees along street rights-of-way, the UFIA project collects data in randomly selected locations. Plots could fall in backyards, parks, or any other land use. UFIA then uses those plots to make statistically reliable estimates for the whole urban forest.
Who can I contact for more information about the Urban FIA inventory?
Dan Buckler
Urban Forest Assessment Specialist
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
608-445-4578
Daniel.Buckler@wisconsin.govPeter Koehler
Supervisory Forester
USDA Forest Service
715-423-2104
peter.koehler@usda.gov