2409.13a,30
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          FSH 2409.13a - TIMBER PERMANENT PLOT HANDBOOK
                   WO AMENDMENT 2409.13a-92-1
                        EFFECTIVE 1/29/92

           CHAPTER 30 - DATA HANDLING AND MAINTENANCE


30.4 - Responsibility.

30.41 - Director, Timber Management, Washington Office.  In 
addition to the responsibility described in section 04.1, the 
Director of Timber Management has the responsibility to:

    1.  Prepare and support a data base structure containing 
descriptions of local permanent plot data bases so that users 
have access to data managed locally.

    2.  Coordinate sharing of permanent plot data between Regions 
and Stations.  

    3.  Establish and maintain national standards for editing 
required data elements.

30.42 - Regional Foresters and Station Directors.  Regional 
Foresters and Station Directors shall ensure that project 
leaders, inventory specialists, mensurationists, or others who 
have direct responsibility for the data:

    1.  Collect the core variables listed in chapter 20 of this 
Handbook.

    2.  Develop, secure approval, and maintain a data base of 
permanent plot reference records.  Provide sufficient information 
to the Chief about the nature and content of the data base so 
that appropriate sharing of information about the data may take 
place. 

    3.  Develop a reference to all properly collected permanent 
plot data in this data base.  

    4.  Maintain tree and plot level data files for plots that 
are in this data base. 

    5.  Use national edit standards at both plot and tree level 
before entering a reference record for the plot in the data base.  
The owner of the data is responsible for these edits.  

    6.  Keep at least one paper or electronic copy of original 
data stored separately from the original in order to minimize the 
possibility of a costly and irretrievable loss of permanent plot 
data.  

    7.  Maintain infrequently used growth and yield data in a 
recoverable, archived file.

31 - DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS.  Use local, regional or national 
processing systems for editing, loading, storing, field 
recording, and retrieving the required data.  No national data 
base of permanent plot tree level information exists.  A 
permanent plot data management structure which may be used for 
local storing, editing, and retrieving of data is available 
through the Timber Management Service Center at Fort Collins, 
Colorado.  

32 - REFERENCE RECORD CONTENT.  Include information which clearly 
links the permanent plot reference record with permanent plot 
data stored at other field units.  Give minimum information 
needed to identify potentially useful data including a plot 
identification number, all measurement dates, treatment history, 
and location of the data.  

    1.  Permanent plot data referenced must be error-free based 
on initial minimum edit checks. 

    2.  Local managers of the data must be able to provide the 
data on request in a standard data interchange format.

33 - EDITING.  Ensure integrity of data referenced using an 
initial edit of tree and plot data and a cross-check edit for 
remeasured plots.  Check against valid codes as given in FSH 
2409.14.  If definitions, codes, and standards are not in the 
Handbook, check against the Interim Resource Inventory Glossary 
or other sources.

    1.  Tree and Plot Data Edits.  Data owners are responsible 
for all edits of tree and plot data. 

        a.   Ensure that data have passed the minimum edit checks 
        in this section before entering a reference record in the 
        permanent plot data base.

        b.  Include checks against a table of legal codes for the 
        core variable and crosschecks with other variables where 
        applicable.

        c.  Permit blank fields only if the variable is optional 
        or not appropriate.

        d.  If there are discrepancies, correct or verify the 
        data for validity.

    2.  Remeasurement Edits.  Make an edit when remeasured plot 
data are analyzed across measurement dates using a cross-check 
program.