This section provides links to download the Lesson 6 data along with reference information about each dataset (metadata). Briefly review the information below so you have a general idea of the data we will use in this lesson.
Note: You should not complete this activity until you have read through all of the pages in Lesson 6. See the Lesson 6 Checklist for further information.
Create a new folder in your GEOG487 folder called "L6." Download a zip file of the Lesson 6 Data [1] and save it in your "L6" folder. Extract the zip file and view the contents. Information about all datasets used in the lesson is provided below:
The data we will use In Lesson 6 was collected by the International Forestry Resources and Institutions (IFRI) Organization [2]. IFRI is a research network made up of 18 collaborating research centers around the globe. Since 1992, IFRI researchers have collected both ecological and social field data for over 400 sites in 15 countries. For this lesson, we are going to use a subset of their data to calculate the carbon sequestration and carbon credits for a small forest located in southeastern Michigan.
The data was collected by laying out 18 circular plots, every 10 meters in diameter, at random locations throughout the study forest. The coordinates of these locations were determined in advance using GIS. In the field, students used GPS and mobile apps to navigate to the middle of each plot, lay out the circular plot, and collect attribute information about the trees. Any trees that fell inside the plot boundaries were measured to obtain their height and diameter. Measurements were collected for a total of 278 trees.