Transcript • Multi-institutional collaborative research program. • Established in 1988 to document the composition and status of natural vegetation of the Carolinas. • Provides data, data services,

• Multi-institutional collaborative research
program.
• Established in 1988 to document the
composition and status of natural vegetation of
the Carolinas.
• Provides data,
data services, and
analysis to EEP
and its contractors.
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Restoration targets
Protocols and tools
Training
Data management
Data analysis
Goal: Move from crude species lists to a plot database
and high-resolution community classification with
quantitative descriptions.
EEP contractors can use these data to establish sitespecific restoration targets.
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 Phase 1: National Vegetation Classification type descriptions.
 Phase 2: Dynamically generated targets.
Growers can predict material needs.
 EEP can anticipate significantly higher success.
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Interactive plot map
Coastal Plain
brownwater
river forests:
levee &
floodplain
forests
Mean site attributes
for vegetation types
CVS collaborates with EEP to:
develop and document efficient protocols for
recording and monitoring vegetation,
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design and create data entry and quality-control
tools to optimize the efficiency and quality of data
flow from field workers into the data archive.
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5 sampling levels provide flexibility
plus consistency.
 Available resources include
manuals, datasets, and data entry
tools.
 Anticipates new federal standards
 Applicable for multiple purposes
and organizations
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Contractors receive hands-on training in data
collection and management at annual workshops
 Annual “Pulse” events provide intensive
training in sampling protocols and North
Carolina’s plant species and vegetation.
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The CVS data management system insures accurate
data collection and reporting.
 The CVS data-entry tool allows efficient data entry
with automatic error checking.
 Reports and plot statistics are automatically
generated.
 The archived data are used in various analyses and to
generate datasheets for subsequent monitoring.
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The Entry Tool:
•Facilitates Entry of new data
•From restoration sites
•From reference (non-disturbed, natural) sites
•Checks for potential errors
•Exports a report summarizing data
The Migration Tool:
•Used by CVS Data Administrator
•Moves data from the Entry Tool into the Archive
•Provides a mechanism for standardizing data across
many projects
•Flags possible errors
The Archive Database:
•Stores restoration and reference data
•Compliant with new national standards
The Viewer Tool:
•View data in the Entry Tool or Archive database
•Export data in configurable formats
•Summarize data as standard reports,
flagging areas that need attention
•Map plots to confirm locations
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Contractors use the Entry Tool to digitize & organize data.
Organizes the entry process into one place
Can calculate number of required plots for a project
Efficient data entry at all CVS Levels:
 Forms mimic paper datasheets
 Lookup data (species, locations) quickly
 Avoid redundant typing.
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Flags possible errors for resolution
Reports summarize final data
New datasheets printed for future monitoring
SAVES TIME & MONEY, DELIVERS HIGHER QUALITY DATA!
Create a new project.
 Calculate number of plots needed based on:
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 The project dimensions (any units)
 The project area (any units)
 EEP requirements
Organization
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Data automatically checked for errors as entered.
You don't have to retype data
that is known from last year.
The cursor stops only on the few
fields with solid borders.
Efficiency
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Data displayed to match plot sampling level
 Shows what you need; hides what you don't.
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Can "upgrade" plots to a higher level
 Initially level 1; later level 2 to record natural vegetation,
perhaps on to higher levels.
Data summarized with click of a button
 Multiple configuration options available
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 Reports based on a single year or multiple years
 Reports based on a single project or multiple projects
Project Summary
Highlights year of
project failing to meet
requirements!
Matrix of plots, species, and number of stems
(This page shows 3 of 10 to 12 worksheets in the Report)
Summary of Stem Vigor
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CVS reports
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Datasheets for monitoring
Survival & growth of planted stems
Direction of compositional change
Rate of compositional change
Problems needing attention (e.g., stem mortality, exotic species)
The data and services provided by CVS improve the
likelihood that vegetation within monitored sites is
developing towards a pre-defined reference condition.
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Restoration targets
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High quality, detailed, for all vegetation types
Increases likelihood of on-time completion
Anticipates future standards
Uniquely able to handle rare species and communities
Protocols and tools greatly improve efficiency
Training improves efficiency
Data management minimizes errors and anticipates
problems
 Data analysis keeps EEP informed of trajectory of
each project and quality of contractor services.
 Financial benefits
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Free: $100,000 senior staff time per year
Free: $35,000 volunteer field-worker time per year
Free: $125,000 in annual prescriptions for sites (~50*$2500)