OTTER: Forest Structure Measurements

OTTER project data contains field measurements of tree dimensions, including height, crown width, DBH, and height-to-crown distance. The data was collected using variable-radius plot sampling along transects with a steel tape and compass. Columns suggest a focus on quantifying forest structure and biomass.

Use Cases

• Calibrating remote sensing estimates of forest biomass based on ground-truth tree dimensions.
• Modeling forest canopy structure and light interception using crown width and height measurements.
• Assessing timber volume and stand density using DBH and plot sampling data.
• Studying allometric relationships between tree height, crown size, and trunk diameter.

Strengths

• Data collection method is explicitly described as variable-radius plot sampling, a standard forestry technique.
• Dataset is hosted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, suggesting a research-grade origin.
• Appears on multiple platforms (Data.gov and NASA Earthdata), indicating recognized utility.

Limitations

• Column names and exact row counts are unknown, limiting assessment of data scope and structure.
• Conflicting metadata: one source lists a last updated date in 2026 (likely a placeholder), while another suggests data from 1990.
• License is ambiguously listed as 'other-license-specified' without further details.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Variable-radius plot sampling with a steel tape and hand-held compass along transects.

Time Range

1990

Freshness

1990-08-01