Combining tree based and plot based data

[Jaewon]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if tree-based and plot-based data can be combined in i-tree eco. My research group has plot-based data mainly in the forest and I want to collect supplementary data in the urban areas but focus on the specific artificial area so that I can collect all the data from the trees there and do tree-based research. I believe it would be hard for me to utilize the previous plot-based data if it can't be combined, so I wanted to check if this can be combined or not since I am still in the data planning stage.

Thanks in advance!

[Jason.Henning]

Hi Jaewon,
There is not functionality to do a combined plot-based and complete inventory project. The plot-based projects assume that you are doing a random sample and want your estimates expanded to the whole city or area of interest using statistical estimation. If you are not interested in those city-wide expansions you could ignore the fact that those trees were collected on plots and just treat them as tree based inventory. That would give you individual tree results for each tree on the plots and you could put your other individual tree data in the same project. Alternatively, you could also always have teo separate project, one plot-based and on e complete inventory. I don't know the exact goals of your project so I don't know the downsides of that approach.
Thanks,
Jason