Interagency Fire Effects Task Group
February 22, 2000

Photo Documentation Recommendations for Fire Effects:

Background:
	The Interagency Fire Effects Task Group began looking at photodocumentation over a year ago with an eye to developing standard methods/recommendations.  The photoseries is a basic type of monitoring dataset which is used by all participating agencies in monitoring fire effects, both immediate and long-term.  The following pages include recommendations which can be incorporated as they apply to new monitoring efforts by member agencies.  They were developed with input by a number of individuals, but especially Tami DeFries (Military Lands FMO-Alaska Fire Service BLM), Deb Nigro (Biologist-Yukon Charlie National Park and Preserve), and Stacy Drury (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).  A reference list is provided at the end.
	A means to archive photo sets so that they are available to all participating fire management agencies, independent researchers, or other interested parties has been a topic of discussion.  As an interim solution, metadata on photosets, including study leader as “author” date(s) and location information (including a lat/long if possible), can be submitted to the Fire Ecologist at AFS who will incorporate the 1-page descriptions into our local online Alaska Fire Ecology Database.  This database contains unpublished and published reports as well as other types of media and can be found on AFS web page ( under “Documents/Browse Alaska References”.

Contents:

I. Before The Field Season
II. Field Protocol
III.  Photopoint Series Protocol
IV. Photo Kit Contents
V. Photodocumentation References
VI.  Sample Generic Photograph Log   

Attachment: Sample Data Sheet 2 in Excel Format

PROCEDURES FOR PHOTO DOCUMENTATION
I. Before The Field Season

1.  Determine the goals and objectives of taking the photos.  This is the most critical step and I expect that it will be different for different groups.  I am assuming that your goal might be something like—“To use photopoints to document changes in the vegetation composition of varied habitats throughout Alaska.”  Your objectives may include one or all (or none) of the following:  a. To monitor vegetation recolonization rates and succession after a fire event.  b. To evaluate fire fuel types and quantity for fire management and modeling purposes.  c. To establish a historical library for use in studying fire effects in Alaska.  d. Anything else you might want photos to look at, the possibilities are endless.

2.	abSelect general locations where photos need to be taken.  This will depend on sampling strategy and objectives and goals.  It would be great if a random or a stratified random sampling scheme could be set up for the areas of interest.  A GIS system could be employed to stratify and select sites and create location maps and coordinates for ease of locating specific plots.

3.	abDetermine if data sheets are specific enough to complete study goals.  The general data sheets provided here may not work for you.  You need to determine your specific, individual objectives and modify the sheets to get the data you need.

4.	abPut together Photo Kit.  See Photo Kit Contents handout.  Make sure that you add in any specific equipment you may need to complete your objectives.  For example if you need mark plots you may need flagging or conduit/rebar and sledgehammers in your kit.  You may need tools to measure vegetation height or to sample vegetation plots.

5.	abTraining for personnel on use of equipment.  Although it may seem very simple to go out and take a picture, in order to get photos of any value the people taking the photos must be trained in the procedures outlined in Procedures For Photo Documentation—Field Protocol (see handout).

PROCEDURES FOR PHOTO DOCUMENTATION

1.	Determine that all Photo Kit items are in kit and that all items are in working order.  Also, everyone must understand how to use the equipment and what the camera settings, tripod heights, camera back settings, etc. should be.  Make sure that you have enough of the correct data sheets to document your entire project.  Pre-number rolls of film to avoid later confusion.

2.	Locate and mark area of interest on 1:63,360 quad map.  This helps assure that everyone knows exactly where they are going and provides for a hardcopy of the location.  If air photos are available make your location on that media also. 

3.	When you arrive at the photo point location: establish PLGR coordinates and fill out datasheets. (Remember to record the datum used and location error estimate: PDOP or EHE.)

4.	Write up plot & photo identifier information on chalkboard.  See sample for suggested data.

5.	Position vegetation height marker on edge of photo.  This marker is included in the kit.  (A range pole with black & white markings illustrating height is ideal.)

6.	abLoad film and set camera to predetermined F-stop and speed settings.  Generally auto speed settings are adequate unless light conditions are very poor.

7.	abSet camera up on tripod or monopod at predetermined height.  Height will depend on what you want to document, overall vegetation, shrub layer, ground layer, etc. – 4.5-5 feet is usual for photopoints. 

8.	abTake photos in predetermined cardinal directions making sure to document everything on data sheets.

9.	abComplete all vegetation or other associated data sheets.  The photos alone can not tell the whole story and depending on the objectives of the study one or several data sheets may have to be completed for each photo point location.

PROCEDURES FOR PHOTO DOCUMENTATION

III.  Photopoint Series Protocol							
  Note: Photoplots represent another type of photo series, where photos are taken straight down over a plot.  See other references for specific recommendations.  

Camera Selection
	35 mm Single Reflex type
	55 mm lens (standard)
	
Film Selection
	ASA 200 speed
	Ektachrome slide film

Plot Identification
	permanent location techniques
	GPS
	Aerial photos, if available
	topographic maps--1:63,360 minimum scale--marking location on map
	fuels map validating vegetation, fuels, location, and polygon size and shape of similar fuels
	permanent stake; suggest magnet mounted on the stake for location ease the second time
		stake represents center of interest area; all photos will be taken at stake center

	orientation
	 horizontal cardinal direction photos starting with North in clockwise configuration (N, E ,S, W) 		numbered 1-4 North being 1
	optional photos;  ground or surface fuels and canopy closure

	take the photo
	sun high overhead avoiding shadows or preferably shoot on a cloudy day
	standard height 4.5-5.0 feet above ground
	standard orientation of camera will be horizontal
	retake all photos same time of day and season

Photo documentation
	Dry erase board or card stock approximately 2’ x 3’
	Use block letters in blue or black marker
	Place in corner of field of vision (lower left)

Meta data
	Plot ID--unique i.d. describing study area including study area name, date and year   
		(Example: BLM-AFS Chena Lakes AA03, Plot 1 Pre-Burn 5/11/99)
	Plot reference number 1-4; see cardinal direction orientation
	camera info ASA/lens
	name/ observer
	lat/long  including GPS accuracy

IV. Photo Kit Contents

1.	35 mm SLR Camera with 50 mm lens and databack attachment
2.	Tripod or monopod marked at a specific height
3.	200 ASA slide film--lots (pre-number the rolls)
4.	Data sheets
5.	Fold out height ruler (needs to be 6 feet and marked at 1 foot intervals) or range pole
6.	Clipboard (to keep data sheets in)
7.	Pencils
8.	Chalk board and chalk (or dry-erase board)
9.	GPS
10.	ab  50-meter tape
11.	ab  1:63,360 USGS maps of the area 
12.	ab  Aerial Photos
13.	ab  Basic vegetation classification manual
14.	ab  Spare batteries for all equipment
15.	ab  Compass
16.	ab  Field book for use only on photo project to record any problems and/or questions and to make additional notes.

					

V. Photodocumentation References

Bensom, R. E. 1983.  Using photos to extend resource inventory data.  Renewable resource inventories for monitoring changes and trends: Proceedings of an international conference.  Corvallis, OR.  349‑352.  The author proposes that the potential value of photographs to extend quantitative information and meet unanticipated needs is underappreciated, and that photographic information should be a standard part of all inventory  and monitoring data collection.  Scenic quality, wildlife habitat, fuel loading, recreation impacts, and long‑term landscape change can all be evaluated and monitored with photographs.  The author suggests several orientations (e.g., canopy, horizontal, and ground) taken from the same photo point are more effective than a single frame.

Brewer, L.;Berrier, D.  1984.  Photographic techniques for monitoring resource change at back country sites.  Dover, DE U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station.  General Technical Report NE‑86.

Case, J. L.;Toops, P. L.;Shabica, S. V.  1982  Reference marker‑photo point resources management system.  Atlanta, GA U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service.  Research/Resources Management Report SER‑62.  A method for establishment of a permanent photo point monitoring system is described.  Markers were made of PVC pipe set into a cement base approximately 15 x 15 cm (form made from a plastic milk jug).  These were buried using a post‑hole digger, then cut off at 15 cm above ground level.  The cement base was required to secure the post in sandy ground and discourage vandals from pulling it up.  A removable cap could be placed on the post to hold a tape to the post.   The tape was used to measure distance and azimuth from the photo point to a reference marker and to a few witness trees.  Several photographs were taken from each photo point, with azimuth recorded for each.  A standard data form is illustrated.

Elzinga, C. L.; Salzer, D. W., and Willoughby, J. W. 1998.  Measuring and monitoring plant populations. 477 pp. BLM Technical Reference 1730-1.

Gruell, G. E.  1983. Fire and vegetative trends in the Northern Rockies: interpretations from 1871‑1982 photographs.  Ogden, UT U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. General Technical Report INT‑158.

Gruell, G. E.;Schmidt, W. D.;Arno, S. F.;Reich, W. J.  1982 Seventy years of vegetative change in a managed ponderosa pine forest in western Montana‑‑implications for resource management.  Ogden, UT U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. General Technical Report INT‑130.

Harrison, A. E. 1974. Reoccupying unmarked camera stations for geological observations.  Geology 2:469‑471.   This paper describes a method for exact relocation (within a 1% accuracy) of unmarked camera stations.  This method may be useful in relocating stations of historic photographs for use in long‑term photographic monitoring.

Hart, R. H., Laycock, W. A. 1996. Repeat photography on range and forest lands in the western United States.  Journal of Range Management 49:60‑67.  This bibliography lists 175 publications that use repeat photography.  A table lists publications by state and ecosystem type.  The annotated bibliography lists the reference and describes the number and dates of repeat series, the habitat, and the state where the photographs were taken.

Meurk, C. D. 1989. Vegetation monitoring, with special reference to the subantarctic islands of New Zealand.  Craig, B. (ed.)  Proceedings of a symposium on environmental monitoring in New Zealand with emphasis on protected natural areas.  1988 May, Dunedin, Wellington. Department of Conservation 209‑219.  Vegetation monitoring is defined here as the 'periodic assessment of individual 'tagged' (relocatable) communities, guilds, plants or ramets.'  Its purpose is to detect environmental change, determine the effects of management actions, and ultimately to provide direction for resource management.  The author focuses on two approaches to permanent, relocatable monitoring: pictorial records and permanent quadrants.  Photographs must be annotated and contain foreground and background features to allow relocation.  Pictures should be taken at the same time of year and with the same equipment to control for seasonal and focal length variation.  Permanent quadrants should be sized relative to the scale of the vegetation; suggested sizes for tall grassland or shrub land are 0.5 to 4-m2 quadrants or belts of 5 to 10 contiguous 0.25 to 1-m2 plots.  Nested quadrants are recommended for forest types.  Quadrants should be randomly established within strata of homogeneous communities.  The author suggests that efficient monitoring focuses on a few important species rather than attempting to measure them all.  In additional to general guidance, this paper provides a case study of monitoring the effects of sheep grazing on a subantarctic island.  The study was designed around a single treatment (grazed) and control area (ungrazed).  Vegetation was sampled in 325 quadrants (4.2 x 2m) along two 1.4km transects on either side of a dividing fence.  These plots were stratified based on 5 vegetation types.  Chi2 tests and a one‑way ANOVA were used to analyze the data. The results show dramatic recovery of native species in the ungrazed area.

Moir, W. H.;Franklin, J. F. 1972. Baseline measurement programs on federal research natural areas.  Pacific Northwest Natural Areas Committee.  Report 1(Review Draft).  This report, prepared for the Pacific Northwest Natural Area Committee, provides suggestions and examples of how to conduct ecological baseline measurement in natural areas.  The authors identify 4 levels of baseline measurement, including activities such as reconnaissance  inventories, checklists, engineering surveys, photo points, permanent plots, and more intensive ecosystem process studies.  Throughout the report, references are made to useful papers and methodologies.  Three types of permanent baseline plots and transects for measuring vegetation change in research natural areas are discussed in detail.

Pitt, D. G.;Glover, G. R. 1993. Large‑scale 35‑mm aerial photographs for assessment of vegetation‑management research plots in eastern Canada.  Canadian Journal of Forest Research.  23(10):2159‑2169.

Reeberg, P. and Botti, S. J. (editors). National Park Service National Fire Monitoring Handbook 1999. 250 pp.
Prepared by the National Fire Monitoring Steering Committee.  Contains sample data forms for plots and photographs.
Sharp, L. A.;Sanders, K.;Rimbey, N.  1990.  Forty years of change in a shade scale stand in Idaho.  Rangelands  12:313‑328.  This paper represents one of the best rangeland examples of changes recorded by duplicated photo points over time.
Skovlin, J. M.;Thomas, J. W.  1995.  Interpreting long‑term trends in Blue Mountain ecosystems from repeat photography. Portland, OR  U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, General Technical Report. PNW‑GTR‑315.
Todd, J. E.  1982.  Recording changes: field guide to establishing and maintaining permanent camera points. Portland, OR  U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region.  R6‑10‑095‑1982.
Van Horn, M.;Van Horn, K. 1996.  Quantitative photo monitoring for restoration projects.  Restoration and Management Notes 14:30‑34.
Reference list provided by Tami DeFries, AFS-BLM

Photograph Log   
Site:_________________________   Plot:______________   Date of Observation:__________
	Compass
Observer:_____________________   Lens:______    Film Type:______    Declination:_______
Roll/Frame #	Plot I.D.	Subject	Azimuth (TN)	Time	
2-1	Chena Lakes AA03 Plot 1 pre-burn	0-50m from Origin	270	10:00