TITLE: LaTeX plot census forms
DATE: 2021-02-25
AUTHOR: John L. Godlee
====================================================================
In addition to the ODK forms I created to help collaborators
collect woodland plot data for the SEOSAW plot network, I wanted to
make sure that we could guide data collectors in collecting
SEOSAW-style data even if they don't have access to an Android
device.
[SEOSAW]: https://seosaw.github.io
I used LaTeX to create some forms which prompt users on the types
of data to collect to describe a new plot. The idea is that the
form is used in conjunction with the SEOSAW field manual.
Here is a copy of the form
\documentclass[8pt,a4paper]{article}
% Tables
\usepackage{float}
\usepackage{tabularx}
\usepackage[table]{xcolor} % also loads {colortbl}
\usepackage{makecell}
\usepackage{multicol}
\usepackage{ragged2e}
\newcolumntype{L}[1]{>{\raggedright\let\newline\\\arraybackslash\hsp
ace{0pt}}m{#1}}
% Checkmarks
\usepackage{pifont}
\newcommand{\cmark}{\ding{51}}%
\newcommand{\xmark}{\ding{55}}%
% Page geometry
\usepackage{geometry}
\geometry{left=1cm,
right=1cm,
top=1cm,
bottom=1.6cm}
% Disable paragraph indentation
\setlength{\parindent}{0pt}
% Disable section numbering
\setcounter{secnumdepth}{0}
\pagenumbering{gobble}
\begin{document}
\begin{minipage}[t]{\textwidth}
{\Large{\textbf{Plot name: \hspace{2.5cm} Date:
\hspace{3cm} Data collector(s):}}}
\end{minipage}
\rule{\textwidth}{1pt}
\vspace{0.3cm}
\setlength\extrarowheight{2pt}
\begin{minipage}{0.45\textwidth}
\vspace{0.3cm}
\section{Plot dimensions}
\begin{tabularx}{\textwidth}{rX}
\hline
\hline
\makecell[r]{Plot shape \\[-2pt] {\footnotesize{(circle,
rectangle,
other)}}} & \\
\makecell[r]{Plot width {\footnotesize{(m)}}} & \\
\makecell[r]{Plot length {\footnotesize{(m)}}} & \\
\makecell[r]{Plot diameter {\footnotesize{(m)}}} & \\
\hline
\makecell[r]{Subplot shape} & \\
\makecell[r]{Subplot width {\footnotesize{(m)}}} & \\
\makecell[r]{Subplot length {\footnotesize{(m)}}} & \\
\makecell[r]{Subplot diameter {\footnotesize{(m)}}} & \\
\hline
\makecell[r]{Nested? \\[-2pt] {\footnotesize{(describe in
``Plot notes'')}}} & \\
\hline
\end{tabularx}
\section{Sampling thresholds}
\begin{tabularx}{\textwidth}{rXX}
\hline
\hline
& \multicolumn{1}{c}{Min.} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{Max.} \\
\makecell[r]{Diameter {\footnotesize{(cm)}}} & & \\
\makecell[r]{Height {\footnotesize{(m)}}} & & \\
\hline
& \multicolumn{2}{c}{TRUE/FALSE} \\
Lianas & & \\
Dead stems & & \\
Stumps & & \\
\hline
\end{tabularx}
\section{Plot location}
\begin{tabularx}{\textwidth}{rX}
\hline
\hline
\makecell[r]{Longitude {\footnotesize{(Dec.\textdegree)}}}
& \\
\makecell[r]{Latitude {\footnotesize{(Dec.\textdegree)}}} &
\\
\makecell[r]{Elevation {\footnotesize{(m)}}} & \\
\makecell[r]{Plot slope {\footnotesize{(0-90
Dec.\textdegree)}}} & \\
\makecell[r]{Plot aspect {\footnotesize{(0-365
Dec.\textdegree)}}} & \\
\makecell[r]{Catenal position
\\[-2pt]{\footnotesize{(concave/convex slope,
midslope,}} \\[-2pt] {\footnotesize{valley floor, ridge,
flat)}}} & \\
\hline
\end{tabularx}
\end{minipage}
\hspace{1cm}
\begin{minipage}{0.45\textwidth}
\vspace{0.3cm}
\section{Herbivory}
\begin{tabularx}{\textwidth}{rX}
\hline
\hline
& \multicolumn{1}{c}{TRUE/FALSE} \\
\makecell[r]{Elephants} & \\
\makecell[r]{Small non-social browsers \\[-2pt]
{\footnotesize{(e.g.
dik-diks, duikers, steenbok)}}} & \\
\makecell[r]{Large browsers \\[-2pt] {\footnotesize{(e.g.
giraffe, okapi,
kudu)}}} & \\
\makecell[r]{Medium social mixed diet \\[-2pt]
{\footnotesize{(e.g. gazelle, oryx)}}} & \\
\makecell[r]{Non-ruminants, excluding suids \\[-2pt]
{\footnotesize{(e.g. zebra, hippo, rhino)}}} & \\
\makecell[r]{Goats} & \\
\makecell[r]{Cattle} & \\
\hline
\makecell[r]{Termite mounds \\[-2pt]
{\footnotesize{(count)}}} & \\
\hline
\end{tabularx}
\section{Resource use}
\begin{tabularx}{\textwidth}{rX}
\hline
\hline
& \multicolumn{1}{c}{TRUE/FALSE} \\
\makecell[r]{Large timber} & \\
\makecell[r]{Fuel wood} & \\
\makecell[r]{Charcoal} & \\
\makecell[r]{Farmed in past 30 years } & \\
\makecell[r]{Other woody-products \\[-2pt]
{\footnotesize{(describe in
``Plot notes'')}}} & \\
\makecell[r]{Non-wood products \\[-2pt]
{\footnotesize{(describe in
``Plot notes'')}}} & \\
\hline
\end{tabularx}
\section{Methods}
\begin{tabularx}{\textwidth}{rX}
\hline
\hline
\makecell[r]{\textbf{Slope} \\[-2pt]
{\footnotesize{(clinometer,
eye,}} \\[-2pt] {\footnotesize{rangefinder, hypsometer)}}} \\
\makecell[r]{\textbf{Diameter} \\[-2pt]
{\footnotesize{(circumference,}} \\[-2pt]
{\footnotesize{DBH tape, calipers)}}} \\
\makecell[r]{\textbf{Height} \\[-2pt]
{\footnotesize{(clinometer,
eye,}} \\[-2pt] {\footnotesize{rangefinder, hypsometer)}}} \\
\makecell[r]{\textbf{Stem coordinate} \\[-2pt]
{\footnotesize{(e.g. XY grid, GPS,}}
\\[-2pt] {\footnotesize{angle/distance, GPS)}}} \\
\hline
\end{tabularx}
\end{minipage}
\vspace{0.3cm}
\rule{\textwidth}{1pt}
\section{Plot notes}
{\footnotesize{E.g. nested plots, plot diagram, sampling
strategy, experimental
treatments, fire exclusion/treatment, herbivore exclusion,
community rights, other users, access points, weather, adjacent
land use, other noteworthy features.}}
\newpage
\section{Stem decay}
\rowcolors{2}{gray!25}{white}
\begin{tabular}{cL{4cm}L{4cm}L{4cm}L{4cm}}
\hline
Class & Structure & Wood texture & Wood colour & Branches/twigs
\\
\hline
1 & Sound, firm & Intact, no rot & Original colour & Branches
with fine twigs \\
2 & Heartwood sound, sapwood a bit decayed & Sapwood partly
soft. Wood cannot be pulled apart by hand & Original colour &
Branches with some fine twigs present with peeling bark \\
3 & Heartwood sound, log supports its weight & Large hard
pieces of sapwood can be pulled apart by hand & Red-brown, or
original colour & Large branches with no fine twigs, branches do
not pull out by hand \\
4 & Heartwood rotten, log does not support its weight & Soft,
small, blocky pieces. Heartwood is soft. & Red-brown, light brown,
grey- brown & Large branches pull out easily by hand \\
5 & No structural integrity, no longer maintains shape & Very
soft, powdery when dry. & Red-brown, dark brown & Branches not
present \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\rowcolors{1}{}{white}
\vspace{0.5cm}
\mbox{}% Left margin marker
\hfill% H
\begin{minipage}[t]{0.32\textwidth}
\centering
\section{Stem status}
\begin{tabular}{ll}
\hline
\hline
R & Topkilled, resprouting \\
T & Topkilled, no resprouting \\
D & Dead, no sign of life \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{minipage}
\hfill% Horizontal stretch
\begin{minipage}[t]{0.32\textwidth}
\centering
\section{Stem mode}
\begin{tabular}{ll}
\hline
\hline
U & Uprooted \\
P & Snapped \\
S & Standing \\
V & Vanished \\
Q & Can't tell \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{minipage}
\hfill% Horizontal stretch
\begin{minipage}[t]{0.32\textwidth}
\centering
\section{Cause of damage}
\begin{tabular}{ll}
\hline
\hline
N & Neighbouring tree \\
E & Elephant \\
F & Fire \\
H & Human (cut or ringbarked) \\
L & Lightning \\
M & Termites \\
W & Wind \\
Q & Can't tell \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{minipage}
\hfill% Horizontal stretch
\mbox{}% Right margin marker
\end{document}
Update 2021-03-06: These forms are now online and can be found here.
[found here]: https://seosaw.github.io/manuals