GIS FAQs:
Virginia Fire Incidents, 2002 - 2006

Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
• Spatial_Reference_Information
• Entity_and_Attribute_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

• Citation:
  • Citation_Information:
    • Originator: Nathan Stinnette
      Publication_Date: 04/09/07.
      Publication_Time: Unknown
      Title: VDOF_FIRE_INCIDENTS_02THRU06
      Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
      Online_Linkage: \\hnfll01\gis_data\working\Fire\Fire_Incidents\GIS DATA\DOF\VDOF_FIRE_INCIDENTS_02THRU06.shp
• Description:
  • Abstract:
    • This data set is derived from the Virginia Department of Forestry's internal fire incident reports for the time period from 2002-2006 inclusive. Wildland fires in Virginia occuring outside of the VDOF's jurisdiction are not included. In addition, the dataset is limited to those points for which accurate locational data was reported, therefore it should not be regarded as a complete report of all VDOF reported fires for the period in question.
  • Purpose:
    • The VDOF fire incident data may be used to identify areas of the State where fire incidents are numerous and to facilitate spatial analysis of wildfire causes, areas burned, response activities, or other variables in Virginia.
• Time_Period_of_Content:
  • Time_Period_Information:
    • Single_Date/Time:
      • Calendar_Date: 2002-2006
  • Currentness_Reference: publication date
• Status:
  • Progress: Complete
  • Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed
• Spatial_Domain:
  • Bounding_Coordinates:
    • West_Bounding_Coordinate: -83.517167
    • East_Bounding_Coordinate: -75.538500
    • North_Bounding_Coordinate: 39.440000
    • South_Bounding_Coordinate: 36.542667
• Keywords:
  • Theme:
    • Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None available
    • Theme_Keyword: Fire Incidents, Fire Occurences, VDOF, Virginia
• Access_Constraints:
  • This dataset is to be acquired directly from the Virginia Dept. of Foresty only. Distributing it to third parties is not permitted.
• Use_Constraints:
  • Use is permitted only after having accepted the Virginia Dept. of Forestry data use agreement and disclaimer for this dataset.
• Point_of_Contact:
  • Contact_Information:
    • Contact_Person_Primary:
      • Contact_Person: Nathan Stinnette
      • Contact_Organization: Virginia Department of Forestry
    • Contact_Position: Natural Resources / GIS Technician
    • Contact_Voice_Telephone: 434.296.2369 ext 3385
    • Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Nathan.Stinnette@dof.virginia.gov
    • Hours_of_Service: 8-5 Monday through Friday
• Data_Set_Credit:
  • Nathan Stinnette, Natural Resources Technician, Virginia Department of Forestry
• Native_Data_Set_Environment:
  • Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 2; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.1.0.780

Data_Quality_Information:

• Logical_Consistency_Report:
  • There were 5221 Fire Incident Reports filed for the period 01/01/2002 throught the end of 2006. Of these, 125 did not include positional data. Of the 5096 remaining, 444 had obviously incorrect Lat/Longs. Where possible these coordinates were corrected; ie. in many cases the Lat and Long had been reversed or some other simple error made. After completing the corrections Fire incidents that showed up in a different county than that shown on the report and those that showed up outside the state or in water bodies were eliminated. The finished data set contains 4774 points and may be considered at least 90% accurate, however it is possible that some positional errors may still persist.
• Completeness_Report:
  • The dataset contains 4774 projected points out of 5093 incidents reported for the time frame covered by the data set, or 93.7% of the reported fire incidents.
• Lineage:
  • Process_Step:
    • Process_Description: Dataset copied.
    • Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: C:\NLSFIRE_temp\IMSFireIncidentData\VDOF_FIRE_INC_010107
  • Process_Step:
    • Process_Description: Dataset copied.
    • Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: H:\NLS_temp\FIREINCINVA\VDOF_FIRE_INCIDENTS_02THRU06

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

• Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector
• Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:
  • SDTS_Terms_Description:
    • SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Entity point
    • Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 4774

Spatial_Reference_Information:

• Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
  • Geographic:
    • Latitude_Resolution: 0.000000
    • Longitude_Resolution: 0.000000
    • Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees
  • Geodetic_Model:
    • Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983
    • Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80
    • Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.000000
    • Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

• Detailed_Description:
  • Entity_Type:
    • Entity_Type_Label: VDOF_FIRE_INCIDENTS_02THRU06
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: FID
    • Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number.
    • Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI
    • Attribute_Domain_Values:
      • Unrepresentable_Domain:
        • Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: Shape
    • Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry.
    • Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI
    • Attribute_Domain_Values:
      • Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: OBJECTID
    • Attribute_Definition: ID field retained from uncorrected Fire Incident Data.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: COUNTY
    • Attribute_Definition: 3 digit code for the county listed on the Fire Report.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: DATE_
    • Attribute_Definition: Date of the fire. Identical w/ DATE_START in most cases.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: LATDEG
    • Attribute_Definition:
      • Latitude degrees of the fire incident as reported on the fire incident report.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: LATMIN
    • Attribute_Definition:
      • Latitude minutes of the fire incident as reported on the fire incident report.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: LONGDEG
    • Attribute_Definition:
      • Longitude degrees of the fire incident as reported on the fire incident report.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: LONGMIN
    • Attribute_Definition:
      • Longitude minutes of the fire incident as reported on the fire incident report.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: LATDEC
    • Attribute_Definition: Latitude converted to Decimal Degrees.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: LONGDEC
    • Attribute_Definition: Longitude converted to Decimal Degrees.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: NAME
    • Attribute_Definition:
      • The name of the fire as declared by DOF personnel. Only fires over 50 acres are typically named.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: TOT_ACRES
    • Attribute_Definition:
      • The total number of acres, forest or non-forest, burned during the wildfire incident.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: TOT_DMG
    • Attribute_Definition:
      • The total monetary amount of damage (US Dollars) caused by the incident (frequently estimated)
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: DATE_START
    • Attribute_Definition: The date on which the fire incident began.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: DATE_OUT
    • Attribute_Definition: The date on which the fire was extinguished.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: Name_1
    • Attribute_Definition:
      • The full name of the county as reported on the fire incident report, helps with understanding 3 digit county codes.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: UNIQUE
    • Attribute_Definition:
      • A unique ID created as a basis for joining and related data. This field is a concatenation of the County Code, Latitude and Date of the Fire Incident.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: ORIGIN
    • Attribute_Definition: 3 digit code for the county the fire originated in.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: YEAR_
    • Attribute_Definition:
      • Year in which the fire incident occurred, based of the DATE_START field.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: TOT_SAV
    • Attribute_Definition:
      • The total monetary value (USD-frequently estimated) of the homes, buildings or other personal property that fire control efforts directly protected
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: CLASS_DAY
    • Attribute_Definition:
      • A 1 to 5 scale of fire danger on the day of the incident. 1 = low; 2 = moderate; 3 = high; 4 = very high; 5 = extreme. See <http://www.dof.virginia.gov/fire/fire-danger-rating.shtml> for more specific information.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: DIRECTION
    • Attribute_Definition: Wind direction during the incident.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: SPEED
    • Attribute_Definition: The wind speed during the incident.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: TEMP
    • Attribute_Definition: The air temperature during the incident.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: RH
    • Attribute_Definition: The relative humidity during the incident.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: GEN_CAUSE
    • Attribute_Definition:
      • The general description of the incident's cause. 1=Lightning. 2=Campfire. 3=Smoking. 4=Debris Burning. 5=Incendiary. 6=Equipment Use. 7=Railroad. 8=Children. 9=Miscellaneous
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: SPF_CAUSE
    • Attribute_Definition:
      • A more specific description of the incident's cause: a=Camper. b=Hunter.c=Fisherman. d=Person in Car. e=Smoking Game. f=Woodworkers. g=Dump. h=Prescribed Burn. i=Urban Burner. j=Rural Burner. k=Farmer. l=Hot Ashes. m=mental cases. n=Utility ROW. o=Welfare Case. p=Electric Fence. q=Land Clearing. r=Children Under 7. s=Juvenile under 18. t=Railroad. u=other
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: OTR_CAUSE
    • Attribute_Definition: An text elaboration on the incident's cause.
  • Attribute:
    • Attribute_Label: REPORTDATE
    • Attribute_Definition: Date the Fire Incident Report was submitted.

Distribution_Information:

• Resource_Description: Downloadable Data
• Standard_Order_Process:
  • Digital_Form:
    • Digital_Transfer_Information:
      • Transfer_Size: 0.128

Metadata_Reference_Information:

• Metadata_Date: 20070608
• Metadata_Contact:
  • Contact_Information:
    • Contact_Person_Primary:
      • Contact_Person: Nathan Stinnette
      • Contact_Organization: Virginia Department of Forestry
    • Contact_Position: Natural Resources / Gis Technician
    • Contact_Address:
      • Address_Type: Physical
      • Address: Virginia Department of Forestry 900 Natural Resources Dr.
      • City: Charlottesville
      • State_or_Province: VA
      • Postal_Code: 22903
    • Contact_Voice_Telephone: 434.296.2369
    • Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Nathan.Stinnette@dof.virginia.gov
    • Hours_of_Service: 8-5 Monday Through Friday
• Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
• Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
• Metadata_Time_Convention: local time
• Metadata_Extensions:
  • Online_Linkage: http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html
  • Profile_Name: ESRI Metadata Profile

Generated by mp version 2.8.6 on Fri Jun 08 08:43:39 2007

Last modified: Friday, 07-Mar-2008 16:24:04 EST