pyFIA

The Python API for forest inventory data

PyPI PyPI Downloads Documentation License: MIT Python 3.11+

A high-performance Python library for analyzing USDA Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data. Built on DuckDB and Polars for speed, with statistical methods that match EVALIDator exactly.

Why pyFIA?

Feature pyFIA EVALIDator
Speed 10-100x faster Baseline
Interface Python API Web UI
Reproducibility Code-based Manual
Custom analysis Unlimited Limited options
Statistical validity ✓ Exact match ✓ Reference

Quick Start

pip install pyfia

from pyfia import FIA, tpa, volume, area

with FIA("path/to/FIA_database.duckdb") as db:
    db.clip_by_state(37)  # North Carolina
    db.clip_most_recent(eval_type="VOL")

    # Core estimates
    trees = tpa(db, tree_domain="STATUSCD == 1")
    timber = volume(db, land_type="timber")
    forest = area(db, land_type="forest")

Core Functions

Function Description Example
tpa() Trees per acre tpa(db, tree_domain="DIA >= 5.0")
biomass() Above/belowground biomass biomass(db, by_species=True)
volume() Merchantable volume (ft³) volume(db, land_type="timber")
area() Forest land area area(db, grp_by="FORTYPCD")
site_index() Site productivity index site_index(db, grp_by="COUNTYCD")
mortality() Annual mortality rates mortality(db)
growth() Net growth estimation growth(db)

Statistical Methods

pyFIA implements design-based estimation following Bechtold & Patterson (2005):

  • Post-stratified estimation with proper variance calculation
  • Ratio-of-means estimators for per-acre values
  • EVALID-based filtering for statistically valid estimates
  • Temporal methods: TI, annual, SMA, LMA, EMA

Installation

# Recommended: use uv for fast, reliable installs
uv pip install pyfia

# Or with pip
pip install pyfia

# With spatial support (polygon clipping, spatial joins)
uv pip install pyfia[spatial]

Tip: Always use a virtual environment (uv venv or python -m venv .venv).

For development setup, see the Getting Started guide.

Documentation

Full documentation: pyfia.mintlify.app

Citation

@software{pyfia2025,
  title = {pyFIA: A Python Library for Forest Inventory Applications},
  author = {Mihiar, Christopher},
  year = {2025},
  url = {https://github.com/mihiarc/pyfia}
}

Affiliation

Developed in collaboration with USDA Forest Service Research & Development. pyFIA provides programmatic access to Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data but is not part of the official FIA Program.

Built by Chris Mihiar

Project links

Data verified by PyPI on Jul 13, 2026
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Avatar for mihiarc from gravatar.com mihiarc

Credits

Author: Chris Mihiar

GitHub Statistics

Data verified by PyPI on Jul 13, 2026
The GitHub source repository was provided by the project maintainers and verified by PyPI at the time of upload. Stars, forks, and open issues/PRs are derived from that repository and have not been independently verified.

License

MIT License (MIT)

Requires

Python >=3.11

Provides Extra

spatial pandas dev all

Tags

fia forest-inventory usda forestry timber duckdb polars analytics big-data biomass carbon volume mortality growth statistics estimation variance stratified-sampling evalidator forest-analysis

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