Scientists & Staff

Scott A. Pugh

Forester

410 MacInnes Drive

Houghton, MI, 49931-1134

Phone: 906-482-6303 x17

Current Research

I am combining my experience as a forester and database and software developer to create business intelligence tools as Web dashboards and data visualizations. I am creating interactive tools that allow the public to explore the status and trends of forest resources. This work includes researching enhancements for reporting estimates, measures of precision, and comparisons among estimates from Forest Inventory & Analysis (FIA) data. I am a member of a FIA team that provides development, training, and support for FIA data and data mining tools.

Research Interests

• Forest health

• Biometrics

• Geographic information systems, image processing, and remote sensing

• Software development

• Dashboard and data visualization development

• Database quality control and assurance

Why This Research is Important

Monitoring the status and trends of forest resources and disseminating this knowledge to the public is in everyone's best interest. The benefits provided by forests are far reaching and vary with the ever changing forest conditions.

Education

University of New Hampshire, M.S. Forestry Applying Spatial Autocorrelation Analysis to Evaluate Error in New England Forest Cover Type Maps Derived from Landsat Thematic Mapper Data, 1997
Michigan Technological University, B.S. Forestry Biometrics, Silviculture, GIS, Remote Sensing et al., 1993

Professional Organizations

Society of American Foresters (SAF) (1996 - Current)
American Society for Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing (1994 - 2000)

Featured Publications & Products

Pugh, Scott A.; Heym, Douglas C.; Butler, Brett J.; Haugen, David E.; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; McWilliams, William H.; Miles, Patrick D.; Morin, Randall S.; Nelson, Mark D.; Riemann, Rachel I.; Smith, James E.; Westfall, James A.; Woodall, Christopher W. 2017. Michigan forests 2014. Resour. Bull. NRS-110. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 154 p.
Gormanson, Dale D.; Pugh, Scott A.; Barnett, Charles J.; Miles, Patrick D.; Morin, Randall S.; Sowers, Paul A.; Westfall, James A. 2018. Statistics and quality assurance for the Northern Research Station Forest Inventory and Analysis Program. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-178. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 25 p.
Pugh, Scott A.; Pedersen, Lawrence D.; Heym, Douglas C.; Piva, Ronald J.; Woodall, Christopher W.; Barnett, Charles J.; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Moser, W. Keith. 2012. Michigan's Forests 2009. Resour. Bull. NRS-66. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 68 p. [DVD included].
Pugh, Scott A.; Hansen, Mark H.; Pedersen, Lawrence D.; Heym, Douglas C.; Butler, Brett J.; Crocker, Susan J.; Meneguzzo, Dacia; Perry, Charles H.; Haugen, David E.; Woodall, Christopher; Jepsen, Ed. 2009. Michigan's forests 2004. Resour. Bull. NRS-34. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 210 p.
Pugh, Scott A. 2012. Site productivity - current estimates, change, and possible enhancements for the Northern Research Station. In: Morin, Randall S.; Liknes, Greg C., comps. Moving from status to trends: Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) symposium 2012; 2012 December 4-6; Baltimore, MD. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-105. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. [CD-ROM]: 123-128.
Pugh, Scott A.; Morin, Randall S.; Johnson, Barbara A. 2015. Implementing dashboards as a business intelligence tool in the forest inventory and analysis program. In: Stanton, Sharon M.; Christensen, Glenn A., comps. 2015. Pushing boundaries: new directions in inventory techniques and applications: Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) symposium 2015. 2015 December 8-10; Portland, Oregon. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-931. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: 317-320.

Publications & Products

Butler, Brett J.; Caputo, Jesse ; Henderson, Jesse D.; Pugh, Scott A.; Riitters, Kurt ; Sass, Emma M. 2022. An assessment of the sustainability of family forests in the U.S.A.. Forest Policy and Economics
Butler, Brett; Caputo, Jesse ; Henderson, Jesse; Pugh, Scott ; Riitters, Kurt ; Sass, Emma M. 2022. Cross-Boundary Sustainability: Assessment across Forest Ownership Categories in the Conterminous USA Using the Montréal Process Criteria and Indicators Framework. Forests
Goff, Thomas C.; Nelson, Mark D.; Liknes, Greg C.; Feeley, Tivon E.; Pugh, Scott A.; Morin, Randall S. 2021. Rapid Assessment of Tree Damage Resulting from a 2020 Windstorm in Iowa, USA. Forests
Oswalt, Sonja N.; Smith, W. Brad; Miles, Patrick D.; Pugh, Scott A. 2019. Forest Resources of the United States, 2017: a technical document supporting the Forest Service 2020 RPA Assessment. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-97. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington Office.
Pugh, Scott A. 2018. Forests of Michigan, 2017. Resource Update FS-153. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 4 p.
Gormanson, Dale D.; Pugh, Scott A.; Barnett, Charles J.; Miles, Patrick D.; Morin, Randall S.; Sowers, Paul A.; Westfall, Jim. 2017. Statistics and quality assurance for the Northern Research Station Forest Inventory and Analysis Program, 2016. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-166. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 23 p.
Morin, Randall S.; Liebhold, Andrew M.; Pugh, Scott A.; Crocker, Susan J. 2017. Regional assessment of emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis, impacts in forests of the Eastern United States. Biological Invasions. 19: 703-711. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10530-016-1296-x
Paulson, Charles; Pugh, Scott A. 2017. Forests of Michigan, 2016. Resource Update FS-113. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 4 p.
Luppold, William; Pugh, Scott A. 2016. Diversity of the Eastern Hardwood Resource and How This Diversity Influences Timber Utilization. Forest Products Journal. 66(1-2): 58-65.
Morin, Randall S.; Pugh, Scott A.; Steinman, Jim. 2016. Mapping the occurrence of tree damage in the forests of the northern United States. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-GTR-162. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 19 p.
Pugh, Scott A.; Paulson, Charles; Butler, Brett J. 2016. Forests of Michigan, 2015. Resource Update FS-79. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 4 p.
Morin, Randall S.; Pugh, Scott A.; Liebhold, Andrew M.; Crocker, Susan J. 2015. A regional assessment of emerald ash borer impacts in the Eastern United States: ash mortality and abundance trends in time and space. In: Stanton, Sharon M.; Christensen, Glenn A., comps. 2015. Pushing boundaries: new directions in inventory techniques and applications: Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) symposium 2015. 2015 December 8-10; Portland, Oregon. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-931. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: 233-236.
Nelson, Mark D.; Brewer, Matt; Butler, Brett J.; Pugh, Scott A. 2015. Forests of Iowa, 2014. Resource Update FS-34. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 4 p.
Pugh, Scott A. 2015. Forests of Michigan, 2014. Resource Update FS-35. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 4 p.
Haugen, D.E.; Pugh, S.A. 2014. Forests of North Dakota, 2014. Resource Update FS-33. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 4 p.
Lister, T.W.; Pugh, S.A. 2014. Forests of Delaware, 2013. Resource Update FS-23. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 4 p.
Lister, T.W.; Pugh, S.A. 2014. Forests of Maryland, 2013. Resource Update FS-24. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 4 p.
Miles, Patrick D.; Pugh, Scott A.; Smith, Brad; Oswalt, Sonja N. 2014. RPA tree-level database users guide. In: Oswalt, S.N.; Smith, W. Brad; Miles, Patrick D.; Pugh, Scott A. Forest resources of the United States, 2012: a technical document supporting the Forest Service 2015 update of the RPA assessment. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-91. Washington DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington Office. 40 p.
Morin, Randall S.; Pugh, Scott A. 2014. Forests of Vermont, 2013. Resource Update FS-30. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 4 p.
Morin, Randall S.; Pugh, Scott A. 2014. Forests of New Hampshire, 2013. Resource Update FS-29. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 4 p.
Oswalt, Sonja N.; Smith, W. Brad; Miles, Patrick D.; Pugh, Scott A. 2014. Forest Resources of the United States, 2012: a technical document supporting the Forest Service 2010 update of the RPA Assessment. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-91. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington Office. 218 p.
Pugh, Scott A. 2014. Forests of Michigan, 2013. Resource Update FS-7. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 4 p. https://doi.org/10.2737/FS-RU-7
Moser, W.K.; Hansen, M.H.; Pugh, S.A.; Treiman, T.B. 2013. Missouri's forest resources, 2012. Res. Note. NRS-184. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 5 p.
Nelson, M.D.; Brewer, M.; Pugh, S.A. 2013. Iowa's forest resources, 2012. Res. Note NRS-166. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 4 p.
Pugh, S.A. 2013. Michigan's forest resources, 2012. Research Note NRS-165. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 4 p.
Westfall, James A.; Pugh, Scott A.; Coulston, John W. 2013. Conducting tests for statistically significant differences using forest inventory data. Res. Pap. NRS-22. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 10 p.
Previant, Wilfred J.; Nagel, Linda M.; Pugh, Scott A.; Woodall, Christopher W. 2012. Forest Resources of Isle Royale National Park 2010. Resour. Bull. NRS-73. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 24 p.
Pugh, S.A. 2012. Michigan's forest resources, 2011. Research Note NRS-137. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 4 p.
Pugh, S.A. 2011. Michigan's forest resources, 2010. Research Note NRS-106. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 4 p.
Pugh, Scott A.; Liebhold, Andrew M.; Morin, Randall S. 2011. Changes in ash tree demography associated with emerld ash borer invasion, indicated by regional forest inventory data from the Great Lakes States. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 41: 2165-2175.
Pugh, S.A. 2010. Michigan's forest resources, 2008. Res. Note NRS-50. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 4 p.
Pugh, S.A. 2010. Michigan's forest resources, 2009. Research Note NRS-81. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 4 p.
Pugh, Scott A.; Hansen, Mark H.; Brand, Gary; McRoberts, Ronald E. 2010. Michigan's forests, 2004: statistics and quality assurance. Resour. Bull. NRS-41. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 113 p.
Smith, W. Brad, tech. coord; Miles, Patrick D., data coord; Perry, Charles H., map coord; Pugh, Scott A., Data CD coord. 2009. Forest Resources of the United States, 2007. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-78. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington Office. 336 p.
Pugh, S.A. 2008. Michigan's Forest Resources, 2007. Res. Note. NRS-28. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 4 p.
Pugh, S.A. 2007. Michigan's forest resources, 2006. Res. Note. NRS-6. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 4 p.
Pugh, Scott A. 2004. RPA Data Wiz users guide, version 1.0. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-242. St. Paul, MN:U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 126 p.
Smith, W. Brad; Miles, Patrick D.; Vissage, John S.; Pugh, Scott A. 2004. Forest Resources of the United States, 2002. General Technical Report NC-241. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station
Pugh, Scott A.; Reed, David D.; Pregitzer, Kurt S.; Miles, Patrick D. 2002. FIAMODEL: Users Guide Version 3.0.. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-223. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 37 p.
Reed, David; Pregitzer, Kurt; Pugh, Scott A.; Miles, Patrick. 2001. FIAMODEL : a new link for geographic analyses of inventory data. Journal of forestry. Vol. 99, no. 6 (June 2001).:p. 21-24 : maps.
Reed, David; Pregitzer, Kurt; Pugh, Scott A.; Miles, Patrick D. 2001. A new Link for Geographic analyses of Inventory Data. Journal of Forestry. Vol. 99 no. 6.:p. 21-24. (2001)
Reed, David; Pugh, Scott; Miles, Pat; Pregitzer, Kurt. 2001. Analyzing Regional FIA Data In The ArcView Geographic Information System. In: Reams, Gregory A.; McRoberts, Ronald E.; Van Deusen, Paul C., eds. 2001. Proceedings of the second annual Forest Inventory and Analysis symposium; 2000 October 17-18; Salt Lake City, UT. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-47. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. pp. 3-7

Other Publications

Pugh, Scott A.; Turner, Jeffery A.; Burrill, Elizabeth A.; David, Winnie. 2018. The Forest Inventory and Analysis Database: population estimation user guide (Edition: November, 2018). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. p. [Online]. Available at web address: http://www.fia.fs.fed.us/library/database-documentation/.

Last modified: Tuesday, March 5, 2019