askFIA is an AI-powered tool that lets you query USDA Forest Service FIA data using natural language. Instead of writing SQL or code, you can ask questions like 'How much timber volume is in North Carolina?' and get plain English answers.

Do I need programming skills to use askFIA?

No. askFIA is designed for users without programming or SQL experience. You simply type questions in plain English, and the AI interprets your query, retrieves the data, and provides an easy-to-understand response.

What questions can I ask askFIA?

You can ask about timber volumes, forest area, carbon stocks, tree counts, species distributions, and more. Examples include: 'What is the total forest area in California?', 'How many oak trees are in Texas?', or 'What is the carbon stock in New England forests?'

askFIA retrieves data directly from the official USDA FIA database and uses AI to interpret your questions and format responses. The underlying data is the same authoritative forest inventory data used by researchers and policymakers.

askFIA

AI-Powered Forest Data Explorer

Query USDA Forest Inventory data using natural language. No SQL or programming required - just ask your question and get instant answers.

View on GitHub Try askFIA

Natural Language

Plain English Queries

No Code Required

For Everyone

FIA Database

Official USDA Data

Open Source

MIT Licensed

See It In Action

You

How much timber volume is in North Carolina's forests?

askFIA

Based on the latest FIA survey data, North Carolina has approximately 45.2 billion cubic feet of net timber volume across all forest land. This includes 18.5 billion cubic feet of softwood species (primarily loblolly and longleaf pine) and 26.7 billion cubic feet of hardwood species.

You

What about just the oak species?

askFIA

Oak species in North Carolina account for 8.3 billion cubic feet of timber volume. The most common species are white oak (2.1B ft³), red oak (1.9B ft³), and chestnut oak (1.4B ft³).

Key Features

Natural Language Interface

Ask questions the way you naturally would. No need to learn query syntax, database schemas, or programming languages.

Conversational Context

Follow up on previous questions without restating everything. askFIA remembers the context of your conversation.

Plain English Answers

Get responses in clear, understandable language with relevant context and units of measurement.

Official FIA Data

All answers come from the authoritative USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis database.

Multi-Metric Queries

Ask about volume, carbon, biomass, area, tree counts, and more in a single conversation.

Geographic Filtering

Focus on specific states, counties, or regions. Compare data across different geographic areas.

Example Questions

"What is the total forest area in California?"

Forest Area

"How many live trees are there in Texas?"

Tree Counts

"What is the carbon stock in New England forests?"

Carbon & Biomass

"Which state has the most timber volume?"

Comparisons

"How has forest area in Oregon changed since 2010?"

Trends

"What are the most common tree species in Florida?"

Species Distribution