DATIM is intended to improve monitoring designs and data analyses by providing nationally consistent tools to access corporate databases. The current focus is on forest and vegetation monitoring, but it can be expanded to other resources that also use plot-based monitoring and similar statistical estimators. These tools were initially designed for the National Forest System but have been adopted by the Forest Inventory and Analysis program (FIA) and are available to the public.

DATIM provides national consistency in developing monitoring plans both at the Forest and the Regional levels. The design and analysis tools are integrated and linked to one another but can still be used in a standalone mode. The application provides enhanced Forest and Region monitoring design planning to result in more efficient and effective monitoring plans. The application has the ability to address mid-level information needs (National Forest level) and accommodate plot intensification and the addition of other forest attributes. It provides for statistically defensible designs and derived estimates that are consistent between FIA and NFS. The system is used for customized reporting at Forest, Regional, National, and even International levels.

National Forest Service DATIM page