> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://pyfia.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Data Download

# `pyfia.downloader`

FIA Data Download Module.

This module provides functionality to download FIA data directly from the
USDA Forest Service FIA DataMart, similar to rFIA's getFIA() function in R.

Downloads CSV files from FIA DataMart and converts them to DuckDB format
for use with pyFIA.

## Examples

> > > from pyfia import download
> > >
> > > # Download Georgia data (returns path to DuckDB database)
> > >
> > > db\_path = download("GA")
> > >
> > > # Download multiple states (merged into single database)
> > >
> > > db\_path = download(\["GA", "FL", "SC"])
> > >
> > > # Download to specific directory
> > >
> > > db\_path = download("GA", dir="./data")
> > >
> > > # Download only common tables (default)
> > >
> > > db\_path = download("GA", common=True)

## References

* FIA DataMart: [https://apps.fs.usda.gov/fia/datamart/datamart.html](https://apps.fs.usda.gov/fia/datamart/datamart.html)
* rFIA Package: [https://doserlab.com/files/rfia/](https://doserlab.com/files/rfia/)

## Functions

### `download` <sup><a href="https://github.com/mihiarc/pyfia/blob/main/src/pyfia/downloader/__init__.py#L264" target="_blank"><Icon icon="github" style="width: 14px; height: 14px;" /></a></sup>

```python theme={null}
download(states: str | list[str], dir: str | Path | None = None, common: bool = True, tables: list[str] | None = None, force: bool = False, show_progress: bool = True, use_cache: bool = True) -> Path
```

Download FIA data from the FIA DataMart.

This function downloads FIA data for one or more states from the USDA
Forest Service FIA DataMart, similar to rFIA's getFIA() function.
Data is automatically converted to DuckDB format for use with pyFIA.

**Args:**

* `states`: State abbreviations (e.g., 'GA', 'NC').
  Supports multiple states: \['GA', 'FL', 'SC']
* `dir`: Directory to save downloaded data. Defaults to \~/.pyfia/data/
* `common`: If True, download only tables required for pyFIA functions.
  If False, download all available tables.
* `tables`: Specific tables to download. Overrides `common` parameter.
* `force`: If True, re-download even if files exist locally.
* `show_progress`: Show download progress bars.
* `use_cache`: Use cached downloads if available.

**Returns:**

* Path to the DuckDB database file.

**Examples:**

> > > from pyfia import download
> > >
> > > # Download Georgia data
> > >
> > > db\_path = download("GA")
> > >
> > > # Download multiple states merged into one database
> > >
> > > db\_path = download(\["GA", "FL", "SC"])
> > >
> > > # Download only specific tables
> > >
> > > db\_path = download("GA", tables=\["PLOT", "TREE", "COND"])
> > >
> > > # Use with pyFIA immediately
> > >
> > > from pyfia import FIA, area
> > > with FIA(download("GA")) as db:
> > > ...     db.clip\_most\_recent()
> > > ...     result = area(db)

### `clear_cache` <sup><a href="https://github.com/mihiarc/pyfia/blob/main/src/pyfia/downloader/__init__.py#L672" target="_blank"><Icon icon="github" style="width: 14px; height: 14px;" /></a></sup>

```python theme={null}
clear_cache(older_than_days: int | None = None, state: str | None = None, delete_files: bool = False) -> int
```

Clear the download cache.

**Args:**

* `older_than_days`: Only clear entries older than this many days.
* `state`: Only clear entries for this state.
* `delete_files`: If True, also delete the cached files from disk.

**Returns:**

* Number of cache entries cleared.

### `cache_info` <sup><a href="https://github.com/mihiarc/pyfia/blob/main/src/pyfia/downloader/__init__.py#L706" target="_blank"><Icon icon="github" style="width: 14px; height: 14px;" /></a></sup>

```python theme={null}
cache_info() -> dict
```

Get information about the download cache.

**Returns:**

* Cache statistics including size, file count, etc.