Forest Inventory


Book Description

This book has been developed as a forest inventory textbook for students and could also serve as a handbook for practical foresters. We have set out to keep the mathematics in the book at a fairly non-technical level, and therefore, although we deal with many issues that include highly sophisticated methodology, we try to present first and foremost the ideas behind them. For foresters who need more details, references are given to more advanced scientific papers and books in the fields of statistics and biometrics. Forest inventory books deal mostly with sampling and measurement issues, as found here in section I, but since forest inventories in many countries involve much more than this, we have also included material on forestry applications. Most applications nowadays involve remote sensing technology of some sort, so that section II deals mostly with the use of remote sensing material for this purpose. Section III deals with national inventories carried out in different parts of world, and section IV is an attempt to outline some future possibilities of forest inventory methodologies. The editors, Annika Kangas Professor of Forest Mensuration and Management, Department of Forest Resource Management, University of Helsinki. Matti Maltamo Professor of Forest Mensuration, Faculty of Forestry, University of Joensuu. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS




Sampling Strategies for Natural Resources and the Environment


Book Description

Written by renowned experts in the field, Sampling Strategies for Natural Resources and the Environment covers the sampling techniques used in ecology, forestry, environmental science, and natural resources. The book presents methods to estimate aggregate characteristics on a per unit area basis as well as on an elemental basis. In addition to common sampling designs such as simple random sampling and list sampling, the authors explore more specialized designs for sampling vegetation, including randomized branch sampling and 3P sampling. One of the book's unique features is the emphasis on areal sampling designs, including plot/quadrat sampling, Bitterlich sampling, line intersect sampling, and several lesser known designs. The book also provides comprehensive solutions to the problem of edge effect. Another distinguishing aspect is the inclusion of sampling designs for continuums, focusing on the methods of Monte Carlo integration. By presenting a conceptual understanding of each sampling design and estimation procedure as well as mathematical derivations and proofs in the chapter appendices, this text promotes a deep understanding of the underpinnings of sampling theory, estimation, and inference. Moreover, it will help you reliably sample natural populations and continuums.







Forest Measurements


Book Description

Harold Burkhart and Bronson Bullock have updated the quintessential introduction to forest measurements, providing a new generation of forestry students at all levels with the concepts and methods they need for career success. With attention to detail and clear, precise language, the authors present timber measurement techniques applicable to any tree inventory regardless of management objectives. Assuming no more mathematical background than algebra and plane trigonometry, the authors begin with basic statistical concepts to ensure that even introductory students benefit from the book’s concise explanations. Comprehensive coverage of sampling designs, land measurements, tree measurements, forest inventory field methods, and growth projections assures utility for foresters throughout their education and beyond. The new edition includes expanded discussions of information technology and geospatial information systems commonly employed in assessing forest resources. Recognizing the needs of contemporary forest inventories and models, a new chapter on assessing forest carbon builds on the foundations of traditional forest measurements, sampling, and modeling. Abundant photographs and illustrations highlight and clarify important concepts, while many numerical examples allow readers to become comfortable with the quantitative tools employed by foresters.




Sampling Theory for Forest Inventory


Book Description

Forest inventory may be defined as the technique of collecting, evaluating and presenting specified information on forest areas. Because of the generally la~ge extent of forest areas, data are usually collected by sampling, i.e. by making observations on only part of the area of interest. As there are many different sampling methods (e.g. Appendix 1), a choice must first be made as to which method suits the given field and financial circumstances best. On completion of the sampling procedure, the numerous data collected have next to be condensed to manageable representative quantities. Finally, from these quantities, inferences about the situation in the entire forest area are made, preferably accompanied by an indication of their reliability. This book is intended for students who want to know the whepefope of the sampling techniques used in forest inventory. The danger of lack of knowledge is a blind following of instructions and copying statistical formulae, or, even worse, feeding data into a computer loaded with a program that is said to print out the required information. In serious persons, such approaches may leave a feeling of dissatisfaction or even of professional incompetence, be cause of inability to direct or evaluate the procedure critically. If a student tries to improve his or her situation, he/she will find that the few existing forest inventory textbooks, though some with merit, either use confusing statistical symbols or do not adequately cover theoretical principles.




Sampling Methods for Multiresource Forest Inventory


Book Description

Designed to aid readers in gathering the most reliable quantitative information on forests for the least cost. Thoroughly explains the interrelationships between sampling strategies; discusses forestry techniques of efficient tactics; examines new developments in statistics having immediate applications in forestry and describes related developments that should have relevance in the future. Includes practical methods for dealing with forest data such as tree number, height, diameter and marketable wood. Also contains problem sets.




Permanent-plot Procedures for Silvicultural and Yield Research


Book Description

This paper reviews purposes and procedures for establishing and maintaining permanent plots for silvicultural and yield research, sampling and plot design, common errors, and procedures for measuring and recording data. It is a revision and update of a 1983 publication. Although some details are specific to coastal Pacific Northwest conditions, most of the material is widely applicable.




Forest Analytics with R


Book Description

Forest Analytics with R combines practical, down-to-earth forestry data analysis and solutions to real forest management challenges with state-of-the-art statistical and data-handling functionality. The authors adopt a problem-driven approach, in which statistical and mathematical tools are introduced in the context of the forestry problem that they can help to resolve. All the tools are introduced in the context of real forestry datasets, which provide compelling examples of practical applications. The modeling challenges covered within the book include imputation and interpolation for spatial data, fitting probability density functions to tree measurement data using maximum likelihood, fitting allometric functions using both linear and non-linear least-squares regression, and fitting growth models using both linear and non-linear mixed-effects modeling. The coverage also includes deploying and using forest growth models written in compiled languages, analysis of natural resources and forestry inventory data, and forest estate planning and optimization using linear programming. The book would be ideal for a one-semester class in forest biometrics or applied statistics for natural resources management. The text assumes no programming background, some introductory statistics, and very basic applied mathematics.




Forest Growth and Yield Modeling


Book Description

Forest Growth and Yield Modeling synthesizes current scientific literature and provides insights in how models are constructed. Giving suggestions for future developments, and outlining keys for successful implementation of models the book provides a thorough and up-to-date, single source reference for students, researchers and practitioners requiring a current digest of research and methods in the field. The book describes current modelling approaches for predicting forest growth and yield and explores the components that comprise the various modelling approaches. It provides the reader with the tools for evaluating and calibrating growth and yield models and outlines the steps necessary for developing a forest growth and yield model. Single source reference providing an evaluation and synthesis of current scientific literature Detailed descriptions of example models Covers statistical techniques used in forest model construction Accessible, reader-friendly style




Tree and Forest Measurement


Book Description

Forests must be measured, if they are to be managed and conserved properly. This book describes the principles of modern forest measurement, whether using simple, hand-held equipment or sophisticated satellite imagery. Written in a straightforward style, it will be understood by everyone who works with forests, from the professional forester to the layperson. It describes how and why forests are measured and the basis of the science behind the measurements taken.