Forest Measurements

About this book

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 modelling. 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.

Contents

1. Introduction
Numerical Considerations / Presenting Information

2. Statistical Methods
Statistical Concepts / Statistical Computations / Simple Linear Regression

3. Land Measurements
Measuring Distances / Using Magnetic Compasses / Area Determination / Colonial Land Subdivision / The US Public Land Survey / Geographic Coordinate Systems / Global Positioning Systems

4. Cubic Volume, Cord Measure, and Weight Scaling
Measuring Stacked Wood / Weight Scaling of Pulpwood

5. Log Rules, Scaling Practices, and Specialty Wood Products
Derivation of Log Rules / Board-Foot Log Scaling / Log Grading / Weight Scaling of Sawlogs / Specialty Wood Products

6. Measuring Standing Trees
Tree Heights / Tree Form Expressions / Tree Crowns / Tree Age

7. Volumes and Weights of Standing Trees
Multiple-Entry Volume Equations / Single-Entry Volume Equations / Tree Weight Equations

8. Sampling Designs
Simple Random and Systematic Sampling / Stratified Random Sampling / Regression and Ratio Estimation / Double Sampling / Cluster and Two-Stage Sampling / Sampling for Discrete Variables

9. Forest Inventory
Special Inventory Considerations / Summaries of Cruise Data / Sales of Standing Timber

10. Geospatial Information
Aerial Photographs / Cover-Type Identification and Mapping / Geographic Information Systems / GIS Data Structures / GIS Data Sources, Entry, and Quality / GIS Analysis Functions

11. Inventories with Sample Strips or Plots
Strip System of Cruising / Line-Plot System of Cruising / Use of Permanent Sample Plots / Regeneration Surveys with Sample Plots

12. Inventories with Point Samples
How Point Sampling Works / Implementing Point Sampling / Volume Calculations / Point-Sample Cruising Intensity

13. Inventories with 3P Sampling
How Classical 3P Is Applied / Extensions, Attributes, and Limitations of Basic 3P Sampling

14. Site, Stocking, and Stand Density
Site Index / Stocking and Stand Density

15. Tree-Growth and Stand-Table Projection
Stand-Table Projection

16. Growth and Yield Models
Growth and Yield Models for Even-Aged Stands / Growth and Yield Models for Uneven-Aged Stands / Applying Growth and Yield Models

17. Assessing Forest Carbon

Appendix
Answers to Selected Problems
Glossary

Customer Reviews