Forest Mensuration

FOR 3430 - Course Syllabus
Welcome to the Spring 1998 edition of Forest Mensuration. As you already know, the first class meeting will be Wednesday, 1/7, at 8:30am in 222 N-Z. For that meeting you will need the "FOR 3430 Course Notes," which are available at the University Book Store (HUB) for $19.95. Other mensuration textbooks are also available, but are not required.

On Thursday, 1/8, the class will meet 4th period in 222 N-Z for discussion and preparation for Lab, which will be from 6th through 9th periods at the Austin Cary Memorial Forest. For the Lab, each crew of two students will need a compass, diameter tape and/or logger's tape, 10 factor prism, and snake leggings. These items may be also be purchased at the HUB if you do not already have them.

The teaching assistant, Mark Torok, and I look forward to helping you master tree and stand measurement techniques this semester. See you on the 7th.

Don L. Rockwood, Professor

Academic Honesty: As a result of completing the registration form at the University of Florida, every student has signed the following statement: "I understand that the University of Florida expects its students to be honest in all their academic work. I agree to adhere to this commitment to academic honesty and understand that my failure to comply with this commitment may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the University."

 
UF Counseling Services: Resources available on-campus for students include -

1. University Counseling Center, 301 Peabody Hall, 392-1575 - for personal and career counseling,
2. Student Mental Health, Student Health Care Center, 392-1171 - personal counseling,
3. Sexual Assault Recovery Services (SARS), Student Health Care Center, 392-1161 - sexual assault counseling, and
4. Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601 - career development assistance and counseling.
 
Software Use: All faculty, staff, and students of the University are required and expected to obey the laws and legal agreements governing software use. Failure to do so can lead to monetary damages and/or criminal penalties for the individual violator. Because such violations are also against University policies and rules, disciplinary action will be taken as appropriate. 
COURSE OBJECTIVE

 
The objective of FOR 3430 is to develop basic knowledge and skills in forest resource inventory topics including tree content estimation, forest sampling, and stand yield prediction. 
LECTURE/LAB SCHEDULE (lab will always be on second day)

Week 1: 1/7,8 - Introduction. Units of Measure. Inventory Types and Designs. Sampling Units.
Lab 1: Variable and Fixed Area Plot Cruising. (ACF)

Week 2: 1/14,15 - Cruising Procedures.
Lab 2: Variable and Fixed Area Plot Analyses. Computers/Software. (ACF)

Week 3: 1/21,22 - Log Content Estimation. Tree Content Estimation. Problem Sets 1 and 2.
Lab 3: Computers/Software. Dendrometry. (N-Z)

Week 4: 1/28,29 - Tree Content Tables/Equations. Problem Set 3.
Lab 4: Tree Content Estimation. (N-Z)

Week 5: 2/4,5 - Stand and Stock Tables. Problem Sets 4, 5, and 6.
Lab 5: Tree Content Estimation. (N-Z)

Week 6: 2/11,12 - Comparison of Inventory Methods.
Lab 6: Complete Enumeration and Systematic Techniques. (ACF)

Week 7: 2/18,19 - Tree growth.
Lab 7: Complete Enumeration and Systematic Analyses. (N-Z)

Week 8: 2/25,26 - Inventory Planning/Conduct.
Lab 8: Remote Sensing, GIS, GPS; Presentations. (N-Z)

Week 9: 3/4,5 - Remote sensing. Problem Set 7.
Lab 9: Inventory Project. (ACF)

Week 10: 3/18,19 - Site Productivity. Site Index.
Lab 10: Inventory Project. (ACF)

Week 11: 3/25,26 - Stand Structure. Yield Tables. Problem Set 8.
Lab 11: Inventory Project. (ACF)

Week 12: 4/1,2 - Yield Tables.
Lab 12: Inventory Project. (ACF)

Week 13: 4/8,9 - Stand Growth. Problem Set 9.
Lab 13: Inventory Project. (ACF)

Week 14: 4/15,16 - Growth Inventories.
Lab 14: Inventory Project. (ACF)

Week 15: 4/22 - Course Review
Final:  4/25 from 3-5p

REQUIRED TEXT

 
Rockwood. 1998. Course Materials for FOR 3430. (FOR 3430) 
SUPPLEMENTAL TEXTS

Shiver and Borders. 1996. Sampling Techniques of Forest Resource Inventory (SB)
Avery and Burkhart. 1983. Forest Measurements. (AB)
Husch, Miller, and Beers. 1983. Forest Mensuration. (HMB)

Timba Forest Inventory. 1996. Timba V1.6 Software Manual. http:/www.northnet.org/metatool/sampling.htm

Brack and Wood. 1996. Electronic Resources for Forest Mensuration.
http:/www.anu.edu.au:80/forestry/mensuration

Burk. T. 1996. University of Minnesota.
http:/www.dendron.fr.umn.edu:80/fr5218/notes.html

Avery. 1978. Forester's Guide to Aerial Photo Interpretation.
Freese. 1962. Elementary Forest Sampling. (EFS)
Freese. 1967. Elementary Statistical Methods for Foresters. (ESMF)
Wenger. 1984. Forestry Handbook. (FH)
Wiant. 1979. Elementary Timber Measurements. (W)
Pauk. 1997. How to Study in College.
Van Blerkom. 1995. Orientation to College Learning. Wadswoth Publishing.
Wilson. 1996. A Guide to Writing Papers for the Sciences . OIR

INVENTORY PROJECT

The inventory which will be conducted corresponds to a "real-world" inventory assignment, which to be completed successfully requires adequate planning, accurate and efficient field work, rapid data processing and summarization, and organized and comprehensible report writing. Inventory field work and data summarization may be done on a crew basis; inventory reports will be prepared by each crew member.
 

This inventory will be a management-level inventory using a stratified design to quantify multiple timber products. The area to be inventoried will also be the subject of a major Silviculture exercise. Random selection procedures will be employed to establish appropriate sampling units. Seven lab periods are reserved for the planning, conduct, summarization, and presentation of the inventory. Individual written and oral reports are required. 
CREW COMPOSITION AND LAB MATERIALS

Some FOR 3430 labs may be conducted using two- or three-person crews. As possible, a crew will include competency in forest sampling, surveying, aerial photography, and dendrology. Crews may be assigned in the first lab and will be reassigned periodically for the remaining labs.

Each individual will need a diameter tape and/or loggers tape, compass, prism, and leggings. These items may be purchased from the University Bookstore.

Each crew/individual is responsible for aerial photos and equipment received from the School for Laboratory exercises. Photo sets should be obtained as soon as possible during the first lab session. An individual or crew who loses or damages an item will replace it in kind.

FIELD DRESS AND CONDUCT REQUIREMENTS

Appropriate field gear, including heavy pants and boots, is required of FOR 3430 students participating in field labs. Individuals not so equipped will not be allowed to participate. (University Insurance covers only properly outfitted individuals.)

Irresponsible acts in the field will result in exclusion from future lab activities. Many field activities are conducted on non-University land, and full respect of these land-owners property and rights is required. Smoking in the woods during time of fire danger is prohibited.

INSTRUCTOR OFFICE HOURS

Office hours and locations for the instructor, Dr. Donald Rockwood, and the teaching assistant, Mr. Mark Torok, in the class will be set during the first lecture:

Instructor:  Rockwood, 361 N-Z, Open, 846-0897, dlrforu@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu
Instructor:  Torok, N-Z

Students are encouraged to meet with the instructors for individual assistance with FOR 3430 topics and assignments. In addition, an informal session may be scheduled weekly for more general review with the whole class.