211-212 Forest Mensuration and Surveying

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Prerequisites

620-160 Experimental Design and Data Analysis.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This course teaches the use of standard equipment to measure tree and stand parameters such as diameter, basal area, height, volume, bark and crown. Students should thus be able to assess a forest and process inventory data successfully, estimate standing volume and yields, understand how these are affected by site productivity and stand density, and apply standard statistical techniques of sampling (random, stratified random, systematic and probability-proportional-to-size) for both resource inventory and experimental research. The course will also cover stem geometry, stem analysis and defects in trees and logs. Students will also gain basic skills in surveying, and be able to prepare briefs and provide supervision for projects involving complex surveying or engineering. Includes introduction to basic surveying instruments, closed traversing, distribution of errors, basic levelling procedures, measurement and computation of perimeter and area, pegging of simple curves, and an introduction to the use of GPS systems.

Assessment

One 3-hour written examination at the end of the semester. Practical assignments throughout the semester.