Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Trees
o Parameters usually considered in determining
the volume of a tree are
n diameter
n Height
n form or taper
n Bark thickness
n age
Diameter Measurement
o A diameter is a straight line
passing through the center of a
circle and meeting at each end
of the circumference.
o Diameter measurement is
important because it is one of
the directly measurable
dimensions from which tree
cross-sectional area and volume
can be computed.
o On standing trees, a reference diameter is
normally required.
o This is known as the diameter at breast height
(dbh) where breast height - IUFRO
o Other points of measurement
n In most Countries – 1.30 meters above ground
level
n In the US - at 1.37 meters (4.5 ft) above ground
level.
n In Japan and Korea- 1.20 meters above the
ground
o Other diameter measurements can be done on
diameter above buttress (dab), stump
diameter, top diameter, and intermediate
diameter.
o Then, multiply this total times your distance from the base
of the tree (for example, 70% x 80m = 56m tree).
o Work with decimal (percent)
Suunto Clinometer
o Using the topo, 15 meter, or 20 meter scales
o The topo scale is based on a surveying chain (66 ft). When
using any one of the 3 scales at its full base distance from
the tree (66 ft, 15 m, 20m), sum the sightings to the top and
base to obtain tree height directly.
o At half the base distance (33 ft, 7.5 m, 10 m), divide the
sum of the sightings by 2. Alternatively, when on flat
ground, some shoot just the top and then add a constant
representing their eye height (not quite as accurate due to
ground unevenness).
Suunto Clinometer
Using the degree scale
o Using this scale requires trigonometry. Total height =
distance *(tan top°- tan base)
Haga Altimeter
o The Haga Altimeter is a gravity
controlled –pivoted pointer with
a series of scales (15-20-25-30),
chains (66’ L), and a % scale.
Haga Altimeter
o Height measurement
n Select the corresponding height scale by turning the adjustment disk,
n Sight tree bottom, lock the pointer needle and remember the value,
n Sight tree crown, lock the pointer needle and remember the value,
n The difference between the measurements will be tree height: h
Tree Form
o Trees may have different forms since they
taper irregularly from stump to top.
o Taper is the diminution in diameter from the
base to the tip.
o The rate of taper varies not only by species
but also by age, dbh, tree height, tree density,
age and site.
o The rate of taper is generally expressed by
form factor and form quotient.
1) Form Factor (FF) – is the ratio of tree volume to
the volume of the cylinder that has the same
basal diameter and height as the tree.
FQ = upper-stem diameter/dbh
Form quotients are of two types:
a) Normal Form Quotient: It is the ratio of mid-
diameter of a tree to its diameter at breast height.