VOLUME DETERMINATION

Volume of Standing Trees

- may be determined directly or by using
volume tables.
a. Direct method:
- by computation
Volume = Average cross-sectional area x
height
b. By the use of volume tables
Volume table
- a tabulation that provides the average
contents for standing trees of various sizes and
species.
- volume units most commonly employed are
board feet, cubic feet, cubic meters or cords.
PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVE OF CONSTRUCTING VOLUME
TABLES
- To obtain an estimate for standing trees that
would correspond with the volume obtained if the
same trees were felled, bucked and scaled as logs.

Principal variables ordinarily associated with

standing tree volume tables are:
1. diameter at breast height (dbh)
2. tree height
3. tree form

TYPES OF TREE VOLUME TABLE

Local volume tables
- volume tables that are based on the single
variable of dbh.
Standard volume tables
- Volume tables based on dbh, tree height and
possibly form or taper.

More appropriate labels for the above mentioned

types are:
Single–entry volume tables
Multiple-entry volume tables
Volume tables, whether of the single–entry or
multiple–entry variety, may also be classified as
species table or composite table.

Species tables
- separate tables that are constructed for each
important species or group of species that are

similar in terms of tree form.

Composite tables
- are intended for application to diverse
species.

TREE FORM EXPRESSIONS

1. Form Factor (FF)
- is the ratio between the tree stem volume and
the volume of a chosen solid. It is the ratio of two
volumes, hence, it is dimensionless and is less than
1.

FF = Volume of a tree
Volume of a cylinder

2. Form Quotient (FQ)

- the ratio of some upper stem diameter to
- the value is always less than unity and is
usually expressed in percentage.
- higher FQ indicates lower rate of stem taper and
corresponding greater tree volume.

IMPORTANCE OF FORM MEASUREMENTS

1. important in the construction of tree volume table
2. important as to which volume table should be used
 VOLUME OF LOGS AND OTHER
WOOD PRODUCTS

- can be determined by scaling

Scaling – an art of measuring felled

timber to determine its volume and
generally for the purpose of assessment of
forest charges.
IMPORTANCE OF SCALING:

1. as a basis of contract of sale

2. as a basis of collection of forest charges
3. as a basis for scientific study
Log scaling – the process of determining the volume
of logs.

BASIC STEPS OF LOG SCALING

 identification of species being scaled

 measurement of log length
 measurement of log diameters
 determination of gross volume
 determination of volume of defects (if log has
defect(s)
 determination of the net or sound volume
 determination of percent soundness (if log is to
be graded)
 determination of the total forest charges, (if
scaling is done to serve as basis in collecting

STEPS:
1. IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIES
a. by botanical characteristics
b. by internal characteristics

2. MEASUREMENT OF LOG LENGTH

a. Log length is measured in meters and in
tenths of a meter.
b. Length of a log is measured from tip to tip.
 c. Log that is sniped or nosed at the end shall
be measured from tip to tip including its sniped
or nosed portion.

3. MEASUREMENT OF LOG DIAMETER

a. Diameter values shall be expressed in
whole odd or even centimeters; fractions over half
centimeter shall be counted up and fractions less
than half be ignored.
b. Regardless of length, the average of the
two end diameters is taken as the scaling diameter
of the log.
 4. DETERMINATION OF GROSS VOLUME

The volume of all round timer including

pulpwood and chip wood, shall be ascertained by
multiplying the average cross section of both ends
of the timber or the cross section thereof at half the
length (midpoint), as the case may be, exclusive of
the bark, by the length of the timber. For practical
purposes, the average cross section of the timber
shall be determined on the basis of the average
diameters at both ends regardless of length.
 Log Volume Determination
Formula: DENR Scaling Procedure
V = .7854 D2 L
Where: V = log volume
D = average diameter
L = log length
Example:
Big-end diameter = 98 cm
Small-end diameter = 94 cm
Log length = 10 meters
What is the log volume?

Solution:
V = .7854 (.96m)² x 10m
= .7854 (.9216m²) x 10m
= 7.24 m³
 Lumber Scaling

- the process of determining the volume of

lumber.
Volume of lumber is commonly expressed in
board foot measure.

One board foot is equivalent to a piece of

wood which measures 1 inch thick, 1 foot
wide and 1 foot long.
Formula:
T” x W’ x L’
VL = -------------
12

Example: A piece of lumber has the following dimension, what is

its volume?

Thickness = 4”
Width = 4”
Length = 12’

Solution:

VL = 4” x 4” x 12’
12
= 16 board feet