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Background: We analyzed if C. lusitanica can be planted in a shelterwood system with P. taeda as the shelter stratum. The study was conducted in a 13-yr-old C. lusitanica stand under P. taeda canopy in Southern Brazil. Samples of these trees were measured in terms of diameter at breast height (DBH), total height, individual volume, and crown projection area. The species´ growing space efficiency (GSE) was also analyzed. A 10-meters distance criterion from P. taeda trees was applied to check their influence on C. lusitanica growth behavior through correlation. Results: The 36-yr-old P. taeda trees showed expressive means in the dendrometric variables, compatible with its age (mean DBH of 58 cm, total height 30 m, individual volume of 3.7 m³, and crown projection area of 128 m²). There was a statistically significant effect (p>0.05) of P. taeda cover on C. lusitanica diameter (mean of ~13 cm). Although not significant, an effect of P. taeda canopy was also observed on C. lusitanica height. The two species summed a basal area of 36.5 m² ha-1 and a crown projection area of 34,209.2 m² ha-1. A tendency of increasing GSE with increasing diameter was observed for both species. Conclusion: These results show that a shelterwood with C. lusitanica under P. taeda is possible, but further investigations with longer production cycles and with silvicultural treatments (i.e. thinnings and shelter removal) should be conducted for a better understanding of shelterwood systems with these species in southern Brazil in terms of growth performance and soil use sustainability.

Intresset för olika hyggesfria skogsbruksmetoder ökar men frågan är hur en skogsbruksplan kan anpassas till detta och vilken metod som kan användas. Denna studie inriktade sig på att mäta i fullskiktade skogar med enkla verktyg för att få ut beståndsdata till nytta för skötseln och att användas till en skogsbruksplan. För att få fram diameterspridningen klavades träden. Det krävdes minst 600 m2 för att få tillräcklig kvalitet i diameterspridning. För volymen jämfördes klavning, relaskopmätning och laserdata. Resultatet visade att det är svårt att mäta volym i fullskiktade bestånd beroende på tätheten och ojämnheten. Inte minst gäller detta relaskopmätning som undervärderade volymen. Klavning och laserdata fick ungefär samma precision. Studien visade också att tidsåtgången i fält för klavning jämfört med vanlig planläggning med relaskop endast skiljde några få minuter. Om klavning kombineras med att hämta volymen från laserdata kan till och med denna metod vara mer tidseffektiv.

Los dendrómetros automáticos de punto son equipos de medición que se usan en la actividad forestal para medir en alta resolución espacial y temporal las variaciones en el fuste de los árboles. Esta información con gran nivel de detalle es relevante para conocer los factores y las condiciones que gobiernan la contracción, la expansión y el crecimiento de los fustes, que ocurren como resultado de balances de contenido hídrico en el tallo y de la división celular del cambium. La variación del clima, la competencia por recursos y la actividad humana pueden incidir en el crecimiento del fuste. Este trabajo plantea la construcción paso a paso de equipos de medición a un costo muy inferior al de los equipos comerciales. Para ello, se lista una serie de elementos componentes y se detalla el procedimiento de armado, las calibraciones realizadas por el grupo de trabajo y las pruebas comparativas con dendrómetros comerciales. Los resultados preliminares muestran que es factible armar dendrómetros a partir de sus partes componentes y que los registros con los equipos desarrollados son similares a los de lo comerciales. Esto permitiría ampliar las posibilidades de fenotipado a gran escala del crecimiento del fuste con un costo significativamente menor al de los equipos disponibles en el mercado. Automatic point dendrometers are measuring equipment used in forestry to measure variations in the stem of trees in high spatial and temporal resolution. This information has a high level of detail and is relevant to assess the factors and conditions governing the contraction, expansion and growth of stems. This is due to balances of water content in the stem and cell division of the cambium. Variations of climate, competition for resources and human activity may influence the growth of the stem. This work proposes the step-by-step construction of a point dendrometer at a lower cost than would imply the acquisition of commercial equipment. For this, a series of component elements is listed, as well as the assembly procedure and calibrations carried out by the workgroup, and the comparative tests with commercial dendrometers. Preliminary results show it is feasible to assemble dendrometers from their component parts and that there is a similarity of records between developed and commercial equipment. This may allow large-scale phenotyping of the stem growth, at a significantly lower cost than acquiring commercial equipment. Fil: Diez, Juan Pablo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; Argentina Fil: de Paz, Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Varela, Santiago Agustín. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; Argentina Fil: Dalla Sald, Guillermina Dalla Salda. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; Argentina Fil: Sergent, Anne Sophie. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; Argentina Fil: Martinez Meier, Alejandro. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; Argentina

Taper functions are important tools for forest description, modelling, assessment, and management. A large number of studies have been conducted to develop and improve taper functions; however, few review studies have been dedicated to addressing their development and parameters. This review summarises the development of taper functions by considering their parameterisation, geographic and species-specific limitations, and applications. This study showed that there has been an increase in the number of studies of taper function and contemporary methods have been developed for the establishment of these functions. The reviewed studies also show that taper functions have been developed from simple equations in the early 1900s to complex functions in modern times. Early taper functions included polynomial, sigmoid, principal component analysis (PCA), and linear mixed functions, while contemporary machine learning (ML) approaches include artificial neural network (ANN) and random forest (RF). Further analysis of the published literature also shows that most of the studies of taper functions have been carried out in Europe and the Americas, meaning most taper equations are not specifically applicable to tropical tree species. Developing well-conditioned taper functions requires reducing the variation due to species, measurement techniques, and climatic conditions, among other factors. The information presented in this study is important for understanding and developing taper functions. Future studies can focus on developing better taper functions by incorporating emerging remote sensing and geospatial datasets, and using contemporary statistical approaches such as ANN and RF.

The median diameter of a longitudinal section of the stem may be used to determine the stem volume. However, to calculate stem volume, many measurements of diameter at different heights along the stem are required. Therefore, this approach is not generally applied because time-consuming and expensive. Here, we propose a novel, more rapid method to obtain median diameter using the area of the stem profile. A total of 218 height/diameter classes from more than 5000 spruce trees (Picea abies Karst.) were used to compute the median diameter using the classical method. In parallel, a regression model to assess the median diameter was developed. The strongest predictor of the median diameter for the stem profile was the diameter at breast height (R2 = 0.9985). Statistical analysis revealed that the height of the median diameter on the stem profile was 0.3 × H (tree height). The model was verified on standing and felled trees, revealing that differences between classical computations and the proposed model were less than 2% in most cases (86.24% of trees). The median diameter of the stem profile provides valuable information on stand architecture that could help in advancing our understanding on the mechanical stability of Norway spruce trees (i.e., delineating breakage point), growth model predictions, and competition among trees.

Syftet med arbetet var att utvärdera mobilapplikationen KATAM avseende noggrannhet, tidsåtgång, precision och praktisk användning i jämförelse med volymuppskattning med dataklave och skördarrapport. Resultatet vid diameterjämförelsen visar på snarlika uppskattningar från KATAM respektive dataklaven. KATAM hade högre medelgrundyta, 7 % och grövre medeldiameter, 3,7 %, i jämförelse med dataklaven. KATAM hade även överskattningar av medelstammen volym i jämförelse med skördarrapporten och dataklaven, från 2,5 % till 17,6 % beroende på vilket urval av provytor och vilken programversion av KATAM som användes. Underlaget från volymuppskattningar var litet och hade felkällor vilket gjorde resultaten från mätningarna osäkra. Trots att studien visade på en överskattning av diametern talar den inbördes precisionen för att KATAM skulle kunna bli ett alternativ till Dataklaven vid uppskattning av medeldiametern. The purpose of this essay was to evaluate the mobile application KATAM of accuracy, time, precision and practical use in comparison to volume estimation with data Digital Caliper and harvester report. The result of the diameter comparison showed similar estimates from KATAM and the Digital Caliper respectively. KATAM had a higher mean basel area, 7% and coarser mean diameter, 3.7%, compared to the Digital Caliper. KATAM also had overestimations in volume as compared to the harvesting report and the Digital Caliper concerning the mean stem, from 2.5% to 17.6%, depending on which sample areas were included and which version of KATAM was used. However, the basis of volume estimates was small and had error sources, which made the results of the measurements uncertain. Although the study shows an overestimation of the diameter, the mutual precision indicates that KATAM could be an alternative to the Digital Caliper when estimating the mean diameter.

O presente trabalho foi realizado com apoio da Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - C?digo de Financiamento 001. Submitted by Jos? Henrique Henrique (jose.neves@ufvjm.edu.br) on 2019-12-02T18:36:00Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) sollano_rabelo_braga.pdf: 9011589 bytes, checksum: 74e6b051801f742483b013846cb03015 (MD5) Approved for entry into archive by Jos? Henrique Henrique (jose.neves@ufvjm.edu.br) on 2019-12-02T18:36:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) sollano_rabelo_braga.pdf: 9011589 bytes, checksum: 74e6b051801f742483b013846cb03015 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2019-12-02T18:37:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) sollano_rabelo_braga.pdf: 9011589 bytes, checksum: 74e6b051801f742483b013846cb03015 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2019 Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior (CAPES) O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver web apps espec?ficos para ?rea florestal, no que se refere a processamento de dados de invent?rio florestal de florestas equi?neas e inequi?neas utilizando linguagem R em plataforma online. Os web apps foram desenvolvidos no Laborat?rio de Mensura??o e Manejo, na Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri ? UVJM, Campus JK, Diamantina/MG Rodovia MGT 367 - Km 583, n? 5000. A hospedagem dos apps foi feita utilizando o servi?o da Amazon Web Services EC2. O Sistema Operacional do servidor utilizado foi o Ubuntu Server 16.04. Foram desenvolvidos 3 web apps. A aplica??o web App Invent?rio de Nativas foi desenvolvida com o foco em florestas inequi?neas, visando gerar vari?veis, ?ndices e gr?ficos que geralmente s?o utilizados em relat?rios de invent?rios florestais de florestas naturais. O App Cubagem foi desenvolvido com o foco em c?lculos de volume de ?rvores cubadas utilizando os m?todos de Smalian ou Huber, realizar an?lises descritivas e ajustar modelos volum?tricos utilizando estes dados. O web app App Invent?rio Florestal foi desenvolvido com enfoque em florestas equi?neas, e pode estimar a altura de ?rvores n?o medidas, volume de ?rvores inserindo os coeficientes de um dos modelos dispon?veis, realizar uma an?lise descritiva dos dados e fazer estimativas de amostragem. Concluiu-se que os web apps foram desenvolvidos com sucesso, e podem ser acessados remotamente por meio de um navegador de internet. Disserta??o (Mestrado) ? Programa de P?s-Gradua??o em Ci?ncia Florestal, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, 2019. The aim of this study is to develop web apps for forestry data processing, specifically for inventory data from even-aged and uneven-aged forests using R language in an online platform. The web apps were developed in the Laborat?rio de Mensura??o e Manejo, at the Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys ? UFVJM, Campus JK, Diamantina/MG Rodovia MGT 367 ? Km 583, n? 5000. The apps were hosted using Amazon Web Services EC2. The Operating System used was Ubuntu Server 16.04. Three apps were developed. The web app App Invent?rio de Nativas was developed with focus on uneven-aged forests, aiming to provide most variables, indexes and graphics used in reports of inventories of natural forests The web app App Cubagem was developed with focus on tree volume measurements and estimation using Smalian or Huber?s method and volumetric models, and descriptive analysis of data. With web app App Invent?rio Florestal we aimed to allow the user to estimate the height of non-measured trees, estimate the volume of trees using coefficients of one of the available models, make a descriptive analysis of their data, and make sampling estimates of inventory data of even-aged forests. We concluded that the web apps were developed successfully, and can be accessed remotely by a web browser.

Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license This paper examines the possible ecological controls on the diameter increment of oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) in a high altitude forest in northern Iran. The main objectives of the study are computer-generated abiotic surfaces and associated plot estimates of (i) growing-season-cumulated potential solar radiation, (ii) seasonal air temperature, (iii) topographic wetness index in representing soil water distribution, and (iv) wind velocity generated from the simulation of fluid-flow dynamics in complex terrain. Plot estimates of the tree growth are based on averaged plot measurements of diameter at breast height increment during a growing period of nine years (2003–2012). Biotic variables related to the tree diameter increment involve averaged 2003 tree diameter and basal area measured in individual forest plots. In the modelling data (144 plots), the assemblage of modelled and observed site variables explained 75% of the variance in plot-level diameter increment. In the validation data (32 plots), the degree of explained variance was 77%. Mean tree diameter at breast height showed the strongest correlation with diameter increment, explaining 32% of the variation between-plot, followed by the configuration of topography and re-distribution of surface water (19.5%) and plot basal area (16.9%). On average, localised estimates of solar radiation and wind velocity potentially contribute to about 20% of the control on plot-level mean increment in oriental beech of the area. The results of the genetic programming showed that controlling the stand basal area and tree size by thinning and/or selective harvesting can have a favourable impact on the future distribution of mean diameter in oriental beech.

O manejo florestal deve estar apoiado no entendimento da dinâmica da floresta, a fim de garantir a melhor tomada de decisão. A estrutura diamétrica é uma ferramenta adequada, que fornece informações sobre uma determinada espécie ou para a floresta em geral. Assim, neste trabalho, foi avaliada a estrutura diamétrica de três espécies amazônicas: Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl. (Castanheira), Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex A.Juss.) Müll.Arg (Seringueira) e Swietenia macrophylla King (Mogno) na Floresta Estadual do Antimary, estado do Acre, Brasil. Também foram ajustadas funções de densidade de probabilidade mais comumente utilizadas para representar as distribuições diamétricas de espécies florestais. A espécie B. excelsa apresentou estrutura bimodal com uma grande amplitude diamétrica. H. brasiliensis apresentou distribuição unimodal assimétrica positiva. A baixa ocorrência de S. macrophylla na área de estudo não garante que a distribuição observada seja representativa. A estrutura diamétrica das três espécies é similar às reportadas em outros estudos. Na avaliação das funções de densidade probabilística, os modelos Normal e Weibull foram aderentes para as três espécies. Forest management should be based on understanding the forest dynamics in order to ensure better decision making. The diameter structure is an adequate tool, which provides information about a particular species or the forest in general. Thus, diameter structure of three Amazonian species were evaluated: Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl. (Castanheira), Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. Ex A.Juss.) Müll.Arg (Seringueira) and Swietenia macrophylla King (Mahogany) at Antimary State Forest, Acre State, Brazil. We also fitted probability density functions commonly used to represent the diameter distributions of forest species. B. excelsa presented bimodal structure with a great diameter amplitude. H. brasiliensis presented a unimodal distribution positively skewed. The low occurrence of S. macrophylla in the study area does not guarantee that the observed distribution is representative. The diameter structures of three species are similiar to those reported in other studies. In the evaluation of probabilistic density functions, Normal and Weibull models were adherent to the three species. Made available in DSpace on 2019-11-06T18:09:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 26898.pdf: 688650 bytes, checksum: 5796411eeb6fa3c1f7980a8a0549e4ac (MD5) Previous issue date: 2019

Even if stand inventories based on growth tables have been widely discussed over the last years, this method of forest mensuration is still widely applied due to favourable ratio between costs and achievable precision of stand growing stock estimation. The aim of the study was to verify the potential of airborne laser scanning data (ALS) for direct estimation of mean stand height and mean stand density (stocking) as fundamental inputs for forest mensuration based on yield tables. The material from two reference plots with substantially different stand structure was processed by REFLEX software, and confronted with the results of the precise terrestrial inventory. The number of detected tree tops decreased from 100% in the case of super-dominant trees to 30% and 5% in the case of supressed trees at the homogeneous and heterogeneous plot, respectively. The correlation of ALS heights with terrestrially measured heights was R = 0.88 at the homogenous plot, and R = 0.77 at the heterogeneous plot. The tendency to underestimate dominant and to overestimate suppressed trees was revealed at both plots, but was more pronounced at the heterogeneous one. Nevertheless we justified that the mean ALS height calculated from the heights of the detected trees represented the biometric mean stand height linked to the stem with the mean basal area quite well. The stocking estimated by REFLEX software according to delineated crowns´ area was also closer to the real value of stocking than the one obtained by the routine mensuration procedure. The results indicate promising potential of the ALS data processed by REFLEX software to rationalise forest mensuration based on yield tables in even-aged forest structures.

En los últimos años Corymbia spp. y sus híbridos comenzaron a revalorarse como un género importante para la obtención de madera de calidad para usos sólidos de alto valor en diferentes regiones del mundo. Con el objetivo de evaluar el comportamiento de materiales cosechados en el área de distribución natural de Corymbia citriodora subsp. citriodora (CCC), Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata (CCV) y Corymbia maculata (CM), al 9.º año de edad se evaluó el crecimiento en diámetro, altura, volumen y rectitud del fuste de 22 orígenes pertenecientes a dichas entidades en tres sitios de la Mesopotamia argentina. El análisis a nivel de sitios individuales mostró que CCV fue el taxón más promisorio. En dos de los sitios evaluados CCV superó en volumen y rectitud del fuste a las otras entidades y en el tercer sitio tuvo un crecimiento levemente inferior a CM, aunque sin diferencias estadísticas significativas. El análisis conjunto a nivel de orígenes dentro de taxones reveló baja interacción a través de los sitios ya que la correlación genética fue alta tanto para el volumen como para la rectitud del fuste (rgB= 0,77 y 0,99 respectivamente). Dada la existencia de muy buenos ejemplares dentro de los orígenes de CCV, se seleccionaron 30 ejemplares sobresalientes en volumen a través de los tres sitios. Estos individuos luego de movilizados y propagados vía injerto, conformarán el primer Huerto Semillero Clonal de CCV en Argentina. Se prevé que la ganancia genética de dicho huerto será aproximadamente del 17% en relación con el volumen promedio de todos los individuos evaluados de CCV. In recent years Corymbia spp. and their hybrids began to revalue as an important genus for the obtention of quality wood for solid high-value applications in different regions of the world. With the objective to evaluate the behavior of materials collected in the natural distribution area of Corymbia citriodora subsp. citriodora (CCC), Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata (CCV) and Corymbia maculata (CM), the growth in volume (VOL) and the stem straightness (RF) were evaluated at 9th years of growth in 22 provenances belonging to these entities in three sites of the Mesopotamia region of Argentina. The site-site analysis showed that CCV was the most promising material. In two of the sites evaluated CCV overcame in VOL and RF to the other entities; at the third site had a slightly less growth than CM, although the statistical analysis did not reveal significant difference. The combined analysis revealed a low interaction among sites, since the genetic correlation at provenances within taxa level was high for stem volume and straightness (rgB = 0.77 and 0.99 respectively). Given the good performance of CCV and the existence of very good specimens within the provenances, we selected 30 outstanding individuals in volume across the three sites. These individuals, after being mobilized and propagated by grafting, will form the first Clonal Seed Orchard of CCV in Argentina. It is expected that the genetic gain of the Orchard for VOL in relation to the average of all the CCV assessed individuals is around 17%. EEA Bella Vista Fil: Lopez, Juan Adolfo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bella Vista; Argentina Fil: Vera Bravo, Carlos David. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bella Vista; Argentina

African mahogany (Khaya spp.) plantations are in expansion in Brazil and in the world. This fact justifies the need for studies related to its growth and yield. This paper aimed to evaluate the performance of single-entry and double-entry models for estimating merchantable and total volume for Khaya ivorensis plantations before the first thinning (7 years) and expected final cut (15 years). Volume data was from 100 and 46 trees in Minas Gerais and Pará states, respectively, by using an electronic dendrometer (Criterion RD 1000). Observed volumes were calculated by Smalian’s formula. To validate the optical dendrometer, 10 trees were felled and had their volume measured, and compared with the volumes measured indirectly. The results showed that observed and estimated volumes were statistically equal, and that double-entry models were more precise than single-entry models. Schumacher and Hall model was the best equation to estimate merchantable volume for first thinning and for final cut in Minas Gerais stands. Spurr logarithmized model was the best equation to estimate total volume for first thinning and Spurr model for final cut in Pará stands. All chosen equations can be used to quantify merchantable and total volumes of Khaya ivorensis grown under similar conditions.

We evaluated a smartphone app (TRESTIMA(TM)) for forest sample plot measurements. The app interprets imagery collected from the sample plots using the camera in the smartphone and then estimates forest inventory attributes, including species-specific basal areas (G) as well as the diameter (D-gM) and height (H-gM) of basal area median trees. The estimates from the smartphone app were compared to forest inventory attributes derived from tree-wise measurements using calipers and a Vertex height measurement device. The data consist of 2169 measured trees from 25 sample plots (32 m x 32 m), dominated by Scots pine and Norway spruce from southern Finland. The root-mean-square errors (RMSEs) in the basal area varied from 19.7% to 29.3% and the biases from 11.4% to 18.4% depending on the number of images per sample plot and image shooting location. D-gM measurement bias varied from -1.4% to 3.1% and RMSE from 5.2% to 11.6% depending on the tree species. Respectively, H-gM bias varied from 5.0% to 8.3% and RMSE 10.0% to 13.6%. In general, four images captured toward the center of the plot provided more accurate results than four images captured away from the plot center. Increasing the number of captured images per plot to the analyses yielded only marginal improvement to the results.

The aim of the article is a search the relationships between the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of forests and morphometric characteristics of the relief. On example of the Lisino part of Uchebno-Opytnoe forest district in Leningrad region were estimated regression relationships between the characteristics of the forest stands and the results of automatic classifications of relief. The urgency of this direction is associated with the search for objective quantitative characteristics of landscapes, that can determine the variability of the characteristics of the structure and productivity of forests. The geoinformation project of model territory was formed and was divided to 205 cells on base of regular grid with step 1000 m. For cells of regular grid were determined generalized characteristics of forests on base of forest mensuration data. As analyzed characteristics of forests were considered the proportion of land area covered by forest vegetation, the proportion of the area occupied by predominant tree species and groups of forest types, average stocks per hectare, the average productivity classes. On base of digital terrain model SRTM were executed four variants for the automatic classification of surface topography by Iwahashi and Pike method, and a method based on the analysis of topographic position index (TPI). The relationships between quantitative and qualitative characteristics of forests with the characteristics of the surface topography (classes of relief) were evaluated by means of multivariate regression analysis. For each variant the automatic classification of the relief was determined a set of 3–4 classes uncorrelated with each other landforms that could explain the variability of the majority of analyzed quantitative and qualitative characteristics of forests. Multivariate equations for the different variants of the classification demonstrates similar statistics in strength due to the same characteristics of forests (average stocks and classes of productivity, shares of area predominate tree species and groups of forest types). The future development of research results can help to improving the theory and practice of forest accounting works based on the quantitative analysis of spatial data on forest landscapes using GIS and remote sensing methods., Целью статьи является поиск взаимосвязей между количественными и качественными характеристиками лесов и морфометрическими характеристиками рельефа. На примере Лисинской части Учебно-опытного лесничества Ленинградской области оценивались регрессионные взаимосвязи между характеристиками лесов и результатами автоматической классификации рельефа. Актуальность данного направления связана с поиском объективных количественных характеристик ландшафтов, способных определять изменчивость характеристик структуры и продуктивности лесов. Сформирован геоинформационный проект модельной территории, разбитый регулярной сеткой с шагом 1000 м на 205 ячеек. Для ячеек регулярной сети определены обобщенные характеристики лесов на основе материалов таксации. В качестве анализируемых характеристик лесов рассматривались доли площади земель, покрытых лесной растительностью; доли площади, занимаемые насаждениями преобладающих древесных пород и группами типов леса, средние запасы на га, средние классы бонитета. На основе цифровой модели рельефа SRTM выполнены четыре варианта автоматической классификации поверхности рельефа методом Ивахаши и Пайка и методом, основанным на анализе индекса превышения (TPI). Взаимосвязи количественных и качественных характеристик лесов с характеристиками поверхности рельефа (классами рельефа) оценивались средствами многофакторного регрессионного анализа. Для каждого варианта автоматической классификации рельефа определен набор из 3–4 некоррелированных между собой классов форм рельефа, способных объяснять изменчивость большинства анализируемых количественных и качественных характеристик лесов. Многофакторные уравнения для разных вариантов классификации демонстрируют аналогичные по силе статистические связи для одних и тех же характеристик лесов (средних запасов и бонитетов, долей площади преобладающих пород и групп типов леса). Дальнейшее развитие результатов исследования может способствовать совершенствованию теории и практики лесоучетных работ на основе количественного анализа пространственных данных о лесных ландшафтах с применением геоинформационных технологий и дистанционных методов., Известия СПбЛТА, №219 (2017)

The evolution of the stem form of trees in stands of Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze was studied by means of taper functions and form factors. The data used were obtained by complete stem analysis and by rigorous scaling of standing trees in stands established in central-southern region of Paraná, with a sample of 45 trees. Four taper functions were adjusted for the total data set and for stratified data by classes of age. Tapering curves were constructed for different age classes. Model identity tests were performed to compare complete and reduced models. To assess the evolution of natural and artificial form factors, they were calculated for different ages, starting at 5 years old. Schöpfer´s polynomial was the selected model. There were significant differences among complete and reduced models with a slight advantage in the use of equations adjusted by age classes, as well as a significant improvement in the stem taper with the increase in age, also verified by the stabilization of the values of form factor at 22 years. A evolução da forma do tronco de Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze foi estudada por meio de funções de afilamento e fatores de forma. Os dados utilizados são objeto de análise de tronco e por filmação de árvores em pé em povoados estabelecidos na região Centro-Sul do Paraná, com uma amostra de 45 árvores. Foram ajustadas quatro funções de afilamento para o conjunto total de dados e para os dados estratificados em classes de idade, sendo construídas como curvas de afilamento para diferentes classes de idade. Foi realizado teste de identidade de modelos para comparar modelos completos com o modelo reduzido. Para avaliar um desenvolvimento dos fatores de forma naturais e artificiais, os mesmos foram calculados para o conjunto de dados em diferentes idades, iniciando aos 5 anos. Uma função de afiliação selecionada para o polinômio de Schöpfer. Foram observadas diferenças significativas entre o modelo reduzido e modelos de modelos, com ligeira vantagem com o uso de equações ajustadas por aulas de idade, além de expressiva na forma do tronco com o aumento da idade, também foi constatada pela estabilização dos valores de Fator de forma aos 22 anos.

The effect of forest structure and health on the relative surface temperature captured by airborne thermal imagery was investigated in Norway Spruce-dominated stands in Southern Finland. Airborne thermal imagery, airborne scanning light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data and 92 field-measured sample plots were acquired at the area of interest. The surface temperature correlated most negatively with the logarithm of stem volume, Lorey’s height and the logarithm of basal area at a resolution of 254 m2 (9 m radius). LiDAR-derived metrics: the standard deviations of the canopy heights, canopy height (upper percentiles and maximum height) and canopy cover percentage were most strongly negatively correlated with the surface temperature. Although forest structure has an effect on the detected surface temperature, higher temperatures were detected in severely defoliated canopies and the difference was statistically significant. We also found that the surface temperature differences between the segmented canopy and the entire plot were greater in the defoliated plots, indicating that thermal images may also provide some additional information for classifying forests health status. Based on our results, the effects of forest structure on the surface temperature captured by airborne thermal imagery should be taken into account when developing forest health mapping applications using thermal imagery.

Interest in measuring forest biomass and carbon stock has increased as a result of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and sustainable planning of forest resources is therefore essential. Biomass and carbon stock estimates are based on the large area estimates of growing stock volume provided by national forest inventories (NFIs). The estimates for growing stock volume based on the NFIs depend on stem volume estimates of individual trees. Data collection for formulating stem volume and biomass models is challenging, because the amount of data required is considerable, and the fact that the detailed destructive measurements required to provide these data are laborious. Due to natural diversity, sample size for developing allometric models should be rather large. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) has proved to be an efficient tool for collecting information on tree stems. Therefore, we investigated how TLS data for deriving stem volume information from single trees should be collected. The broader context of the study was to determine the feasibility of replacing destructive and laborious field measurements, which have been needed for development of empirical stem volume models, with TLS. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of the TLS data captured at various distance (i.e. corresponding 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of tree height) on the accuracy of the stem volume derived. In addition, we examined how multiple TLS point cloud data acquired at various distances improved the results. Analysis was carried out with two ways when multiple point clouds were used: individual tree attributes were derived from separate point clouds and the volume was estimated based on these separate values (multiple scan A), and point clouds were georeferenced as a combined point cloud from which the stem volume was estimated (multiple-scan B). This permitted us to deal with the practical aspects of TLS data collection and data processing for development of stem volume equations in boreal forests. The results indicated that a scanning distance of approximately 25% of tree height would be optimal for stem volume estimation with TLS if a single scan was utilized in boreal forest conditions studied here and scanning resolution employed. Larger distances increased the uncertainty, especially when the scanning distance was greater than approximately 50% of tree height, because the number of successfully measured diameters from the TLS point cloud was not sufficient for estimating the stem volume. When two TLS point clouds were utilized, the accuracy of stem volume estimates was improved: RMSE decreased from 12.4% to 6.8%. When two point clouds were processed separately (i.e. tree attributes were derived from separate point clouds and then combined) more accurate results were obtained; smaller RMSE and relative error were achieved compared to processing point clouds together (i.e. tree attributes were derived from a combined point cloud). TLS data collection and processing for the optimal setup in this study required only one sixth of time that was necessary to obtain the field reference. These results helped to further our knowledge on TLS in estimating stem volume in boreal forests studied here and brought us one step closer in providing best practices how a phase-shift TLS can be utilized in collecting data when developing stem volume models. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Inc. (ISPRS).

In the article are shown results of assessment of relationships between quantitative and qualitative characteristics of forests and morphometric characteristics of relief on an example model plot in Nanayskoe forest district of Khabarovsk Territory. The relevance of the investigation is connected with need for improvement of the system of forest evaluation operations in the Russian Federation, including with use of the landscape approach. The tasks of the investigation were assessment of relationships between characteristics of relief and characteristics of forest vegetation cover on different levels of forest management; evaluation of morphometric characteristics of relief are important for structure and productivity of forests; comparison of the results obtained through the use of digital terrain models ASTER and SRTM. Geoinformatic projects were formed for a model plot on the basis of digital terrain models and data of forest mensuration and State (National) Forest Inventory. On the basis of the developed method with use geoinformatic technologies were estimated morphometric characteristics of relief (average height, standard deviation of height, entropy, exposition and gradient of slopes, indexes of ruggedness and roughness), quantitative and qualitative characteristics of forests. The multifactor regression analysis, where characteristics of forests (as dependent variables) and morphometric characteristics of relief (as independent variables) were used, have been done. As a result of research, the set of morphometric characteristics of relief able to influence to variability of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of forests was identified. The set of linear regression equations able to explain 30–50 % of variability of dependent variables was obtained. The regression equations, obtained on base of digital terrain models ASTER and SRTM, comparable to each other in strength of relations (coefficients of determination), but includes the different sets of morphometric characteristics. The results of the study suggest the presence of relationships between characteristics of forests and morphometric characteristics of relief on different levels of forest management.

Comment analyser la réponse de la biodiversité à la mise en réserve intégrale ? La première étape est d'explorer les données de structure forestière et de description spatiotemporelle pour identifier les caractéristiques déterminantes, les « variables explicatives » de modèles destinés à expliquer les variations de biodiversité entre forêts exploitées et réserves. Originalité du projet GNB : la démarche se réfère à la notion de naturalité(s), en distinguant variables de naturalité anthropique et variables de naturalité biologique.

Height models based on high-altitude aerial images provide a low-cost means of generating detailed 3D models of the forest canopy. In this study, the performance of these height models in the detection of individual trees was evaluated in a commercially managed boreal forest. Airborne digital stereo imagery (DSI) was captured from a flight altitude of 5 km with a ground sample distance of 50 cm and corresponds to regular national topographic airborne data capture programs operated in many countries. Tree tops were detected from smoothed canopy height models (CHM) using watershed segmentation. The relative amount of detected trees varied between 26% and 140%, and the RMSE of plot-level arithmetic mean height between 2.2 m and 3.1 m. Both the dominant tree species and the filter used for smoothing affected the results. Even though the spatial resolution of DSI-based CHM was sufficient, detecting individual trees from the data proved to be demanding because of the shading effect of the dominant trees and the limited amount of data from lower canopy levels and near the ground.

Central Kamchatka abounds in virgin old-growth boreal forest, formed primarily by Larix cajanderi and Betula platyphylla in varying proportions. A series of eight 0.25–0.30 ha plots captured the range of forests present in this region and their structure is described. Overall trends in both uplands and lowlands are for higher sites to be dominated by L. cajanderi with an increasing component of B. platyphylla with decreasing altitude. The tree line on wet sites is commonly formed by mono-dominant B. ermanii forests. Basal area ranged from 7.8–38.1 m 2 /ha and average tree height from 8.3–24.7 m, both being greater in lowland forests. Size distributions varied considerably among plots, though they were consistently more even for L. cajanderi than B. platyphylla . Upland sites also contained a dense subcanopy of Pinus pumila averaging 38% of ground area. Soil characteristics differed among plots, with upland soils being of lower pH and containing more carbon. Comparisons are drawn with boreal forests elsewhere and the main current threats assessed. These forests provide a potential baseline to contrast with more disturbed regions elsewhere in the world and therefore may be used as a target for restoration efforts or to assess the effects of climate change independent of human impacts.

A stand of a semideciduous forest of the Raio de Sol s farm (15º 45 54 S and 49º 04 03 W) with 10 ha was studied.It is inserted into the bioregion of the Cerrado Ecomuseum, Goiás state. For the phytosociological inventory, ten sample plots of 20 x20 m each were systematically laid out. In these plots all living trees with DBH above 5 cm were measured. 742 individuals belongingto 83 species, 67 genera and 36 families were registered. The diameter distribuition shows a tendency of a J inverse model. Ninetysix percent of the individuals are situated in the three first diameter classes. Studied vegetal community was balanced observedthrough the Liocourt quotient.

El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar el comportamiento de Grevillea robusta ante diferentes espaciamientos. Se evaluaron densidades de plantación de 162 a 1500 árboles por hectárea en un ensayo instalado en Posadas, Misiones, Argentina. Para ello, se realizaron mediciones periódicas de las parcelas a través de 18 años tomando datos de dapy altura, a partir de los cuales se analizaron, a lo largo del tiempo y al momento de la corta final, variables de obtención indirecta como área basal / ha y volumen / ha. Los resultados evidenciaron que la densidad inicial de plantación influenció la tendencia en crecimiento en dap, área basal /ha y volumen /ha, teniendo un efecto menos significativo sobre la altura total. Menores densidades de plantación presentaron mayores diámetros pero en las mayores densidades de plantación ocurrió la mayor acumulación de área basal y volumen /ha. En la mayor densidad de plantación el dap fue un 39 % menor que en la menor densidad, dicha diferencia fue de 12 % y 22 % respecto a las dos densidades intermedias respectivamente. En área basal, entre las dos mayores densidades de plantación existe una diferencia de tan solo 5 % y respecto a las dos densidades intermedias respectivamente. En área basal, entre las dos mayores densidades de lantación existe una diferencia de tan solo 5 % y entre éstas y las dos menores de 46 % y 68 %, respectivamente. En cuanto al volumen con corteza por hectárea, la diferencia entre las dos mayores densidades de plantación y las dos menores fue de 56 %. Palabras clave: Manejo forestal, altura, dap, área basal, volumen, crecimiento y producción. This work was aimed to assess the behaviour of Grevillea robusta at different spacings. A test site in Posadas, province of Misiones, Argentina was used to test plantation densities ranging from 162 to 1500 trees per hectare. To that effect, regular measurements of the plots were carried out over 18 years, taking dbh and height data, which were then used to analyze throughout the time and at the time of the clear cut, variables obtained indirectly, such as basal area/ha and volume/ha. Results show that initial plantation density has an impact on the growth trend in dbh, basal area/ha and volume/ha, with a less significant effect on total height. Lower plantation densities show greater diameters, but the highest densities of plantations show the highest accumulation of basal area and volume/ha. In the largest planting density the dbh was 39% lower than the lower density, that difference was of 12% and 22% regarding the two intermediate densities respectively. In basal area, the difference between the two greatest planting densities is only 5%, and between those and the two lowest densities is 46 % and 68 %, respectively. Regarding the volume with bark per hectare, the difference between the two largest planting densities and the two lowest was 56%. Keywords: Forest management, height, dbh, basal area, volume, growth. EEA Montecarlo Fil: Barth, Sara Regina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Montecarlo; Argentina. Fil: Barth, Sara Regina. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales; Argentina Fil: Giménez, Ana María. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales; Argentina Fil: Joseau, Marisa Jacqueline. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina Fil: Gauchat, Maria Elena. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Montecarlo; Argentina. Fil: Fassola, Hugo Enrique. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Montecarlo; Argentina. Fil: Crechi, Ernesto Hector. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Montecarlo; Argentina