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The Bitterlich method was studied with multiple basal area factors (BAF) in 3 Pinus taeda L. plantations located in the Midwest of Santa Catarina, Brazil using different management regimes: without thinning (1344 trees.ha-1), with one thinning (789 trees.ha-1), and with two thinnings (475 trees.ha-1),. Using the parameters obtained from censuses, we sought to verify the data from different sample treatments for the variables V.ha-1, G.ha-1, N.ha-1 and "d" through a completely randomized design for each management regime and observing the precision obtained by the sampling error and the accuracy detected by the real error. It was observed that the variable "d" was less impacted by the change in the basal area factor (BAF), but the estimates of V.ha-1, G.ha-1 and N.ha-1 were more consistent (precision and accuracy) using factors equal to or less than 5, mainly in thinned areas. Even with no significant differences in any BAF in the 3 experiments, the sampling performed with BAF greater than 5 showed contrasting results in the managed areas depending on the BAF used. Sampling precision is influenced by BAFs, decreasing with the reduction in the number of trees counted within the Bitterlich sampling unit, a direct consequence of the BAF increase. Sampling errors were always overestimated, regardless of the dendrometric variable or area management. Even the largest differences between estimates and parameters being identified in BAF greater than or equal to 5, the experiment indicated the use of any BAF, with the largest requiring greater sampling intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of mobile GIS solutions in forest surveys is rapidly increasing due to the technological evolution and the reduction, in size and cost, of the devices used for measuring forest parameters and collecting geo-referenced data. However, these software solutions frequently consist only in an optimization of paper-based data collection methods, not providing data processing and analysis functionalities directly on field. These last two activities are usually carried out a posteriori, in the office, using desktop or enterprise GIS platforms. This paper proposes an alternative approach oriented to processing the collected data directly during field surveys, providing new information useful for immediate decision making or data error analysis. Some of the software here described are project-specific, whereas others follow a “horizontal” approach, giving the user the possibility to define formalized and standardized data categories. Each software is described focussing on its functionalities and on the solutions adopted to reduce learning time and to increase surveyors productivity. Real case studies are also briefly presented.

Advanced mobile GIS applications to support forest monitoring and management. mobile GIS solutions are going to get used more and more in forest surveys - mainly due to their technological evolution, and the reduction in sizes and costs - for measuring forest parameters and collecting geo-referenced data. Very often the software provides only an optimization of data collecting, but do not support data processing and analysis, which are usually carried out back in the office, on desktop or enterprise GIS platforms. The present paper proposes an alternative approach, oriented to a real-time processing of collected data, providing new information useful for immediate decision to be taken in the field. Some of the software described are project specific, whereas others follow a more "horizontal" approach, giving the user the possibility to collect object categories in a formalized and standardized way even if not previously defined. Particular attention is paid to the user interface organization, to reduce learning time and to increase surveyors productivity even without any extensive GIS expertise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]