FOR 2071 FOREST MEASUREMENTS LABORATORY
(1 credit, 3 hours a week of lab)
FOR 2273 FOREST MEASUREMENTS
SPRING 2008
(TENTATIVE SYLLABUS)
INSTRUCTOR
Dr. Curtis L. VanderSchaaf, Henry H. Chamberlin Forest Resources Complex 213, (870) 460-1993,
vanderschaaf@uamont.edu, http: www.afrc.uamont.edu/vanderschaaf/FOR22732071.htm
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 10:30 – 12:00. If these times are not conducive to your schedule, please set up an appointment. I will be happy to meet with you as much as needed granted you are putting forth effort to prepare. Occasionally I will need to travel, attend meetings, etc., and thus I will let you know if I will not be able to attend office hours.
ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR
Michael Olson, Henry H. Chamberlin Forest Resources Complex 216, (870) 460-1852,
olsonm@uamont.edu
TIME AND PLACE
Lab: Thursdays 1:40-4:30, Henry H. Chamberlin Forest Resources Complex 209
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Description of tree, log, and stand-level components of forests and forest products; log rules and scaling practices; surveying and land description; measures of wildlife habitat; introduction to summary statistics. This class also provides application and field practice of natural resource measurement techniques.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
PRE- REQUISITES
MATH 1033 or MATH 1175. Basically a good understanding of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry at the high school level is required. Knowledge of statistics is desirable.
TEXTS
Avery, T.E., and H.E. Burkhart. 2002. Forest Measurements, 5th edition. McGraw-Hill, New York, NY. 456 p. (REQUIRED)
Shiver, B.D., and B.E. Borders. 1996. Sampling Techniques for Forest Resource Inventory. John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY. 356 p.
Schreuder, H.T., R. Ernst, and H. Ramirez-Maldonado. 2004. Statistical Techniques for Sampling and Monitoring Natural Resources. RMRS-GTR-126. Fort Collins, CO: USDA For. Serv., Rocky Mountain Research Station. 111 p.
http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_gtr126.html
Freese, F. 1962. Elementary Forest Sampling. Agri. Handbook No. 232. Southern Forest Experiment Station, USDA For. Serv. 91 p.
http://www.fs.fed.us/fmsc/measure/handbooks/index.shtml
Timber Cruising in the Pacific Northwest -- Basic Cruiser Training Workbook. 2006. R6-NR-TM-TP-21-97. USDA For. Serv., Pacific Northwest Region. 124 p.
Husch, B., T.W. Beers, and J.A. Kershaw, Jr. 2003. Forest Mensuration, 4th edition. John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY. 443 p.
Bell, J.F., and J.R. Dilworth. 2002. Log scaling and timber cruising. Revised edition. Cascade Printing Co. Corvallis, OR. 444 p.
Hunt, E.V., Jr., and R.D. Baker. 1967. Practical point-sampling. School of Forestry, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX. 43 p.
Wiant, H.V., Jr. 1994. Elementary Timber Measurements. Ben Meadows Company, Atlanta, GA. 90 p.
Ashley, B.S. 1991. Simplified point-sample cruising. NA-UP-01-91. Morgantown, WV: USDA For. Serv., Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry.
GRADING SYSTEM
LAB
Lab Assignments = 93% (14 labs worth 100 points each = 1400 points)
Participation = 7% (100 points)
90% - 100% = A
80% - 89% = B
70% - 79% = C
60% - 69% = D
0 - 60% = F
Labs
Lab attendance is mandatory! This is particularly true given that lab meets only once a week. You should come to every lab prepared to go to the field unless previously told otherwise. Appropriate field dress includes long pants and boots. Many areas used in lab have healthy populations of ticks and chiggers, abundant poison ivy, and the occasional venomous snake. If you have an allergy to anything that might be encountered during labs, please inform me (or assistants) so that we can handle a reaction should you have one. Outdoor classes will be held in all forms of weather. Students should report to each lab prepared to work outside even if the weather appears to be inclement. The lab may be held as scheduled or rescheduled inside or for a later date at the instructor's discretion. Labs will be canceled or rescheduled only on very rare occasions. I will notify you by email or post notices in the corridors of our building should changes be required.
The following checklist should help you prepare for all labs:
1. Hard hat
2. Jeans or sturdy pants
3. Boots (preferably waterproof)
4. Clipboard
5. Calculator
6. Water bottle or snacks (we will occasionally be in the field for extended amounts of
time)
7. Insect repellant
8. Rain gear
9. Cruisers vest if desired
Other labs will require additional equipment which I will inform you about prior to meeting for that week. As students, you are readying yourselves to be professionals. Thus, it is imperative that you learn to prepare yourselves for your work environment.
Often you will work in groups to collect field data for labs that require fieldwork. Unique lab reports are expected from each individual student. Student teams are expected to collect data together and may analyze it together, but each individual student must write their own unique lab report. Failure to do so will be considered a violation of the University academic honesty guidelines and will result in a complaint filed with the appropriate offices on campus. Helping other students and asking other students for help is encouraged. In the professional world, it is good to get second opinions and to ask advice. As a professional, it is often expected that you help others. With that said, please be wise as to who you ask for help!
The format for lab reports will be discussed during one of the early lab periods. Lab reports must be stapled, and if a lab summary is required, that summary must be typed. Correct spelling (please use the spell checker of your preferred word processor software), grammar, and numerical reporting are expected on all lab reports and will be graded along with report content. Each person will turn in weekly lab assignments. Lab assignments are due at the beginning of class the following week (unless I assign another due date). Failure to turn in a lab assignment by the due date will result in points deducted for that lab assignment. To help insure that you understand the lab, 10% of the grade will be based on a summary written by the student prior to conducting the lab explaining the lab exercise and what is to be turned in by the student - you must hand this summary in before conducting any exercise. If you must miss a lab session, see me BEFORE you miss lab; or, in the case of an emergency, see me immediately when you return to class. If you have to miss lab for another class, field trip, or school sponsored activity, then you must complete the assignment BEFORE you leave (and I need to have a written letter from the coordinator of the event stating that you will be missing class). If you miss lab without a valid excuse, you will receive a “zero” for that lab assignment.
Percentage of points deducted when a lab assignment is turned in late:
1 day – 10%
2 days – 20%
3 days – 25%
1 week – 33%
Lab equipment
You will need to provide your personal field gear (boots, hardhat, sturdy clothing, clipboard, water bottle, insect repellant), a hand calculator that provides basic statistics and trigonometric functions, an engineer’s scale, and a protractor.
Academic dishonesty
Policy on academic dishonesty (aka, cheating) is covered in the Academic Code Violations section of the 2007-2009 catalog on pg. 49. In this class, you can work together on the lab calculations and data collection, but you must write your own lab reports. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. To ensure that your work is not copied by anybody else, take care how you store your work. Avoid throwing drafts or extra report copies in public/lab trashcans, storing electronic files on public computers, and sharing your finished work with other students, etc. Plagiarism to any degree will result in a “zero” for the assignment, even if somebody stole your work without your knowledge.
Other examples of cheating include:
The possession, receipt, use, buying or selling, or furnishing of unauthorized help while doing any of the following, but not limited to:
- assignments -reports
- quizzes -term papers
- term papers - tests
- homework (e.g., copying homework assignments from others and/or providing answers)
The use of unauthorized, pre-programmed information (e.g. formulas, facts, definitions) in calculators also constitutes cheating.
When in doubt about the acceptance of providing or getting help for the activities mentioned above, consult your instructor.
Plagiarism:
- Copying directly from a source (e.g. a book or internet site).
- Copying graphics and pictures from the internet without a reference (attribution).
- Paraphrasing without a reference (attribution).
- Submitting someone else’s work.
- Failing to provide a reference (attribution).
When in doubt about plagiarism consult your instructor.
Hats and tobacco products
Whenever you are in a classroom all males should remove their hats. Additionally, there is to be absolutely no use of tobacco products during regularly scheduled lecture or lab activities. Intentional failure to meet these rules will be extremely frowned upon by the instructor and may require further action.
Respect
As students preparing themselves to be professionals, it is absolutely necessary to show respect for all individuals within the classroom, this means not only myself, but all other instructors and especially all other students. Additionally, I expect individuals to watch their use of the English language during regularly scheduled lecture or lab activities. If I fail to show respect in anyway, please let me know.
TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE (FOR 2273 FOREST MEASUREMENTS)
WEEK 1. INTRODUCTION (January 9th)
WEEK 2. LAND MEASUREMENTS (January 14th to 18th) (Avery and
Burkhart Chapter 4)
WEEK 3. MEASURING STANDING TREES (January 21st to 25th)
(Avery and Burkhart Chapter 7)
WEEK 4. CUBIC VOLUME, CORD MEASURE, AND WEIGHT
SCALING (January 28th to February 1st) (Avery and Burkhart Chapter 5)
WEEK 5. LOG RULES AND BOARD FOOT SCALING (February
4th to 8th) (Avery and Burkhart Chapter 6)
WEEK 6. STATISTICS (February 11th to 15th) (Avery and Burkhart Chapter
2)
WEEK 7. VOLUMES AND WEIGHTS OF STANDING TREES
(February 18th to 22nd) (Avery and Burkhart Chapter 8)
WEEK 8. FOREST INVENTORY AND SAMPLING (February 25th to February 29th)
(Avery and Burkhart Chapters 3 and 9)
WEEK 9. FIXED AREA SAMPLING (March 3rd to 7th)
(Avery and Burkhart Chapter 10)
WEEK 10. VARIABLE RADIUS SAMPLING (POINT SAMPLING)
(March 10th to March 14th) (Avery and Burkhart Chapter 11)
WEEK 11. SPRING BREAK (March 17th to 21st)
WEEK 12. VARIABLE RADIUS SAMPLING (POINT SAMPLING)
(March 24th to March 28th) (Avery and Burkhart Chapter 11)
WEEK 13. SITE, STOCKING, AND STAND DENSITY (March 31st to April
4th) (Avery and Burkhart Chapter 15)
WEEK 14. NO LECTURES (April 7th to 11th)
WEEK 15. TREE-GROWTH AND STAND-TABLE PROJECTION
(April 14th to 18th) (Avery and Burkhart Chapter 16)
WEEK 16. NON-LIVING TREE FOREST RESOURCES (April 21st
to 25th) (Avery and Burkhart Chapter 18)
TENTATIVE LABORATORY SCHEDULE
WEEK 1. INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS (IN CLASSROOM)
(January 10th) (Avery and Burkhart Chapter 2)
Sample distribution versus sampling distribution
WEEK 2. LAND MEASUREMENTS (IN CLASSROOM) (January 17th)
WEEK 3. COMPASS AND PACING (IN FIELD) (January 24th)
WEEK 4. MEASUREMENT OF TREE DIAMETERS AND
HEIGHTS (IN FIELD) (January 31st)
WEEK 5. STATISTICS (cont.) and DERIVATION OF DIAGRAM
LOG RULE (IN CLASSROOM) (February 7th)
Log rule memo
WEEK 6. MEASUREMENT OF TREE VOLUMES (IN FIELD)
(February 14th)
WEEK 7. LAND DEEDS (DREW COUNTY COURTHOUSE)
(February 21st)
WEEK 8. LOG SCALING (BEATY LUMBER MILL) (February 28th)
WEEK 9. FIXED AREA SAMPLING (IN FIELD) (March 6th)
WEEK 10. VARIABLE RADIUS (POINT) SAMPLING
(IN FIELD) (March 13th)
WEEK 11. SPRING BREAK (March 17th to 21st)
WEEK 12. TIMBER INVENTORY USING POINT SAMPLING
(IN FIELD) (March 27th)
Estimating product volumes, product weights, and values of trees
Example of developing and creating a stand and stock table in Microsoft Excel
WEEK 13. RESEARCH FIELD SAMPLING (IN FIELD) (April 3rd)
Plot data from Monticello Thinning and Pruning Study
WEEK 14. NO LAB (April 10th)
WEEK 15. GROWTH AND YIELD MODELS (Avery
and Burkhart Chapter 17) (IN CLASSROOM) (April 17th)
Growth and yield model program
WEEK 16. NON-LIVING TREE FOREST RESOURCES (IN FIELD)
(April 24th)
BASIC ADVICE ABOUT FOREST MEASUREMENTS
Most of you probably come from a natural resource background, and in many ways are probably more prepared than I was when I first started my education in Forestry. Although you may not have basic knowledge about all topics discussed in this class, please use common sense for all assignments. For example, please don’t tell me that a loblolly pine tree is 390 feet tall, that stand basal area per acre for a mixed-hardwood stand is 650 sq. ft. per acre, or that any tract whose area we determine is 60,000 acres. There are many resources available to you that should help you determine what answers are reasonable for any question. These resources include myself, teacher assistants, other professors here at UAM, perhaps members of your family, your fellow undergraduate students as well as graduate students, and books and journals.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Students with Disabilities:
It is the policy of the University of AR at Monticello to accommodate individuals with disabilities pursuant to federal law and the University’s commitment to equal educational opportunities. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor of any necessary accommodations at the beginning of the course. Any student requiring accommodations should contact the Office of Special Student Services located in Harris Hall Room 120; phone 870 460-1026; TDD 870 460-1626; Fax 870 460-1926.
Please note a change in the last line for the colleges of technology:
McGehee: Office of Special Student Services representative on campus; phone 870 222-5360; fax 870 222-1105.
Crossett: Office of Special Student Services representative on campus; phone 870 364-6414; fax 870 364-5707.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank the following people for providing guidance about the content and organization of this class, most especially Dr. Paul F. Doruska.
Dr. Becky Barlow, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
Mr. Albert Beaty, Beaty Lumber Mill, Rock Springs, AR
Dr. Bruce E. Borders, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Mr. Spencer Burke, Scull Timber Company, Crockett, TX
Dr. Harold E. Burkhart, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
Dr. Dean W. Coble, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX
Dr. Paul F. Doruska, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI
Mr. Wesley D. Fletcher, University of Arkansas at Monticello, Monticello, AR
Dr. Michael S. Fountain, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX
Mr. Jay C. Hayek, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL
Mr. Allen O. Horton, Koppers Industries, Tie Plant, MS
Mr. Thomas Jacobs, University of Arkansas at Monticello, Monticello, AR
Dr. Richard G. Oderwald, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
Dr. David W. Patterson, University of Arkansas at Monticello, Monticello, AR
Dr. Philip J. Radtke, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
Mr. Trey Tubbs, Potlatch Corporation, Warren, AR