Forest Inventory

Subject 220-303 (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 3 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

Semester 1, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: Twenty-four hours of lectures, 24 hours practical work and excursions and a three-day forest survey. Students are expected to undertake additional study of at least one hour for each hour of contact
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites: 220-213 Trees and Forests; 207-203 Techniques of Resource Assessment.
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Coordinator

Prof Rodney John Keenan
Subject Overview:

The subject gives quantitative understanding of the role of inventory (forest and tree measurement and assessment) in planning the management of native and plantation forest resources. It includes planning and execution of a forest assessment, and processing of assessment data to a form suitable for input into forest management. Content includes:

  • the importance of forest assessment, and the role of inventories in native forest and plantation resource planning for both wood and non-wood values;

  • the use of standard equipment to estimate tree and stand parameters such as diameter, basal area, height, standing volume, bark and crown, stem geometry, stem analysis and defects;

  • estimation of timber yields, and the effect of site productivity and stand density;

  • the sources of assessment errors and their significance;

  • use of remote sensing and GIS in forest inventories and project management;

  • registration and rectification of maps and aerial photographs of forested areas;

  • project planning, logistic, costs, and implementation issues, project management tools;

  • advanced statistical techniques of design and sampling for inventory and research.

Assessment: One 3-hour end-of-semester examination (50%), an essay (up to 1500 words, 20%), a group field inventory exercise (30%).
Prescribed Texts: None
Recommended Texts:

  • Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation (Lilles and Kiefer)
  • Geographic Information Systems: A Management Perspective (S A Aranoff)
  • Principles of Geographical Information Systems for Land Resources Assessment (P A Burrough)
  • Measuring Trees and Forests (M S Philip)
Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

Information Not Available

Related Course(s): Bachelor of Forest Science

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