Forest Resource Assessment

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

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

This subject promotes student understanding of the art and science of forest resource management by focusing on the issues involved in quantitative assessment of trees and forests. Specifically, the aim is to:

• Present the state of the art and methodologies applicable foro modern forest inventory
• Present methods for formulation and planning an effective and efficient inventory
• Enable participants to implement a modern inventory system and determine the advantages and disadvantages of available systems
• Enable participants to process inventory data to determine reliable estimates and confidence limits of product volumes.

Topics include: introduction to sampling theory, issues involved in effective inventory design, equal and unequal probability sampling techniques, modern mensuration tools and techniques, designing and implementing an unequal probability-based inventory, and dealing with problem data.

This subject will provide students with an advanced understanding of:

• the role of forest assessment in planning native forest and plantation resource management 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 vrown, stem geometry, stem analysis and defects
• sources of assessment errors and their significance
• use of aerial photographs, remote sensing and GIS in forest inventories and project management
• assessment project planning and logistics, costs and implementation issues and project management tools
• advanced statistical techniques of design and sampling for inventory.

Two written reports (2500 words each, 40% each); oral presentation to class (20%).

P A Burrough, Principles of Geographical Information Systems for Land Resources Assessment.

M S Philip, Measuring Trees and Forests.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.