Original scientific paper
Assessing the Accuracy of Tree Diameter Measurements Collected at a Distance
Steven A. Weaver
; University of Georgia, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources 180 E Green Street USA – GA 30602 Athens, USA
Zennure Ucar
; University of Georgia, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources 180 E Green Street USA – GA 30602 Athens, USA
Pete Bettinger
; University of Georgia, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources 180 E Green Street USA – GA 30602 Athens, USA
Krista Merry
; University of Georgia, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources 180 E Green Street USA – GA 30602 Athens, USA
Krisha Faw
; University of Georgia, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources 180 E Green Street USA – GA 30602 Athens, USA
Chris J. Cieszewski
; University of Georgia, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources 180 E Green Street USA – GA 30602 Athens, USA
Abstract
The ability to measure trees remotely or at a distance may be of value to forest inventory processes. Within three forest types (young coniferous, old coniferous, and deciduous), we compared laser caliper measurements collected at distances up to 12 m from each tree, to direct contact caliper measurements. Bitterlich sector-fork measurements and diameter tape measurements were also collected for reference purposes. We used non-parametric tests to evaluate three of our four hypotheses that suggest there are no significant differences between direct and remote diameter measurements, between caliper measurements and sector-fork measurements, and between diameter measurement errors across forest types. In general, most of the differences in diameters were small (≤0.8 cm) and were observed within the 0–6 m measurement distance from each tree. These results suggest that forest characteristics and measurement distance may play a role in remote diameter measurement accuracy. We also performed a correlation analysis between light conditions and remote measurements. The correlation analysis suggested light conditions were not significantly correlated to diameter measurement accuracy.
Keywords
dendrometer; precision forestry; Bitterlich sector-fork; Haglöf Gator Eyes; laser caliper
Hrčak ID:
136130
URI
Publication date:
24.2.2015.
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