Laser Technology, Inc. (LTI) ( Tips for Using the Latest Technology for Timber Cruising

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1 Laser Technology, Inc. (LTI) ( Tips for Using the Latest Technology for Timber Cruising Timber Measurements Society Bill Carr

2 June 9, 1958 I began my timber cruising career as a GS-3 employee ($3,495 per annum) with the U.S. Forest Service, NE Forest Experiment Station ($ gross pay for 3 months)

3 Early Traditional Cruising Tools Biltmore stick and Abney level

5 1992

7 Tree Height

8 Significance Tree height is used for volume, value and growth & yield determination. Volume (cf) of immature Douglas fir in British Columbia: log V = log D log H So calling a 20" DBH tree that's 120 ft. tall (5% error in height) results in a 5.5% error in volume.

9 Measure from a point perpendicular to the lean tangent solution Timber cruisers have been trained to measure heights from a location that is perpendicular to the lean. This would solve most of the problem except that topography and perception often prevents an accurate measurement. The tree may appear to lean to the right or left but really quarters to you or away from you.

10 Height error when lean is towards the cruiser Tree Height = 100 feet Degree of lean Distance from base of tree 50 feet 100 feet 1 degree 3.6% 1.8% 2 degrees 7.5% 3.6% 5 degrees 33.3% 9.5% 10 degrees 53.2% 21.0% 15 degrees 107.3% 34.9%

11 Leaning Tree Height Improper technique Tangent Height Distance

12 Leaning Tree Height Proper technique Tangent Height Distance

13 Impulse 200 (1996) Main Features: Range: +0.1 foot To a tree 450 to 3,600 feet Tilt accuracy +0.1 degree Tree Heights 3- shot tangent solution

14 Impulse 200 Evaluation by the U.S. Service Forest

16 TruPulse 200 / 200B (2004) Accuracy: Distance + 1 ft ; Inclination degrees Range: 0 to 3,280 ft (6,560 ft to reflective target) Operating Modes: Slope, horizontal and vertical distance, 3-point height routine, closest, farthest and continuous target acquisition

17 The most accurate method to measure tree heights is with a laser instrument developed before First, determine the horizontal distance (HD) to the central axis of the tree under the top. HD

18 Then shoot the angle to the base of the tree to determine the vertical distance from the horizontal to the base of the tree. Vertical Distance to BASE

19 Then shoot the angle to the top of the tree to determine the vertical distance from the horizontal to the top of the tree. Vertical Distance to TOP

20 The next push of the firing button solves for tree height. HEIGHT

21 The Next Best Procedure Place a reflector directly under the top of the tree, at the parallel to the base. With the electronic filter turned ON, scan back and forth until the laser locks onto the reflector, fire the laser again to get the base angle and then shoot the angle to the top of the tree. Height

22 Sine-based tree height measurement Tree height = a + a = [(sin A) c] + [(sin A ) c ] The sine method requires a physical target-not just an angle to the top and base of the tree!! c a A A b c a

23 Cosine-based tree height measurement Tree height = a = b 2 +c 2-2bcCosA The cosine method requires a range measurement (b and c) and an angle (A) to the top and base of the tree!! A c Accurate if the tree leans directly towards or away from you. a b

24 The Leaning Pine was a recognizable symbol of a forestry school in the Northeast but also a mensuration course challenge.

25 Tilted Tree Hypsometry by L.R. Grosenbaugh

26 Two Observation Points per Tree are Required

25 degrees Azimuth accuracy: + 1 degree Height determination: 3-shot tangent solution for

27 TruPulse 360 / 360B (2007) Main Features: Range: Accuracy + 1 foot Maximum range 3,280 feet to typical target (6,560 feet to a reflective target Inclination accuracy: degrees Azimuth accuracy: + 1 degree Height determination: 3-shot tangent solution for height determination 2-shot coordinate solution for height, displacement and length determination

28 Using a TruPulse 360 to Measure Displacement of Top from Base, Vertical Height, Length of Tree Bole and Azimuth from Tree Top to Base The solution requires two shots and is accurate regardless of which way the tree Leans. X, Y, Z X, Y, Z

29 TruPulse 360 / 360B x, y, z VD SD Missing Line (ML) Routine Shot 2 INC HD (AZ) x, y, z Shot 1

30 Missing Line HD Solution Missing Line VD Solution Missing Line SD Solution

31 TruPulse, Reflector and Foliage Filter

32 Battery Duration AA: Approximately 7,500 measurements (6,000 with Bluetooth enabled) CRV3: Approximately 15,000 measurements (12,000 with Bluetooth enabled)

33 Crown Width Missing Line Mode Shoot a branch on one side of the crown and then one on the other. Immediately the horizontal distance between the two points is displayed.

34 Determine Tree Spacing

35 Angle Gauges Angle Gauge Prism Spiegelrelaskop Dendrometers Barr & Stroud Criterion

36 Criterion RD Electronic Angle Gauge (2005) BAF range: 1 to 127 ft 2 /acre (0.3 to 29.1 M 2 / Hectare)

37 Solid Bar vs. Gap Bar

38 Illumination Brightness Adjustment

39 BAF 20 Mode Measurement bar length adjusted for slope

40 Point Sampling Trees/acre = BAF / x DBH 2 Trees/acre = 20 / x 8 2 = 57.3 trees/acre

41 Setting Imperial BAF s to Tenths Change measurement unit s to METRIC Return to BAF Mode and EDIT in the metric equivalent: Multiply Imperial BAF by (example: 17.5 BAF x =4.0 metric)

42 IN / OUT Tree Mode Enter DBH either by measuring with the instrument (in DIAMETER mode) or manually Enter horizontal distance from plot center (instrument) to the face of the tree at DBH manually or automatically with LTI laser (Since the Limiting Distance is to the face of the tree at DBH the Plot Radius Factor has been adjusted by the radius at DBH. So the PRF has been reduced by one-half the DBH, expressed in feet (0.5/12 = ). Press ENTER and the LCD and HUD will indicate if the tree is IN or OUT of the plot

43 DIAMETER Mode LCD HUD Display shows DIAMETER when the trigger is released

44 Diameter resolution With Magnifier + ¼ inch at 80 feet + 1/8 inch at 40 feet Without Magnifier + 5/8 inch at 80 feet + 3/8 inch at 40 feet

45 Computation of Diameter S= D 2 L L+D S D/2 D/2 L D= S 2 + S (S 2 +4L 2 ) 2L D/2 SINCE: 4L 2 >> S 2 D (S 2 + 2SL) / 2L D S( 1 + S/2L)

46 Diameter (D) Range / Distance Distance to Face-of-Tree W/O Magnifier With Point of Measurement Min. D Max. D Min. D Max. D

47 HEIGHT / DIAMETER Mode

48 Reference Log Determining Tree Cull Percentage Approximate Percent of Tree Volume by 16-Foot Logs Scribner Dec. C or Cubic Height Height i.e.-if a tree is 86 feet to a 6.0-inch top and has a fire scar in the 1 st log requiring a 2- foot deduction, the tree is 4 % cull.

49 Accessories for the Impulse Lasers MapStar Compass Module MapStar Angle Encoder Accuracy: +0.3 Accuracy: +0.05

50 MapStar Compass Field Test and Overview: by Robert Schroeter, Jack Fetterman and Robert Pierle

51 Conclusion of Field Test

52 Integrated Set-up for Tree Modeling with a TruPulse Laser

54 Inventory Plot - Jilove, Czech Republic

55 European Countries Using LTI Products for Forest Inventory NFI Ireland Czech Republic Slovakia Iceland Hungary Ukraine Russia Most Forest Reserves Throughout Europe

57 Happy Trails!

58 28 Year Old Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) Duroflora Company Near Piracicaba, Brazil

59 1-year old Eucalyptus grandis stand 2-year old E. grandis stand 3-year old stand of E. grandis 21 year old E. grandis stand

60 10-year old Pinus radiata stand near Conception, Chile 5 1/2 inch pen

61 Inventory Plot - Pinus radiata Cooma, New South Wales, Australia

62 Pinus radiata Stands Near Ballarat, Victoria, Australia 25-year old stand 40-year old stand

63 55 year old Redwood (S. sempervirens) stand Ballarat, Australia

64 25 Year Old Sitka Spruce Plantation - Moffett, Scotland

65 Forest Expo Soustons, France

66 Area Near Schmallenberg, Germany

67 Demonstration Plot - Ministry of Forestry Hdqts.Fontainelleau, France (Napoleon s Estate)

70 Traditional Surveying Tools- Mid 1950 s Staff compass, chain, Abney level, and Reinhardt Redy Mapper

71 Skull Creek Timber Sale (113 MMBF) Preparation

72 Traditional Cruising Tools Used from the mid 1960 s Until Early 1990 s

Introduced the First Laser Designed for Forestry (1992) Features: Determine tree height Locate target height Determine Diameter Locate target diameter BAF 1 to 90 IN / OUT tree Closed surveys

73 Introduced the First Laser Designed for Forestry (1992) Features: Determine tree height Locate target height Determine Diameter Locate target diameter BAF 1 to 90 IN / OUT tree Closed surveys Open surveys Combination surveys Store 1,350 points Navigation Criterion 400 Ceased production about 10 years ago. Still used today for stem mapping, traversing, road layout and conductor clearance.

74 The bigger the tree, the bigger the potential for significant error!! Tangent height method Tangent height Actual height

75 Sine-based tree height measurement Less sensitive!! Tree height = a + a = [(sin A) c] + [(sin A ) c ] Provides exact height of branch, not over- or under-estimate!! c a A A b c a

76 Sine-based tree height measurement Tree height = a + a = [(sin A) c] + [(sin A ) c ] Under ideal conditions, tangent height = sine height exactly! A A c b c a a

77 Portable GPS Mid 1980 s Now

79 Progression of Texts

83 Integrated Set-up for Tree Modeling with an Impulse Laser

84 Consequences of Distance Error to Tree Height If the cruiser is an equal distance from the tree as the tree is tall (45 degrees viewing angle to the top), for every 1% error in distance from the tree there is a 1% error in height. If nearer the tree there is more than 1% error in height for each 1% error in distance.

85 Solution for Measuring Distances to the Face of Obscured Sections of a Tree With TruPulse 360 laser connected to the Criterion RD dendrometer measure the distance to two clearly visible points on the tree. The slope distance to the point where the diameter measurement is needed can then be calculated based on the inclination and azimuth to that point.

86 Solve the Range to any Point on the Tree Solve tree height = a = b 2 +c 2-2bcCosA B Solve B=Cos B=(a 2 +c 2 -b 2 )/2ac Solve C=180-(A+B) Solve B 1 =180-(A 1 +C) Solve a 1 with Sine Rule: Sine A 1 /a 1 = Sine B 1 / b a 1 =b Sine A 1 /Sine B 1 A A 1 c d B l a Solve d = a 1 +b-2a 1 bcos C b a 1 C

87 Modes of Operation 5 Operating Modes: SYSTEM Used to set operating parameters BAF Used to store the Basal Area Factor (BAF) IN / OUT Used to determine if a questionable tree is in or out of the plot. DIAMETER Used to determine the diameter of a tree at a given height up the tree. HEIGHT / DIAMETER Used to determine the height up the tree at which a specific diameter is reached.

88 Missing Line Calculations Shot 1 - Measurement of target 1: Slope Distance1, Inclination1, and Azimuth1 Shot 2 - Measurement of target 2: Slope Distance2, Inclination2, and Azimuth2 Conversion of Spherical Coordinates to Cartesian: Shot1->x1,y1,z1 Shot2->x2, y2, z2 x1=slope Distance1*sin(Azimuth1)*cos(Inclination1) x2=slope Distance2*2sin(Azimuth2)*cos(Inclination2) y1=slope Distance1*cos(Azimuth1)*cos(Inclination1) y2=slope Distance2*cos(Azimuth2)*cos(Inclination2) z1=slope Distance1*sin(Inclination1) z2=slope Distance2*sin(Inclination2) Missing Line is a Difference of Shot1 and Shot2 Coordinates xml=x2-x1, yml=y2-y1, zml=z2-z1 Conversion of Missing Line Cartesian Coordinates to Spherical Slope Distance=Square root(xml^2+yml^+zml^2) Azimuth=arctan(abs(yml/xml)) Quadrant correction after Azimuth is Converted to Degrees If (xml<0)and(yml>0) add 90, If (xml<0) and (yml<0) add 180 or If (xml>0) and (yml<0) Azimuth=360 Azimuth Finally: Azimuth=450-Azimuth and if (Azimuth>360) Azimuth=Azimuth -360 Inclination=arctan(zml/SquareRoot(xml^2+yml^2))

FOR 274 Forest Measurements and Inventory. Written Take Home Exam

FOR 274 Forest Measurements and Inventory Written Take Home Exam Instructions: This exam is comprehensive of the material covered within the Forest Resources 274 class curriculum. The first question is