Forest Measurements

Introduction

There is currently a strong need in Canada for individuals with training in the general areas of forest mensuration and biometrics. Students wishing to pursue programs leading towards M.Sc. or Ph.D. degrees in the areas of forest measurements, both timber and non-timber resources, sampling, modeling and biometrics or closely related studies are encouraged to apply.

Application forms, scholarship information, and all additional information are available from the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. Interested applicants should contact the researcher whose interest closely match theirs.

Topics and Problems Currently of Interest

Prime areas of interest are in the development of computer-based models for predicting changes in tree and stand parameters over time. Initial work, concerned with the growth and development of natural stands of trembling aspen, has been expanded to an examination of spruce, pine and mixed-wood stands in Alberta. Direct by-products of this research have been studies of growth differences in aspen clones, estimation of site index and development of methods for prediction of individual tree mortality. Related studies in continuous forest inventory, and volume estimation are also in process. An evaluation of interpretation accuracy of medium scale aerial photography for forest inventory has also been conducted.

Initiatives are currently being developed in the area of Geographic Information Systems and their application to forest/resource management.

Researchers

Dr. Stephen J. Titus, (PhD, University of California). Professor Emeritus. Research Interests Sampling techniques and modeling stand dynamics. As Past Chair of the Western Boreal Growth and Yield Cooperative (WESBOGY), a continuing role is devoted to coordinating and collating data collected for long term study of growth in mixed aspen/spruce stands with controlled densities for each species and on-going development of the Mixedwood Growth Model, MGM. Resource measurement and description, sampling, mensuration and information systems.

Dr. Ron Hall (PhD, University of Alberta). Adjunct Professor in Renewable Resources and former instructor for photogrammetry portion of Forest Engineering 201. Remote Sensing, GIS, and forest inventory Research Scientist with the Canadian Forest Service, Northern Forestry Centre in Edmonton. Research interests include aerial photo technology for forestry; applications of remote sensing to resource inventory and forest health; and remote sensing/GIS integration methodologies as a basis to define spatial relations. Previous work has also been conducted in large-scale photography and photomensuration.

Dr. Mike Bokalo (PhD, Universitaet fuer Bodenkultur Vienna, Austria). Research Assistant Professor in Renewable Resources. Research Coordinator - Western Boreal Growth and Yield Association( WESBOGY); Project Leader - Mixedwood Growth Model (MGM); Reserach Interests: Influence of stand heterogeniety in growth modelling; Modelling of juvenile aspen mortality and self-thinning; Contrasting juvenile natural fire origin and managed stand structure; Predicting temporal understory vegetation dynamics.

Current Students:

Facilities

Computer: The University has an excellent networking topology enabling connecting within and between departments as well as extensive worldwide connections via the Internet. A fully documented and supported program library is maintained by University Computing Systems. Available software include: a wide variety of programming languages (including APL, FORTRAN, PASCAL), assemblers, interactive languages, list and string processing languages, simulation languages, numerical analysis, symbolic manipulation languages, statistics packages (including SAS, SPSS, BMDP, MIDAS, MINTAB) and graphics systems. The Department of Renewable Resources has a fully supported SIS (GIS) lab with TerraSoft, ARC-INFO, Grass and other GIS packages available.

Library: The University library is the third largest in Canada with an excellent general book collection, relevant periodicals and government documents.

Off-campus facilities: Excellent ties exist between the Department of Renewable Resources and Provincial and Federal Agencies and private companies locat ed in Edmonton or surrounding areas enabling data exchange, establishment and maintenance of field plots and use of modern equipment for remote sensing, mapping and data collection and processing.