Project Background Reference Data Publications & Presentations Remote Sensing Workshop Remote Sensing in State Forestry Organizations Project Background Reference Data Publications & Presentations Remote Sensing Workshop Remote Sensing in State Forestry Organizations
	Metadata
	Huntington Forest Procedure for Plot Measurement
	Continuous Forest Inventory Plots:
		Continuous forest inventory (CFI) plots are permanent plots that are usually systematically spaced over the entire forest. When first established, they provide an estimate of the total volume of timber of the area. After remeasurement at a later date, the volumes can be compared to the earlier inventory to assess the change in condition of the forest over time. This measurement of change is the principle value of the CFI. It is the best technique available to measure growth and mortality over large areas and because it is based on permanent plots, the precision of the estimate (sampling error) is much better than would ordinarily be obtained from two independant inventories. This page describes the procedures used by ESF personnel to establish CFI plots. Procedures used to locate these plots varied slightly from 2000, 2001, and 2002-2003 field seasons.
		Five numbered trees (of commercial species) are selected for total height and bole height measurements. One tree closest to each of the four cardinal directions and one tree closest to the plot center are chosen. If possible, five sawtimber-sized trees are measured. If five sawtimber-sized trees are not available, pole-sized trees are measured to complete the five measurements. Trees are selected without regard to species, dbh, height, merchantability class, etc. The total height is measured with a clinometer from ground level to the top of the tree crown and recorded to the nearest one foot. The same five trees selected for total height measurement are also measured for bole length from a one foot stump to the first of: a 4 inch top diameter outside bark (dob), where the central stem terminates by branching before reaching 4 inches dob and on broken-off trees to the point of the break. The bole length is measured with a clinometer and recorded to the nearest foot.
		All appropriate stumps are tallied that have a diameter outside bark equal to or greater than 10.6 inches on the entire 1/5 acre plot. Stumps with a dbh between 4.6 and 10.5 inches in the northeast quadrant only are tallied. The species, dbh (measured at stump height inside the bark) and stump height measured to the nearest 1/10 foot are recorded.
		Approximately 10 percent of the CFI plots measured in any particular year will be randomly selected and remeasured to check on the quality of work done by field crews.