FORE141-25S2 (C) Semester Two 2025

Forest Growth and Measurements

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 14 July 2025
End Date: Sunday, 9 November 2025
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 27 July 2025
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 28 September 2025

Description

Tree measurement. Stand variables. Growth and yield modelling. Sampling. Forest Inventory. Log measurement. Surveying and area measurement. Mapping and aerial photography. Introduction to global positioning systems (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS).

Effective management of forests requires the accurate measurement of their current status and the ability to forecast their future growth and development. Fundamental to forest management is the ability to answer such questions as:

• What is the current status of each forest stand?
• How will each stand grow in the future?
• How much volume will be available at time of harvest?
• How much volume is actually recovered when a stand is harvested?
• How much wood is delivered to each customer?
• What is the value of the wood harvested?

Forest measurement and forest stand growth modelling are employed by foresters to answer these questions and are instrumental in many applications, such as:

• Monitoring current forest condition and the sustainability of forest management
• Evaluating forest management options
• Scheduling stands for operations
• Predicting future wood availability from forests
• Planning the harvest of a forest
• Reconciling estimated volumes with recovered volumes
• Determining how much customers should be charged
• Appraising forest value

Learning Outcomes

Students will:
- understand principles and practice of forest growth and measurement;
- understand and properly use relevant terminology;
- correctly use measurement instruments to obtain accurate data about trees and forests;
- correctly apply simple surveying techniques, GPS and GIS; and
- correctly analyse forest growth and measurement data to address typical forest management questions.

Timetable 2025

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 13:00 - 14:00 E14 Lecture Theatre
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 12:00 - 13:00 E14 Lecture Theatre
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
Lecture C
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 14:00 - 15:00 Rehua 003 Music
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
Computer Lab A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 13:00 - 17:00 Forestry 252 Computer Lab
14 Jul - 20 Jul
28 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
Computer Lab B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 15:00 - 17:00 Forestry 252 Computer Lab
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
Field Trip A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 13:00 - 17:00 - 21 Jul - 27 Jul

Course Coordinator

Bruce Manley

Lecturers

Bruce Manley , Campbell Harvey and Vega Xu

Assessment

The grade earned in this course will be based on 4 components:

2 written reports (case studies)
1 surveying portfolio (based on field work)
GIS (2 quizzes and 2 lab reports)
Final examination

Textbooks / Resources

There are no required or recommended texts. All learning material is provided in class.

Notes

Compulsory Labs (Computer & Field)

An important component of the course is applying concepts and techniques of forest measurement. Consequently a pass in this paper requires a satisfactory performance in the computer laboratories and field work.  A satisfactory performance means attendance at and successful completion of all computer labs & field labs including completing and handing in any required lab reports.

Field labs will be conducted RAIN or SHINE.  You must come properly equipped for cold and wet weather.  Bring rain gear and warm layers of clothing.  Be sure to wear proper field boots and a hard hat. The department will provide high visibility vests and all necessary field equipment.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,265.00

International fee $5,793.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see School of Forestry .

All FORE141 Occurrences

  • FORE141-25S2 (C) Semester Two 2025