FM Forest Measurements & Inventory Flashcards
6 cards from real FM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 FM Forest Measurements & Inventory flashcards as text
The 'Forest Inventory and Analysis' (FIA) program in the US is conducted by:
Answer: The USDA Forest Service to provide continuous monitoring of US forest resources
FIA is the USDA Forest Service's national program that continuously monitors the extent, condition, and change of US forests through a systematic network of permanent plots across all forest types and ownerships.
LiDAR technology in modern forest inventory is primarily used to:
Answer: Measure tree heights, canopy cover, and stand structure across large areas from aircraft
Airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) uses laser pulses to precisely measure tree heights, crown dimensions, canopy cover, and 3D forest structure over large landscapes at unprecedented accuracy.
What is a 'stand table' in forest mensuration?
Answer: A summary table showing the distribution of trees by diameter class and species in a stand
A stand table is a tabular summary of tree distribution across diameter classes (and often species), providing a snapshot of stand structure and the basis for calculating volumes and planning treatments.
The 'sampling error' in a timber cruise is important because it tells the manager:
Answer: The statistical precision of the volume estimate and confidence in the cruise results
Sampling error expresses the statistical variability of the cruise estimate, telling managers how confident they can be that the sampled volume accurately represents the true stand volume.
In forest management, 'increment boring' is performed to:
Answer: Extract a pencil-sized wood core from a living tree to count growth rings and measure radial growth
An increment borer extracts a thin wood core from a living tree, allowing foresters to count annual growth rings, determine tree age, and measure past radial growth rates without killing the tree.
What does 'trees per acre' (TPA) measure and why is it important in stand management?
Answer: Stand density expressed as the count of live trees per acre, used to guide thinning and stocking decisions
TPA is a fundamental measure of stand density that informs decisions about whether to thin, how heavily to thin, and whether stocking is within acceptable ranges for the management objective.