Practice Test Geeks(SAF) Society of American Foresters Certification Practice Test
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Field Survey & Data Collection Flashcards

7 cards from real SAF practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Field Survey & Data Collection flashcards as text

  1. What does the acronym 'GNSS' stand for in the context of forest field surveying?

    Answer: Global Navigation Satellite System

    GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) is the umbrella term encompassing GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou satellite positioning systems.

  2. A forester encounters a leaning tree and needs to measure its DBH. Best practice is to measure:

    Answer: At 4.5 feet vertically above the ground on the upper side of the lean

    For leaning trees, DBH is measured at 4.5 feet vertically above the ground on the uphill (upper) side of the lean to maintain consistency.

  3. Which of the following best describes 'point sampling' as used in forest inventory?

    Answer: A variable-radius plot method where each tree's inclusion probability is proportional to its basal area

    Point sampling (Bitterlich method) uses an angle gauge so each tree's probability of inclusion is proportional to its basal area, not fixed plot area.

  4. A topo map shows a contour interval of 20 feet. If 5 contour lines are crossed between two points on the map, the elevation change is:

    Answer: 100 feet

    Elevation change = number of contour lines crossed × contour interval = 5 × 20 = 100 feet.

  5. In a timber cruise, 'net volume' differs from 'gross volume' in that net volume:

    Answer: Accounts for defect and cull deductions

    Net volume subtracts defect (rot, cracks, damage) and cull from gross volume to reflect the actual usable wood volume.

  6. When establishing a permanent plot network for long-term monitoring, corner markers should be:

    Answer: Metal rebar or pins with witness trees and GPS coordinates recorded

    Metal rebar with witness trees and GPS coordinates provides durable, relocatable markers essential for consistent long-term remeasurement.

  7. The 'ocular estimate' method for site index assessment in the field relies on:

    Answer: Visual assessment of dominant/codominant tree heights relative to species-specific age curves

    Ocular site index estimation uses the forester's visual judgment of dominant and codominant tree heights and estimated stand age, compared against published site index curves.