COURSE OUTLINE

FALL 2004

I. GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION

Schedule: Lecture -Tuesday & Thursday, 8:00 - 9:15 a.m. - Room 385 - Scott Hall

Lab - Friday, 9:00 A.M. - 11:30 P.M. - Room 371 - Scott Hall

Instructor: Ward Robens -Tel: (540) 863-2894;

  e-mail:     wrobens@dl.vccs.edu

Office: 354 Scott Hall. Office Hours for class assistance and advisement:     

II. COURSE DESCRIPTION

Teach principles and practical applications of timber cruising including both fixed and variable size plot techniques. Utilizes aerial photographs and global positioning systems to locate land features, cruise tracts, timber types and plot sample locations. Prerequisite FOR 201. Lecture and lab are both 3 hours for a total of 6 hours per week. Four (4) credit hours are granted by DSLCC upon satisfactory completion of this course.

III. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

This course is intended to provide the foundation needed by forest technicians to apply and understand quantitative techniques used in forestry to collect and analyze field data related to the inventory of timber resources. An essential element of the course is the development of a working field knowledge of aerial photographs and maps as basic tools of forest inventories. This course integrates earlier studies of forest mensuration involving forest land measurement, log scaling, standing tree measurement, site quality measurement and related forestry studies. Simulated field situations are created to provide the students with the opportunity to gain experience in field data collection techniques used in the measurement and inventory of timber resources.

Upon completion of the course, the student will have the knowledge and skill to work, under supervision, as a timber cruiser.

1. Design and execute the following forest inventories using manual and computerized methods:

1. 100% cruise
2. Fixed area plot cruises
3. Variable plot sample (point sample)

2. Prepare timber cruise reports presenting inventory information in tabular & narrative format.

3. Demonstrate proper utilization of aerial photos to:

        - determine scale of aerial photos using various methods

        - estimate distances, direction, and area

        - identify and locate natural, man-made objects, general forest               types and size classes

        - develop field and general use maps

4. Demonstrate the ability to use global positioning systems (GPS) equipment.

IV. INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS

Lecture, discussion, audio-visual materials, computer applications, field laboratory projects and outside reading will be used during this course.

V. REQUIRED TEXT AND SUPPLIES

Martin, C. E. and Savage, J. M., 1994. Forest Mensuration for the Forest Technician, 3rd Ed. SUNY.

Other References (optional): (Available in the Library)

Avery, T. E., 1968. Interpretation of Aerial Photographs, Burgess.

Avery, T. E. & H. E. Burkhart, 1994. Forest Measurements, 4th Ed. McGraw-Hill.

Wenger, K., 1984. Forestry Handbook, John Wiley & Sons.

Required equipment:  

Optional equipment: Durable rain suit, Clipboard, cruising vest,

VI. GRADING POLICY

Grades will be determined as follows:

a. Tests (2) 20%

b. Quizzes, exercises & attendance 20%

c. Lab projects 20%

d. Course Final 20%

e. Cruising Project 20%

Scale: A = 90%+; B = 80 - 89%; C = 70 - 79%; D = 60 - 69%; F = <60% 

VII. ATTENDANCE AND ASSIGNMENT POLICY

Each student is expected to attend each class and lab scheduled for this course. For DSLCC attendance policy, see the Academic Catalog, page 31. When absence becomes necessary, it is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor prior to the absence whenever possible. It is also the responsibility of the student for the missed instruction and handout materials. Any instruction missed will affect the grade of the student. Any absence by the student that has not been discussed with the instructor by the student before the absence or immediately upon return to campus is considered "unexcused" and any missed tests or quizzes cannot be "made- up", and a grade of "0" will be assigned.

No make-up tests or exams from an unavoidable absence will be administered without making prior arrangements with the instructor. No quiz or exercise may be made up without making prior arrangements with the instructor. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped and not averaged into the final grade. A missed quiz will count as the dropped grade.

Class attendance will be recorded and tabulated as a percentage and will be considered a quiz grade. 100% = 0 absences; 95% = 1 absence; 90% = 2 absences; etc. in increments of 5% per absence.

All work assignments will have a DUE DATE. Grades for the assignment will be lowered one letter grade for each 24-hour period the work is submitted past the DUE DATE up to 4 days. After 4 calendar days a "0" will be assigned.

Withdrawal: A student can withdraw from the course without academic penalty within the first eight (8) weeks of the semester. Otherwise, the student will receive a grade of "F". Merely not attending class DOES NOT constitute withdrawal from the course. Refer to the DSLCC catalog for complete procedures for withdrawal.

Enrollment: VCCS policy prohibits enrolling in a failed or non-completed course more than twice unless mitigating circumstances exist.

Fire Policy: In case the building needs to be evacuated during the class period, exit Room 385, turn left and proceed down the hall through the side door into the lawn.

Fall Academic Calendar:

Classes begin: Monday, August 23, 2004

Labor Day Holiday (No classes) Monday, September 6, 2004

Last Day to Add/Drop or receive refund Tuesday, September 7, 2004

Semester Break (No classes) Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Last Day to Withdraw without Academic Penalty Friday, October 25, 2004

Thanksgiving Holiday (No classes) Wed. Nov. 24 - Fri. Nov. 26, 2004

Last Day of classes Friday, December 10, 2004

Final Exams (reading days, snow make-up) Dec. 14 through Dec. 17, 2004

Conduct and Behavior Policy:

Inappropriate conduct and/or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated in the classroom or during lab period. As a student in this college course you are a representative of Dabney S. Lancaster Community College and the instructor expects that your conduct will reflect that. Failure to conduct yourself in a mature, responsible manner may result in a grade penalty and/or expulsion from the course.

The following rules are in effect each time this course meets for class and lab and during the transportation between the DSLCC campus and the outdoor field sites.

1. You will treat fellow students and staff members courteously, respecting the personal rights of others.

2. You will respect the personal property rights of others. This includes appropriate care of facilities and materials belonging to DSLCC.

3. Possession and/or use of tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs is prohibited.

4. Walkmans, radios, video games, beepers, cell phones, etc. are not allowed during labs or lectures. If emergency conditions exist, the instructor can make exceptions for communications needs when requested.

5. The instructor recognizes the importance of social interaction between and among groups of students, but this interaction is not to interfere with class (lecture or lab) activities. Please be polite and considerate of others who desire to listen and take notes.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE - FOREST MENSURATION II - FOR 202

Week 1 - Lab 1 100% cruise - Timber marking (DSLCC)

Course outline; Forest Inventories, Timber Cruising procedures (Chapters 4, 13)

Fixed area sampling, Map scale 

Week 2 -  Lab 2 -Fixed area cruise (Clifton Forge Reservoir)

Inventories, Data collection methods

Sampling statistics

Week 3   Lab 3 Fixed area cruise (Clifton Forge Reservoir)

Sampling statistics

Point sample cruising (Chapter 12)

Week 4 Lab 4 Determine basal area with BAF tools (DSLCC)

Point sample cruising

Point sample cruising with Double sampling

Week 5 Lab 5 Point Sampling Cruise (Low Moor)

Point sampling

Sample tree, 3P & other sampling methods

Week 6  - Lab 6 Point Sampling Cruise (Low Moor)

Cruising review

TEST 1 - (10%)

Week 7  Lab 7 Timber Cruising 

Fall Break

Timber cruise report preparation

Week 8 Lab 8 Introduction to cameras and scale (DSLCC)

Introduction to Aerial Photography 

Aerial Photo terminology, uses, materials

Week 9 Lab 9 - Determining Photo Scale in the field

Photo Scale

Scale exercises

Week 10 Lab 10 Determining distance and area (DSLCC)

Introduction to stereoscopes

Land forms and drainage

Week 11 Lab 11 Determining area (DSLCC)

Area estimation and mapping

Image displacement, source of error

Week 12 Lab 12 Constructing a timber type map (Low Moor)

Introduction to timber typing & volume estimation

Timber type map preparation

Week 13 Lab 13 Aerial photo and topographic map reading (Douthat)

Identification of objects with aerial photos

Other technologies in remote sensing

Week 14  No Lab (Thanksgiving)

Review

Week 15 Lab 14 GPS

TEST 2 - (10%)

Global positioning systems

Week 16 Lab 15 GIS/GPS demonstration (TBA)

Global positioning systems

Review for FINAL EXAM - time and place to be announced. (20%)