Dynamic Modelling of Tree Form

Authors

  • Oscar Garcia Mathematical and Computational Forestry & Natural-Resource Sciences

Keywords:

taper, tree growth, pipe model

Abstract

Tree profile or taper models are an important component of decision support systems for forest management. An extensive body of theory and observations on the mechanisms of tree form development has accumulated over the last 150 years. Quantitative mensurational models, however, have made little use of that information. Taper models remain largely empirical and static, describing tree dimensions and shape at one point in time. Here taper equations are derived from simplified models of radial stem growth consistent with physiological knowledge. It is expected that this approach may improve accuracy, especially when stands are subjected to varied density management alternatives.

Author Biography

  • Oscar Garcia, Mathematical and Computational Forestry & Natural-Resource Sciences
    Oscar Garc´ia received a professional forester degree (Ingeniero Forestal) and an M.Sc. in Mathematical Statistics & Operations Research from the University of Chile, and a Ph.D. in Forest Resources from the Uni- versity of Georgia, USA. Between 1976 and 1992 he worked in New Zealand for the Forest Research Insti- tute, developing forest management planning decision- support systems and being responsible for much of their plantation growth modeling program. Later, he led a Government / Industry cooperative eucalypt modeling project in Chile, and conducted forest planning research in Spain for the Galician Government. Oscar occupied the Chair of Forest Mensuration at the Universidad Aus- tral de Chile, and held Guest Professor positions at the ENGREF in France, KVL in Denmark, and the Univer- sidad Polit´ ecnica de Madrid in Spain. He was a Profes- sor and Endowed Chair in Forest Growth and Yield at the University of Northern British Columbia, Canada, between 2000 and 2014.

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Published

2015-03-30

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1: MCFNS March 30, 2015

Section

Growth & Yield and Quantitative Silviculture

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How to Cite

Dynamic Modelling of Tree Form. (2015). Mathematical and Computational Forestry & Natural-Resource Sciences (MCFNS), 7(1), 9-15(7). https://mcfns.com/index.php/Journal/article/view/7.2

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