What factors should be accounted for when developing a generalized taper function for black wattle trees?

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (11) ◽  
pp. 1113-1123
Author(s):  
Mateus Niroh Inoue Sanquetta ◽  
John Paul McTague ◽  
Henrique Ferraço Scolforo ◽  
Alexandre Behling ◽  
Carlos Roberto Sanquetta ◽  
...  

Taper functions have been widely used for various purposes. Several functions were developed and successfully applied; however, most of these functions fail to account for the influence of stand-level and individual-tree effects of variation on the stem profile. Hence, we aimed in this study to assess how these factors influence the stem profile of black wattle (Acacia mearnsii De Wild.) trees in southern Brazil. There is a notable necessity for developing a domestic market for black wattle solid wood. The database was composed of 218 black wattle trees at age 10 years distributed across the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A dimensionally compatible taper equation combined with the mixed-effect modeling approach was used. Additionally, auxiliary variables were included to build a generalized taper function that explains stem form variations. In general, all variables showed a significant influence on the stem profile, except the crown ratio. The inclusion of relative spacing and tree hierarchical position in the taper function resulted in higher accuracy when estimating stem diameters and total tree volume. This study indicates that accounting for attributes at the stand and individual-tree levels may improve stem profile predictions, as well as the biological soundness of the taper function.

1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 252-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles K. Muhairwe ◽  
Valerie M. LeMay ◽  
Antal Kozak

Crown class, site class, and breast-height age were incorporated into Kozak's variable-exponent taper equation (A. Kozak. 1988. Can. J. For. Res. 18: 1363–1368) for three species: Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco), western red cedar (Thujaplicata Donn), and aspen (Populustremuloides Michx.). For lodgepole pine (Pinuscontorta Dougl.), crown ratio, breast-height age, and quadratic mean diameter were incorporated into Kozak's taper equation. The effects of adding these variables to the exponent part of the taper equation on the prediction abilities of the taper model were assessed for prediction of diameter inside bark along the stem, total tree volume, and tree merchantable height. It was found that apart from the use of crown ratio for lodgepole pine, the additional variables resulted in only marginal improvements to the published version of Kozak's taper function. Therefore, the cost of measuring these additional variables is not justifiable.


2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 1190-1205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulises Diéguez-Aranda ◽  
Fernando Castedo-Dorado ◽  
Juan Gabriel Álvarez-González ◽  
Alberto Rojo

A compatible system for estimation of individual tree volume was developed for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in northwestern Spain. The system comprises a merchantable volume equation, a total volume equation, and a taper function. The use of the volume equation allows rapid estimation of tree volume, and stand volume by summing individual tree volumes, which is equal to the volume obtained by integrating the taper equation. The volume equation is very easy to use and is therefore preferred when classification of the products by merchantable sizes is not required. Data from 228 destructively sampled trees were used for model development. Fourteen compatible volume equations were evaluated, 13 of these equations were taken from the available literature, and the other was developed in the present study. A modified second-order continuous autoregressive error structure was used to correct the autocorrelation of the hierarchical data used. The model developed by Fang et al. (Z. Fang, B.E. Borders, and R.L. Bailey. 2000. For. Sci. 46: 1–12) best described the data. There model is therefore recommended for the estimation of diameter at a specific height, merchantable volume, and total volume of Scots pine stems in the area of study.


FLORESTA ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 521
Author(s):  
Marcos Behling ◽  
Henrique Soares Koehler ◽  
Alexandre Behling

When modeling the taper and volume, it is desired that the volume estimates obtained by using these two methods are compatible, where the total stem volume estimates shall not differ when using a total volume equation and the volume calculated by integrating the taper equation. There are several of such systems proposed in the literature, in which modifications in the volume and taper models were made to obtain compatible systems. This paper introduces an idea to obtain compatibility in a simpler way, without the need to modify the volume and taper models. Thus, the overall objective of this study was to develop and present a procedure to obtain compatibility between the Spurr function volume and the Kozak’s taper function and quintic polynomial volumes for Acacia mearnsii De Wild trees and compare the results to the traditional method of the same system of equations. The procedures proposed were applied on data on the Acacia mearnsii De Wild (black wattle) species in the towns of Cristal, Piratini, and Encruzilhada in the south of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The data set included 343 trees ranging from 5 to 10.75 years of age. The quality of the fitting for the volume and taper equations fitted using procedures 1 and 2 is similar, and both are compatible. The system of equations presented in procedure 2 is simpler to be applied when compared to procedure 1.


Author(s):  
Hospice A. Akpo ◽  
Gilbert Atindogbé ◽  
Maxwell C. Obiakara ◽  
Arios B. Adjinanoukon ◽  
Madaï Gbedolo ◽  
...  

AbstractRecent applications of digital photogrammetry in forestry have highlighted its utility as a viable mensuration technique. However, in tropical regions little research has been done on the accuracy of this approach for stem volume calculation. In this study, the performance of Structure from Motion photogrammetry for estimating individual tree stem volume in relation to traditional approaches was evaluated. We selected 30 trees from five savanna species growing at the periphery of the W National Park in northern Benin and measured their circumferences at different heights using traditional tape and clinometer. Stem volumes of sample trees were estimated from the measured circumferences using nine volumetric formulae for solids of revolution, including cylinder, cone, paraboloid, neiloid and their respective fustrums. Each tree was photographed and stem volume determined using a taper function derived from tri-dimensional stem models. This reference volume was compared with the results of formulaic estimations. Tree stem profiles were further decomposed into different portions, approximately corresponding to the stump, butt logs and logs, and the suitability of each solid of revolution was assessed for simulating the resulting shapes. Stem volumes calculated using the fustrums of paraboloid and neiloid formulae were the closest to reference volumes with a bias and root mean square error of 8.0% and 24.4%, respectively. Stems closely resembled fustrums of a paraboloid and a neiloid. Individual stem portions assumed different solids as follows: fustrums of paraboloid and neiloid were more prevalent from the stump to breast height, while a paraboloid closely matched stem shapes beyond this point. Therefore, a more accurate stem volumetric estimate was attained when stems were considered as a composite of at least three geometric solids.


FLORESTA ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saulo Jorge Téo ◽  
Alan Marcon ◽  
Tiago Ehlers ◽  
Júlio César Bianchi ◽  
Adriano Peloso ◽  
...  

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram ajustar e selecionar modelos de afilamento para estimar diâmetros a várias alturas e volume total, com e sem casca, de árvores de Pinus elliottii Engelm., na região de Caçador, SC, para estudar a forma dos fustes das árvores de diferentes idades. Ao todo, 78 árvores, com idades de 10, 18 e 27 anos, foram abatidas, cubadas rigorosamente e tiveram os seus volumes obtidos por meio do método de Smalian. Os modelos de afilamento testados foram os Polinômios de 2º e de 5º Graus e o Polinômio de Potências Fracionárias de Hradetzky. A função de afilamento que apresentou melhor desempenho para estimar o diâmetro com e sem casca ao longo do fuste das árvores foram baseadas no Polinômio de Potências Fracionárias de Hradetzky, para as idades de 10, 18 e 27 anos. O Polinômio de 2º Grau propiciou as melhores estimativas de volume total com casca para as idades de 10 e 27 anos e de volume total sem casca para as idades de 18 e 27 anos. Já o Polinômio de Potências Fracionárias apresentou melhores estimativas de volume com casca para 18 anos e de volume sem casca para árvores de 10 anos. Os fustes das árvores de Pinus elliottii apresentam melhor forma nas idades mais avançadas. AbstractTaper models for Pinus elliottii, at different ages, in the region of Caçador - SC. The research aims to fit and select taper models in order to estimate diameters at different heights and total volumes, inside and outside bark, of Pinus elliottii Engelm. trees, in the region of Caçador - SC, Brazil, as well as to analyze  behavior of stem form for trees at different ages. Altogether, 78 trees at 10, 18 and 27 years of age, had been cut and their volumes obtained by Smalian method. The taper models tested were the 2nd and 5th Degree Polynomial and the Hradetzky Polynomial of Fractioned Potencies. The best performance taper function for estimate diameters inside and outside bark throughout the stem were based on the Hradetzky Polynomial of Fractioned Potencies, for 10, 18 and 27 years of age. The 2nd Degree Polynomial provided the best estimates of outside bark volume for 10 and 27 years of age, and of inside bark volume for 18 and 27 years of age, although the Hradetzky Polynomial presented the best estimates of outside bark volume for 18 years of age and of inside bark volume for 10 years old trees. The stems of the Pinus elliottii trees present better form for the oldest tress.Keywords: Polynomial models; profile models; stem form.


FLORESTA ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 1518
Author(s):  
Marcos Behling ◽  
Henrique Soares Koehler ◽  
Alexandre Behling

A system of equations widely used in Forest Engineering by the international community of researchers consists of a combination of a volumetric function and a taper function, with the purpose of making volume estimates compatible. When using the volume function and the taper function in a system, the result of the volume estimated by the two functions should be compatible, meaning that the volume estimated by the volumetric function should not differ from the volume obtained by integrating the taper function. Thus, the purpose of this paper was to develop and present the procedures of a system of equations to make volume estimates from both volume and taper equations compatible, and then compare it to the traditional approach, which is used in forestry companies. The procedures proposed were applied to a data set on the Acacia mearnsii De Wild. (black wattle) at sites where the plantation of this species is concentrated in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The data set included 343 trees ranging from 5 to 10.75 years of age. It was noted that the lack of volume compatibility, in absolute terms, grows exponentially with the size of the tree. The quality of the estimates using the system of compatible equations did not differ from those obtained from the traditional model, therefore, the former is preferable. Furthermore, it was noted that the residuals from the volume and taper equations are correlated, which suggests that the system of equations be fitted simultaneously.


2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Pressiat ◽  
Madeleine Amorissani-Folquet ◽  
Caroline Yonaba ◽  
Jean-Marc Treluyer ◽  
Désiré Lucien Dahourou ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The MONOD ANRS 12206 trial was designated to assess simplification of a successful lopinavir (LPV)-based antiretroviral treatment in HIV-infected children younger than 3 years of age using efavirenz (EFV; 25 mg/kg of body weight/day) to preserve the class of protease inhibitors for children in that age group. In this substudy, EFV concentrations were measured to check the consistency of an EFV dose of 25 mg/kg and to compare it with the 2016 FDA recommended dose. Fifty-two children underwent blood sampling for pharmacokinetic study at 6 months and 12 months after switching to EFV. We applied a Bayesian approach to derive EFV pharmacokinetic parameters using the nonlinear mixed-effect modeling (NONMEM) program. The proportion of midinterval concentrations 12 h after drug intake (C 12 h) corresponding to the EFV therapeutic pharmacokinetic thresholds (1 to 4 mg/liter) was assessed according to different dose regimens (25 mg/kg in the MONOD study versus the 2016 FDA recommended dose). With both the 25 mg/kg/day dose and the 2016 FDA recommended EFV dose, simulations showed that the majority of C 12 h values were within the therapeutic range (62.6% versus 62.8%). However, there were more children underexposed with the 2016 FDA recommended dose (11.6% versus 1.2%). Conversely, there were more concentrations above the threshold of toxicity with the 25 mg/kg dose (36.2% versus 25.6%), with C 12 h values of up to 15 mg/liter. Only 1 of 52 children was switched back to LPV because of persistent sleeping disorders, but his C 12 h value was within therapeutic ranges. A high EFV dose of 25 mg/kg per day in children under 3 years old achieved satisfactory therapeutic effective levels. However, the 2016 FDA recommended EFV dose appeared to provide more acceptable safe therapeutic profiles. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under identifier NCT01127204.)


2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 1007-1019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Castle ◽  
Aaron Weiskittel ◽  
Robert Wagner ◽  
Mark Ducey ◽  
Jereme Frank ◽  
...  

Northern hardwood species display a variety of forms and defects that can reduce stem quality and complicate their timber management. However, for the most part, growth and yield models do not account for the influence of stem form and damage. This study determined the influence of stem form and damage on growth, survival, and projected future sawlog value among several northern commercial hardwood species. To accomplish this, hardwood trees on 112 permanent plots across three long-term research sites in Maine were assigned stem form and risk classes using a tree classification system developed in New Brunswick. A highly significant influence of stem form and risk on annualized individual-tree diameter increment and survival was found. Inclusion of these equations into a regional growth and yield model highlighted the importance of stem form and defects on long-term simulations as projected stand-level future value was significantly reduced by over 17%, on average (range of 13% to 28%), when compared with projections that did not include that tree-level information. The results highlight the importance of stem form and defects, as well as the need to account for them, in growth and yield applications that assess the forecasted value of commercially important hardwood stands.


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