Modelling stand development with stochastic differential equations

This is a progress report on the development of a general methodology for producing stand models. The methodology must not be understood as a package of computer programs which are fed with data to automatically produce a growth model. Instead, it tries to be a coherent set of ideas and techniques intended to help in the design and implementation of sound models. An intelligent use of these techniques still requires a considerable dose of skill and common sense. The methodology consists essentially of a general approach to modelling, a class of stand models, and procedures for the estimation of parameters. General applicability is considered to decrease in this same order. The approach to modelling is believed to be essential for any kind of growth models. The models proposed, while being fairly flexible, are by no means the solution to all modelling problems. The estimation procedures are specific to the class of models already mentioned, and even then, are only one among several alternatives.

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