Modeling conifer tree crown radius and estimating canopy cover

Models of tree crown radius were developed for several conifer species of California. Typical forest inventory variables (DBH, height, height-to-crown base, crown class, basal area per hectare, and trees per hectare) were considered as independent variables in model development. Models were fitted using both ordinary and weighted least squares methods. It was found that for the species studied, an ordinary least squares linear regression with DBH as the only independent variable was appropriate. For some species studied, the addition of other independent variables provided minor improvements over the model with only DBH. These models of crown radius could be summed to give an estimation of canopy cover. Using crown mapped data, it was possible to test and calibrate these models to predict non-overlapping canopy cover. Linear and non-linear models were considered for calibration. A non-linear model with an upper asymptote seemed to be the best calibration. These models enable an efficient and unbiased method of estimation of canopy cover as an alternative to photointerpretation estimation of cover.

[1]  Matthias Dobbertin,et al.  A Comparison of Distance-Dependent Competition Measures for Height and Basal Area Growth of Individual Conifer Trees , 1992, Forest Science.

[2]  Richard F. Daniels,et al.  A comparison of competition measures for predicting growth of loblolly pine trees , 1986 .

[3]  Russell G. Congalton,et al.  A comparison of photointerpretation and ground measurements of forest structure , 1991 .

[4]  Donald J. DeMars,et al.  Height and crown width related to diameter for open-grown western hemlock and Sitka spruce , 1989 .

[5]  D. P. Paine,et al.  Aerial Photography and Image Interpretation for Resource Management , 1981 .

[6]  Jean Serra,et al.  Image Analysis and Mathematical Morphology , 1983 .

[7]  F. Bunnell,et al.  Comparison of methods for estimating forest overstory cover. I: Observer effects , 1988 .

[8]  J.C.G. Goelz,et al.  Open-grown crown radius of eleven bottomland hardwood species: prediction and use in assessing stocking , 1996 .

[9]  Gregory S. Biging,et al.  Evaluation of Competition Indices in Individual Tree Growth Models , 1995, Forest Science.

[10]  Fred L. Bunnell,et al.  Comparison of methods for estimating forest overstory cover: differences among techniques. , 1990 .

[11]  F. H. Eyre,et al.  Forest cover types of the United States and Canada , 1980 .

[12]  C. Bowers,et al.  Spherical densiometers produce biased estimates of forest canopy cover , 1995 .

[13]  F. Uzoh,et al.  Crown area equations for 13 species of trees and shrubs in northern California and southwestern Oregon. Forest service research paper (Final) , 1996 .

[14]  David W. Hann,et al.  Maximum crown-width equations for southwestern Oregon tree species , 1982 .