The Province of British Columbia is developing a suite of attributes to assess and monitor forest sustainability. Each attribute is in turn evaluated using a variety of indicators. Recently, digital remote sensing technologies have emerged as both alternative and supplement to traditional monitoring techniques, with light detection and ranging (lidar) in particular showing great promise for estimating a variety of indicators. The goal of this thesis was to review and assess the ability of lidar to estimate selected indicators of forest sustainability. Specifically, digital elevation model (DEM) interpolation (from which indicators are extracted both directly and indirectly) and wildlife tree class distributions were examined. Digital elevation models are a key derivative of lidar data, and their generation is a critical step in the data processing stream. A validation exercise was undertaken to determine which combination of interpolation routine and spatial resolution was the most accurate. Ground returns were randomly subsetted into prediction and validation datasets. Linear, quintic, natural neighbour, spline with tension, regularized spline, inverse distance weighting, and ANUDEM interpolation routines were used to generate surfaces at spatial resolutions of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m. The 0.5 m natural neighbour surface was found to be the most accurate (RMSE=0.17 m). Classification and regression tree analysis indicated that slope and ground return density were the best predictors of interpolation error. The amount and variability of living and dead wood in a forest stand is an important indicator of forest biodiversity. In the second study, the capacity of lidar to estimate the distribution of living and dead trees within forests is investigated. Twenty-two field plots were established in which each stem (DBH>10cm) was assigned to a wildlife tree (WT) class. For each plot, a suite of lidar-derived predictor variables were extracted. Ordinal logistic regression was then employed to predict the cumulative proportions of stems within the WT classes. Results indicated that the coefficient of variation of the lidar height data was the best predictor variable (r = 0.85, p <0.000, RMSE = 4.9%). The derived relationships allowed for the prediction of the proportion of stems within WT classes across the landscape.

The Province of British Columbia is developing a suite of attributes to assess and monitor forest sustainability. Each attribute is in turn evaluated using a variety of indicators. Recently, digital remote sensing technologies have emerged as both alternative and supplement to traditional monitoring techniques, with light detection and ranging (lidar) in particular showing great promise for estimating a variety of indicators. The goal of this thesis was to review and assess the ability of lidar to estimate selected indicators of forest sustainability. Specifically, digital elevation model (DEM) interpolation (from which indicators are extracted both directly and indirectly) and wildlife tree class distributions were examined. Digital elevation models are a key derivative of lidar data, and their generation is a critical step in the data processing stream. A validation exercise was undertaken to determine which combination of interpolation routine and spatial resolution was the most accurate. Ground returns were randomly subsetted into prediction and validation datasets. Linear, quintic, natural neighbour, spline with tension, regularized spline, inverse distance weighting, and ANUDEM interpolation routines were used to generate surfaces at spatial resolutions of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m. The 0.5 m natural neighbour surface was found to be the most accurate (RMSE=0.17 m). Classification and regression tree analysis indicated that slope and ground return density were the best predictors of interpolation error. The amount and variability of living and dead wood in a forest stand is an important indicator of forest biodiversity. In the second study, the capacity of lidar to estimate the distribution of living and dead trees within forests is investigated. Twenty-two field plots were established in which each stem (DBH>10cm) was assigned to a wildlife tree (WT) class. For each plot, a suite of lidar-derived predictor variables were extracted. Ordinal logistic regression was then employed to predict the cumulative proportions of stems within the WT classes. Results indicated that the coefficient of variation of the lidar height data was the best predictor variable (r = 0.85, p <0.000, RMSE = 4.9%). The derived relationships allowed for the prediction of the proportion of stems within WT classes across the landscape.

The Province of British Columbia is developing a suite of attributes to assess and monitor forest sustainability. Each attribute is in turn evaluated using a variety of indicators. Recently, digital remote sensing technologies have emerged as both alternative and supplement to traditional monitoring techniques, with light detection and ranging (lidar) in particular showing great promise for estimating a variety of indicators. The goal of this thesis was to review and assess the ability of lidar to estimate selected indicators of forest sustainability. Specifically, digital elevation model (DEM) interpolation (from which indicators are extracted both directly and indirectly) and wildlife tree class distributions were examined. Digital elevation models are a key derivative of lidar data, and their generation is a critical step in the data processing stream. A validation exercise was undertaken to determine which combination of interpolation routine and spatial resolution was the most accurate. Ground returns were randomly subsetted into prediction and validation datasets. Linear, quintic, natural neighbour, spline with tension, regularized spline, inverse distance weighting, and ANUDEM interpolation routines were used to generate surfaces at spatial resolutions of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m. The 0.5 m natural neighbour surface was found to be the most accurate (RMSE=0.17 m). Classification and regression tree analysis indicated that slope and ground return density were the best predictors of interpolation error. The amount and variability of living and dead wood in a forest stand is an important indicator of forest biodiversity. In the second study, the capacity of lidar to estimate the distribution of living and dead trees within forests is investigated. Twenty-two field plots were established in which each stem (DBH>10cm) was assigned to a wildlife tree (WT) class. For each plot, a suite of lidar-derived predictor variables were extracted. Ordinal logistic regression was then employed to predict the cumulative proportions of stems within the WT classes. Results indicated that the coefficient of variation of the lidar height data was the best predictor variable (r = 0.85, p <0.000, RMSE = 4.9%). The derived relationships allowed for the prediction of the proportion of stems within WT classes across the landscape. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

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Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-13T12:17:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTACAO Manoel.pdf: 2758978 bytes, checksum: cd2006c61067b39d3660e7b509fe6726 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-09-01 / FAPEAM - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas / This research was conducted with the database project Impactos na Geração de Eletricidade devidos a Implantação de Sistemas de Produção de Biodiesel no Estado do Amazonas .In this perspective, the present study aimed to characterize the horizontal structure of the palm trees and woody species, emphasizing the occurrence of oil through a forest inventory o in the search for alternatives to use of forest in favor of strengthening sustainable forest management in the Amazon region. We used the cluster sampling system in a tropical rainforest located in the territorial area of Tefé, Amazonas, Brazil. We measured the trees with DBH ≥ 30 cm and quantified the palm. Tree species were classified as commercial timber species, species of ecological interest and oilseeds. The structural characterization was carried out by the Forest Indexes of absolute and relative frequency, absolute and relative density, and specific tree species, diameter classes were assessed them distributed amplitudes of 10 cm. The oilseeds species totaled 66 individuals, distributed among 14 species of trees, occupying a small fraction of the diameter classes, it s still had low occurrence and low density compared to individuals of species of commercial value and ecological interest. The structural composition of palm trees showed good in terms of individuals represented in the seedling and adult stage, demonstrating also a direct relationship with the areas of shallows and the influence of streams. oilseeds, as well as have a few copies, more than 50% of the species in this group had a single individual / A presente pesquisa foi realizada com a base de dados do projeto Impactos na Geração de Eletricidade devidos a Implantação de Sistemas de Produção de Biodiesel no Estado do Amazonas . Nessa perspectivas, a presente pesquisa teve como objetivo de caracterizar a estrutura horizontal das palmeiras e espécies lenhosas, dando ênfase à ocorrência das oleaginosas, por meio de um inventário florestal, na busca de alternativas para uso dos recursos florestais em prol do fortalecimento do manejo florestal sustentável na região Amazônica. Foi utilizada a amostragem em sistema de conglomerado em uma área de floresta tropical úmida, localizada na área territorial do município de Tefé, Amazonas, Brasil. Foram mensurados os indivíduos arbóreos com DAP ≥ 30 centímetros e quantificada as palmeiras. As espécies arbóreas foram classificadas em espécies comerciais madeireira, espécies de interesse ecológico e oleaginosas. A caracterização estrutural da floresta foi realizada pelos índices da Frequência Absoluta e Relativa; Densidade Absoluta e Relativa, e especificamente as espécies arbóreas, foram avaliadas o IVI e as classes diamétricas distribuídas em amplitudes de 10 centímetros. As espécies oleaginosas somaram 66 indivíduos, distribuídos em 14 espécies entre as arbóreas, ocupando uma pequena fração nas classes diamétricas, apresentando ainda pouca ocorrência e baixa densidade dos indivíduos comparados às espécies de valor comercial e não comerciais. A composição estrutural das palmeiras apresentou boa representada em termos de indivíduos na fase de plântulas e adultas, demonstrando ainda uma relação direta com as áreas de baixios e com a influência de igarapés. Nas oleaginosas arbóreas, além de dispor de poucos exemplares, mais de 50% das espécies deste grupo apresentaram um único indivíduo.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This study aimed at verifying, over time, the alterations in the physical properties of a Red-Yellow Ultisol and in the growth of Eucalyptus grandis, cultivated with the use of different methods of soil preparation. The experiment was carried out in the experimental area that belongs to the State Foundation for Agricultural Research (FEPAGRO), in Santa Maria, RS. The experimental design consisted of a randomized block design with three replications and four treatments, namely: manual tillage (CM), chisel plow (Esc), chisel plow with harrows (EG) and rotary hoe (ER). In order to ascertain the variation of the physical properties of the soil, sampling data of the soil obtained prior to the application of the treatments as well as three, twelve and seventy-two months after the treatments were used. Growth assessment was carried out at 3, 6, 9, 12, 74 and 81 months of stand age. The physical properties total porosity, macroporosity, microporosity and bulk density were obtained through samples collected in row and inter-row seeding, at depths 0.00-0.10; 0.10-0.20; 0.20-0.30; 0.30-0.40 m. Soil resistance to penetration (RP) was determined up to 0.50 m of soil depth, each 0.20 m perpendicularly distant from row seeding. Humidity at the moment of data collection of RP was determined at depths 0.00-0,10; 0.10-0.20; 0.20-0.30; 0.30-0.40 and 0.40-0.50 m. Size distribution of water-stable aggregates and of organic matter of soil were assessed at depth 0.05 m. The plant parameters evaluated were: the root distribution and growth, which is obtained by measuring the height and diameter of trees, volume, basal area and tree survival. The replacement of native grasses by planting Eucalyptus grandis, cultivated with the use of different methods of soil preparation, did not degrade the structural quality of the soil over time. The effects of Esc, still evident at twelve months after the treatments ceased to exist seventy-two months, indicating a prior soil reconsolidation. Soil preparation provided the improvement in the physical properties of the soil for the initial growth of Eucalyptus grandis, however, with the passage of time, the growth of trees became homogeneous among treatments. The effect of tillage on root systems, evaluated in depth, was more pronounced at eight months old plants. / O objetivo do estudo foi verificar, ao longo do tempo, as alterações nas propriedades físicas de um Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo e no crescimento de Eucalyptus grandis, cultivado em diferentes métodos de preparo do solo. O experimento foi implantado na área experimental pertencente à Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária (FEPAGRO), situada em Santa Maria - RS. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso com três repetições e quatro tratamentos, sendo eles: coveamento manual (CM), escarificado (Esc), escarificado mais grade niveladora (EG) e enxada rotativa (ER). Para verificar a variação das propriedades físicas do solo, utilizaram-se dados de amostragens de solo obtidos antes da aplicação dos tratamentos e três, doze e setenta e dois meses após a aplicação dos tratamentos. A avaliação do crescimento foi feita aos 3, 6, 9, 12, 74 e 81 meses de idade do povoamento. As propriedades físicas porosidade total, macroporosidade, microporosidade e densidade do solo foram obtidas através de amostras coletadas na linha e na entrelinha de plantio, nas profundidades de 0-0,10; 0,10-0,20; 0,20-0,30; 0,30-0,40 m. A resistência do solo à penetração (RP) foi determinada até 0,50 m de profundidade do solo, a cada 0,20 m de distância perpendicular a linha de plantio. A umidade no momento da coleta dos dados de RP foi determinada nas profundidades de 0-0,10; 0,10-0,20; 0,20-0,30; 0,30-0,40 e 0,40-0,50 m. A distribuição do tamanho dos agregados estáveis em água e a matéria orgânica do solo foram avaliadas na profundidade de 0-0,05 m. Os parâmetros de planta avaliados foram: a distribuição do sistema radicular e o crescimento, sendo este obtido pela mensuração da altura e do diâmetro das árvores, do volume, da área basal e da sobrevivência das árvores. A substituição de campo nativo por plantio de Eucalyptus grandis, cultivado em diferentes métodos de preparo, não degradou a qualidade estrutural do solo ao longo do tempo. Os efeitos da escarificação, ainda evidenciados aos doze meses após a aplicação dos tratamentos deixaram de existir após setenta e dois meses, indicando uma prévia reconsolidação do solo. O preparo do solo proporcionou melhoria nas propriedades físicas do solo para o crescimento inicial do Eucalyptus grandis, entretanto, com o passar do tempo, o crescimento das árvores tornou-se homogêneo entre os tratamentos. O efeito do preparo do solo no sistema radicular na profundidade avaliada foi mais pronunciado aos oito meses de idade das plantas.