Interpine Innovation

COURSE: YTGEN and Plotsafe Forest Inventory 10th - 12th April 2012
2/03/2012 11:30:00 a.m.
​This course provides a three day introduction to forest inventory utilising the YTGEN and Plotsafe software packages. Held in the computing facility at Waiariki institute of Technology's Mokoia campus in Rotorua; there will also be a field day held in a local forest. A great introduction or recap for all forest inventory technicians and managers this course is taught using examples from Australasia's leading forest inventory and forest yield analysis software. For the first time this year the use of Plotsafe for collecting Field Measurement Approach (FMA) plot data under the ETS the will be covered.   Course Outline Day 1 - Classroom and computer room based Course introduction / Forest inventory sampling design Inventory planning and mapping considerations YTGEN and Plotsafe Introduction Considerations for Field Computers Stem Feature Cruising - RAD05 Collecting FMA data with Plotsafe Plotsafe hands on Day 2 - Field Based Locating and Establishing Plots Field Measurement Techniques Feature Cruising Using RAD05 Techniques for Auditing Inventory Work Day 3 - Computer Lab...

A Move to Variable-Form Tree / Stem Taper Equations
4/02/2012 2:47:00 p.m.
History of Stem / Tree Taper Equation Development Taper equations can be used to provide predictions of inside bark diameter at any point along the tree stem and stem volume based on widely recorded tree dimensions. Equations that can accurately predict tree diameter at any point of the stem based on total tree height and diameter at breast height have long been the focus of research (Bi 2000). Beginning with the earliest taper equations by Hójer (1903) increasingly complex methodologies have been have been developed stimulated by improvements in computational capacity. Kozak (2004) reported on a history of taper function research at the University of British Columbia that dates back to 1956. The intensity and longevity of research into taper functions has led to an extensive array of different approaches and a considerable body of literature. In New Zealand a compatible polynomial approach (Goulding and Murray 1976, Gordon 1983) is most...

YTGEN and Plotsafe Training April 27-29 - Rotorua
1/04/2011 3:48:00 p.m.
​YTGEN and PLOTSAFEForest Inventory - 3 Day Training Course – NZQA Level 5 – Unit 20584 Run in association with Waiariki Institute of Technology and Silmetra Ltd, Interpine will be providing a 3 day introduction course to Forest Inventory utilising the YTGEN and PLOTSAFE software packages.The course was held at the Wairariki campus which has computer terminals for all course participates, and together with a field training day provides for a very hands-on training experience.       Current Course Content: Day 1 – Classroom and Computer Room Based Course Introduction / Forest Inventory Sampling Techniques Overview Inventory Planning and Mapping Considerations YTGEN and PLOTSAFE Intro Considerations when dealing with Field Computers Stem Feature Cruising – RAD05 PlotSafe Hands-on - Computer Room Day 2 – Based in local forest Locating and Setting Up Plots Field measurement techniques Feature cruising using RAD05 and PLOTSAFE Techniques for auditing inventory work Day 3 – Computer Lab Hands-on Handling Production Data from the Field YTGEN Set-up YTGEN Processing Yields YTGEN Advanced Features Open Book Test Student Choice /...

Interpine in China, Review and Training of Forest Inventory Systems and Practices
25/01/2011 9:59:00 a.m.
2010 saw some interesting projects undertaken both here in New Zealand and overseas. One of these was a trip to China, looking at inventory systems and techniques used for forest sale and purchase transactions in several different provinces. China is a very large country and one of the first things that hits' you is its diversity. The trip involved a look at several plantation and natural forests types throughout China. Image Above: David Herries discussing stem feature descriptions with one of the local forest managers. Forest measurement is very much a science for which practices are almost international in their context.  Language is often not a barrier to the understanding with many of the core principals well understood and used throughout the regions we visited. Part of the trip was designed to train and educate some of the staff on stem feature cruising techniques and implement YTGEN and PLOTSAFE for use. This proved extremely...

Interpine and ForestrySA Collaborate in South Australia
16/11/2010 10:45:00 a.m.
In late 2009 Interpine carried out an overlapping feature cruising inventory for the first time in South Australia's Green Triangle region. Working closely with the resource team at ForestrySA Interpine developed and implemented a cruising dictionary for Pinus radiata in South Australia with reference to the log products produced for ForestrySA's markets. The objective of the inventory was to provide product mixes for the inventoried stands which could then be used as an input for ForestrySA's resource management systems. These allowed ForestrySA to build a predictive model which can estimate the product mix for a stand based on predictor variables such as mean tree volume and site quality.     An overview of the Plotsafe/YTGEN forest inventory methodology employed by Interpine in South Australia     Sample Design The sample design for this measurement was the result of a purposive modelling oriented strategy, rather than a probabilistic or random sampling design; as is more common in forest inventory. The...

Modelling Tree Height in YTGEN
10/11/2010 1:48:00 p.m.
Which trees should be height trees? Tree heights are among the most time consuming and difficult measurements to take in a forest inventory. The measurer must be an adequate distance away from the tree to get an accurate measure of height (angle to tip must be <50 degrees from horizontal), and must also find a location where the top and reference height (often DBH) of the tree can be clearly sighted. As a result height is generally only measured on a sub sample of the trees in a stand, as opposed to diameter at breast height (DBH) which is measured for every tree; therefore the field team must decide which trees to measure height on. During the conversion of Plotsafe forest inventory files into YTGEN format a tree height is calculated for all trees where height has not been measured. Height and DBH data collected from the stand is used...

Interpine in the South Pacific - Implementing YTGEN and PLOTSAFE
5/11/2010 2:26:00 p.m.
Plotsafe and YTGEN course in Fiji In September 2010 Interpine were contracted to provide the first Plotsafe and YTGEN training course in the Fijian Islands. After some hard-fought arguments, and at times physical confrontations, at the Interpine office, Resource Forester Jonathan Dash emerged as the victor, and packed his bags to take up his assignment in the tropical paradise, leaving the kiwi winter behind.   The training course was provided in association with Fiji National University (FNU) and was held at the College of Agriculture, Fishery Science and Forestry in Nausori, Suva with the warm tropical breeze gently blowing in from the South Pacific. The training course was attended by over twenty foresters from Fiji Hardwood Corporation as well as students from the Tropical Forestry diploma course at FNU. The software products YTGEN and Plotsafe were installed in FNU's computer lab and licences to use the products for research and education purposes...

So What is YTGEN? Generating Forest Yield Predictions
8/09/2007 10:56:00 a.m.
YTGen (Yield Table Generator) is software for generating yield estimates in a production forestrycontext. The prediction of yields by log grade often referred to as MARVL* (Method for Assessment of Recoverable Volume by Logtype) and is based on a forest inventory. Many decisions require estimates of yield and YTGEN provides this data to allow decisions to be made. The following steps are required to generate forest yields: Measure & describe a sample of trees in plots (forest inventory) "Grow" plots and the trees in them Convert trees into logs Add the logs up by plot Average the plots across strata and populations YTGEN provides the functions for completing steps 2-5, as outlined below: The primary output is a set of estimates of yield for user defined log grades for one or more periods. Optional detailed output includes the input tree list, adjusted for growth and thinning effects, with individual logs generated by the...

Considerations when using Basal Area Secondary Tally Plots During Pre-harvest Style Forest Inventory
15/01/2007 4:57:00 p.m.
Many foresters planning pre-harvest inventory in Pinus radiata in New Zealand consider the option of placing secondary basal area tally plots (aka prism plots) in addition to the normal primary plots. This can be valid way of conducting inventory in some circumstances, although this article would like to highlight some considerations foresters should take before implementing this technique.   For and against adding secondary basal area (BA) tally plots into an inventory. Angle-gauge prism (BA Prism) point samples provide an easy and cost efficient way of collecting basal area.   However where determination of stocking is also a prime aim of the inventory bounded plots are more efficient and useful. Stem basal area provides a good correlation with stem volume, and hence you can arrive at a volume-basal area ratio (by using the sub sample of basal area and volume from the primary plots).    This can then provide additional information...

YTGEN and PLOTSAFE Forest Inventory Courses 3 day Introduction Course
15/12/2006 3:52:00 p.m.
Run in association with Waiariki Institute of Technology and Silmetra Ltd, Interpine has recently run a 3 day introduction course to Forest Inventory utilising the YTGEN and PLOTSAFE software packages. The course was held at the Wairariki campus which has computer terminals for all course participates, and together with a field training day provides for a very hands-on training experience.   Current Course Content :   Day 1 – Classroom and Computer Room Based Course Introduction / Forest Inventory Sampling Techniques Overview Inventory Planning and Mapping Considerations YTGEN and PLOTSAFE Intro Considerations when dealing with Field Computers Stem Feature Cruising – RAD05 PlotSafe Hands-on - Computer Room   Day 2 – Based in local forest Locating and Setting Up Plots Field measurement techniques Feature cruising using RAD05 and PLOTSAFE Techniques for auditing inventory work   Day 3 – Computer Lab Hands-on Handling Production Data from the Field YTGEN Set-up YTGEN Processing Results YTGEN...

PLOTSAFE Forest Inventory Procedures Manual Available
15/12/2006 3:17:00 p.m.

RAD05 Cruising Domain for PLOTSAFE (Feature Cruising Dictionary)
15/06/2005 3:01:00 p.m.
Interpine and the CNI regional YTGEN user-group (a collection of inventory professionals and users from CNI forestry companies) have created a new cruising dictionary for PLOTSAFE data capture. The overlapping features component of PLOTSAFE allow us to cruise trees with a NZ universal dictionary suited to most common log grade definitions. Traditionally, each forest owner devotes time and energy to developing their own tailored cruising dictionary which can create problems when a historic dictionary no longer aligns with new log grade features, or the same cruising code is used for different meanings as there was often only 26 codes (a-z) available. RAD05 is the new PLOTSAFE universal dictionary, suited to most NZ P.radiata inventory cruising needs.   Field Quick Card for RAD05. Note that Windblown and Resin Code are tree level codes.  The rest are stem description codes.   Examples using the RAD05 Cruising Templates   Constraining Log Products in YTGEN...