Rappahannock Community College: FOR 201

FOR 201 - Forest Mensuration I at Rappahannock Community College

Course Description

Effective: 2015-05-01

Teaches principles of forest measurements including basic elements of property boundary, location, forest mapping, techniques of tree measurement, and saw log and pulp wood scaling.

Lecture 3 hours. Laboratory 3 hours. Total 6 hours per week.

4 credits

General Course Purpose

This course is designed to combine the fundamentals of locating, describing and measuring forest land ownership, with the fundamental measures of wood products associated with forest land. Forest measuring tools introduced in previous courses will be utilized to measure land area, tree volume, defect, log and pulpwood volume, stand density, site quality and growth.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

Prerequisites: FOR 115, MTH 113, MTH 114

Course Objectives

Read and understand legal descriptions of lands (rectangular survey and metes bounds)
Recognize evidence of property lines and corners and locate property lines once corners are found
Pace horizontal distance in the field with accuracy of +/- 1 foot per chain
Determine property ownership and location by searching deeds in courthouse records
Locate the centerline for a low standard forest road
Accurately use the following tools: Clinometer, Abney level, Diameter tape, Log scale stick, Biltmore Stick, Relaskop, Increment borer, hand and staff compasses, field data recorder, GPS
Measure, calculate and estimate the volume of individual trees by cord, cubic feet, board foot, and volume measure
Measure, calculate and estimate the volume of logs and bolts by cord, cubic foot, and board foot measure
Use conversion factors common to forestry, such as feet in chains, chains to miles, cubic feet to cords, cords to board feet and others
Measure stand stocking and density in terms of basal area and trees per acre
Measure site index as an indicator of site quality and productivity
Determine age and estimate growth percentage of standing trees

Major Topics to be Included

Legal bounds of property
Math calculations for forestry
Proper use of forestry equipment and tools
Forestry growth percentages

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