Masters Degrees (Forest and Wood Science)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Forest and Wood Science) by browse.metadata.advisor "Bredenkamp, Brian Victor"

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    Biomass prediction models for Colophospermum Mopane (Mopane) in Botswana
    (Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2009-03) Mutakela, Patrick Silishebo; Bredenkamp, Brian Victor; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Agrisciences. Dept. of Forest and Wood Science.
    The aim of this study was to develop biomass prediction models for the determination of total aboveground biomass for mopane at three (3) study sites in Botswana. Thereafter, based on the pooled data from the three (3) study sites, recommend one cross-site biomass prediction model that could be used for the indirect estimation of the total aboveground biomass for mopane in Botswana. All the data were collected by destructive sampling from three (3) study sites in Botswana. Stratified random sampling was based on the stem diameter at breast height (1.3 m from the ground). A total of 30 sample trees at each study site were measured, felled and weighed. The 30 sample trees were distributed equally between six DBH classes (Five sample trees per DBH class). Thereafter, using the data from these sample trees, site-specific biomass prediction models for the indirect estimation of total aboveground biomass for mopane were developed as a function of the following independent variables: stem diameter at 0.15 m from the ground; stem diameter at 1.3 m from the ground; stem diameter at 3 m from the ground; crown diameter; and total tree height. The data from the sites were pooled together to develop cross-site biomass prediction models as a function of the given independent variables. The biomass prediction model that provided the best fit at Serule was a linear equation estimated by means of the stem diameter at 1.3 m, while in Sexaxa the biomass prediction model that provided the best fit was estimated by means of the stem diameter at 0.15 m. The biomass prediction model that provided the best fit at the Tamacha site was estimated by means of the stem diameter at 1.3 m. On the basis of the collected data, cross-site biomass prediction models were developed. The cross-site biomass prediction model that provided the best fit was developed from the stem diameter at 1.3 m. This relationship was adopted as the prediction model for the indirect biomass estimation of Colophospermum mopane (mopane) in Botswana.
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    An investigation into the feasibility of forest inventory by means of stereo satellite imagery employing digital photogrammetry technology
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2000) Vogt, Holger K. H; Bredenkamp, Brian Victor; Katsch, H. C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Forest and Wood Science.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to extract elevation information (such as tree height) from stereo satellite imagery (IRS-I C), to scrutinise the performance of the DTM (Digital Terrain Model) tools as provided by the LH (LeicalHelava) Systems' softcopy system, and subsequently to perform a feasibility study on the application of a practically viable forest inventory design. A softcopy photogrammetry workstation (LH Systems DPW 770), IRS-I C stereo panchromatic satellite imagery, and digital aerial photography at a scale of 1:30000 (scanned at 15 micrometers) was used. The study was conducted over various sites in the Sabie area (province of Mpumalanga) in South Africa, where extensive man made forests with pine and eucalypts are to be found. The extraction of stand parameters such as tree height was performed manually, semi-automatically, and automatically. In addition, the compartment area was determined using a GIS tool. The Digital Surface Models (DSM), representing the canopy structure of the stands, was extracted from the IRS-I C imagery and validated through a comparison of the resulting contours with the corresponding contours generated by aerial photogrammetric methods. Due to the coarse spatial resolution of the IRS-IC imagery (5m) and the suboptimal BIH (BaselHeight) ratio (0.57), only objects featuring a height exceeding 20m could be manually measured with confidence. Furthermore, only the edges of the compartments proved to be suitable for the determination of tree heights (i.e. with a sufficiently large parallax difference and image contrast). The manual determination of tree heights in the IRS-I C imagery yielded accuracies of about 95% compared to the height values of the aerial photographs and the ground data. The application of image enhancement techniques had severe effects on the accuracy of the IRS-IC stereo model, resulting in deviations of about -57m from the 'true' value. It was observed that image matching was only a problem where features changed their appearance (e.g. clearfelled or burnt areas) during the acquisition period of the stereo pair of the satellite imagery. LH Systems' Adaptive Automatic Terrain Extraction (AATE) tool performed very well for the creation of digital terrain and surface models when using digital aerial photography with a high scanning rate. In contrast, the automatic creation of canopy surface models from various forest compartments did not yield any useful results when applied to IRS-l C imagery. AATE could not model the canopy structure properly. The coarse spatial resolution of the satellite imagery in conjunction with the sparse post spacing (20m) and matching errors are most likely to be responsible for this poor performance. Two-phase sampling and the Hugershoff method were chosen for automatically derived height values to be evaluated for possible application in forest inventory. Unfortunately, neither for the determination of the regression estimator for the first method, nor for the calculation of timber volume after application of the Hugershoff method could any useful result be obtained. This is mostly due to the fact that image matching errors and blunders (resulting in tree heights of -885m) were not properly accounted for in the terrain extraction software. However, the outcomes for the manual measurement of tree heights performed on the satellite imagery show that under optimal conditions accuracies can be achieved similar to those for the height determination in small scale aerial photographs, but at lower cost. The obtained height values can then be used for the calculation of timber volume according to Eichhorn's law. Keywords: AATE, blunders, digital photogrammetry, DPW770, forest inventory, Hugershoff IRS-l C, matching error, remote sensing, satellite imagery, two-phase sampling
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    Stem form, height and volume models for teak in Tanzania
    (Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2005-03) Van Zyl, Louis; Bredenkamp, Brian Victor; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Agrisciences. Dept. of Forest and Wood Science.
    The aim of this study was to develop a set of models that will allow the determination of volume for Tectona grandis trees and stands grown in plantation form in Tanzania. As a secondary objective, models describing tree and dominant stand height were developed. Total volume and volume ratio models were fitted that respectively predict total tree volume and merchantable volume. In order to allow the calculation of volume for different product classes and dimensions, taper models were fitted. All the data were collected by non-destructive sampling methods using a Barr and Stroud optical dendrometer. This proved to be an accurate and inexpensive method of collecting data for developing volume and taper models. Sampling stratification was based on age and site quality and as wide a range as possible was covered to ensure adequate representation of all growing sites and ages present in Tanzanian teak plantations. A total of 2617 individual observations were made from 222 trees at three teak plantations. Several models were selected from the literature to describe teak volume and shape. Results indicated that the Schumacher and Hall (1933) volume equation best describes total volume over and underbark to a fixed upper limit of 7.5 cm. Merchantable volume to upper stem diameter and height limits were best described by respectively the Burkhart (1977) volume ratio model and the Cao and Burkhart (1980) modification thereof. Many of the fitted taper models were unable to adequately describe stem shape over the whole stem, mainly due to the large range in tree sizes and ages used in model fitting. The variable form taper model by Perez, Burkhart and Stiff (1990) provided the best results according to various criteria and is recommended for predicting teak underbark diameters to various heights and, if only a single model is required, the merchantable volume. Top height growth of teak stands was adequately described by the generalized Schumacher (1939) model with the value of the exponent k estimated from the sample data. From this a series of anamorphic site index curves were developed. Suitable height-dbh curves were obtained by a simple linear model and predictions improved by including stand age and site index as predictor variables.
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    The use of high-resolution satellite imagery in forest inventory : a case of Hans Kanyinga Community Forest - Namibia
    (Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2007-12) Kamwi, Jonathan Mutau; Katsch, C.; Bredenkamp, Brian Victor; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Agrisciences. Dept. of Forest and Wood Science.
    The present study investigated double sampling with regression estimators as a quest for efficiency and effectiveness in forest inventory in Namibian woodlands. Auxiliary data used were obtained from Standard QuickBird satellite scenes (phase 1) for Hans Kanyinga Community Forest from October and November 2004 covering an area of 12,107 hectares, amplified with terrestric data (phase 2) of 2002. The relationships between auxiliary and terrestric variables are described and prediction models were constructed. According to the results of the stepwise procedure with the Mallow’s Cp statistic as the selection criteria, photogrammetric stand density and a combination of the photogrammetric crown area with photogrammetric stand density were the best candidates for predicting the stand volume. The resulting volume model explains 56% of the variation. Photogrammetric stand density was found to be highly correlated to the terrestric stand density with the resulting model explaining 81% of the variation. Photogrammetric crown diameter was found to be correlated with the diameter at breast height measured from the plots which were assessed for spatial tree positions, which enabled the derivation of the diameter distribution. The diameter distribution model explains 43% of the variation. In addition, the actual tree positions were determined using the GPS and surveying techniques (polar positions) involving distance and bearings. GPS tree positions showed a considerable shift of up to 8.67 m. However, only the distance measurements of tress from the plot centre using the infield surveying methods were more reliable. Nevertheless, the influences of the tree positional errors are not of high concern for temporary based sample plots which are normally used in Namibian forest inventories. A reduction in inventory cost was found to be 24% i.e. N$25.79 to N$19.67 per hectare. The results of this study are valid for Kavango region or any other region with similar set of physical and climatic conditions, but caution must be exercised in implementing these results elsewhere under different physical and environmental conditions.