FR 3118/5218 - Measurement and Modeling Forests
University of Minnesota
Department of Forest Resources
Spring Semester, 2007

Instructor
Tom Burk
301B Green Hall
PO Box in 115 Green Hall
612-624-6741
tburk@umn.edu
Office Hours: M,W,F 1:45-2:45 or by appointment

Teaching Assistant
Leah Rathbun
209C Green Hall
PO Box in 115E Green Hall
612-625-5765
rath0015@umn.edu
Office Hours: M,W,F 10:30-11:30 or by appointment

Course Prerequisites

The subject matter content of course prerequisites will be relied upon heavily.

Math 1142 or Math 1271 (on-line catalog) - Differential and integral calculus will be used when addressing several topics in FR 3218/5218. A "Mathematics Refresher" is available to help you review some of the necessary material.

Stat 3011 or Stat 5021 (on-line catalog) - Statistics is THE critical prerequisite for FR 3218/5218. Students will be required to draw upon knowledge gained from their statistics course(s) almost continually. Statistics through regression analysis is reviewed in Chapter 2 of your textbook. A "Regression Refresher" is also available. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the "practice assignment" to evaluate their statistics background.

Course Goals

1. Describe the use of and explain the importance of basic statistical analysis tools in forest resource management.
2. Identify attributes of sampling designs used to characterize finite populations.
3. Design an efficient sampling strategy given knowledge of a population and variable of interest.
4. Analyze data collected from common sample survey designs.
5. Explain the limitations, development, and application of volume and taper equation systems.
6. Explain the basis for, describe the use of, and summarize data from sample unit types commonly used in timber sampling.
7. Plan, conduct, and summarize an efficient timber sampling effort of a tract of forested land.
8. Apply methods to assess structure and density of forest stands as well as the quality of the site upon which the stand is growing.
9. Identify, interpret, and quantify the important factors affecting tree and stand growth.
10. Describe the use of growth models for projection of future timber resource condition.
11. Explain the role and workings of typical forest ecosystem models.

Course Text and Reference Materials

Avery, T.E. and H.E. Burkhart. 2002. Forest Measurements, 5th Edition. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. 456 pp. (Required)

Mathematics Refresher. (Forestry Library reserve)
Regression Refresher.
PCWTHIN User's Manual. (Forestry Library reserve)
Using TWIGS. (Forestry Library reserve)

Lecture handouts and assignments.

Course Grading Criteria

The participation component will be based upon the frequency and significance of in-class contributions and use of the class web forum.

Grades will be assigned in a manner consistent with the University's Grading Standards. Academic dishonesty in any portion of the academic work for the course shall be grounds for awarding a grade of F or N for the entire course.

Students signed up for FR 5218 will need to complete an extra project that will constitute 12% of their grade (the above components will be pro-rated accordingly). The nature of the project will be a joint decision of the student and the instructor. The project must be completely defined by March 9, 2007 and must be submitted by May 4, 2007.

Course Lecture Schedule

Old Exams

Exam 1 - 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Exam 2 - 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Exam 3 - 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Exam 4 - 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Course Assignments

Course Miscellany

• Much of the material for the course will be placed on the course web site. E-mail will be used extensively for communication between students and the instructor/TA. Students will be held responsible for regularly checking both their e-mail and the class website.
• A working calculator will be required for all assignments and exams.
• Each assignment in the course has a specific due date. Five percent of the total point value will be deducted from the student's score for each day the submission date exceeds the due date. Assignments turned in more than five days late will be given a score of zero. Weekends count as one day.
• The exams will be problems and short answer/multiple choice questions covering material up to the point where the exam is noted on the syllabus. Exams 2, 3, 4 are not cumulative. Make-up exams will be given only in special circumstances and then only when requested prior to the scheduled date.
• If a discrepancy or disagreement should arise over the grading of any material for this course, the student should write an explanation of the problem and why (s)he believes some adjustment should be made, attach the explanation to the material in question, and present the material to the instructor within one week of when the material was returned to the student. The instructor will evaluate all written requests for grading reviews, make the necessary adjustments, and return the material as quickly as possible.
• Consistent with the University's Academic Work Policy, the average undergraduate student should expect to spend 90 hours outside of class during the semester on readings, assignments, and exam study in order to achieve an average grade.
• The assignments are time consuming; do not expect to complete them in one setting or one evening. Work on assignments should, in the end, be an individual effort. "Paying your dues" on the assignments is the only way to become familiar enough with the techniques discussed that you will be able to apply them or related methods in real-life applications. The instructor strongly subscribes to the Chinese proverb: I Hear - I Forget; I See - I Remember; I Do - I Understand.