Line plot survey

Definition Line Plot survey is a systematic way of tallying of timber on a series of plots that are arranged in a grid fashion. (Avery & Burkhart, 2002 pg. 215) How it’s used The method is used for forest inventories to estimate the volume standing in a forested tract. The way inventory specialists use it is to set up a line or bearing on their compass and determine how many plots they would like to take on this survey line. This is done by determining the distance between survey lines (B), and the distance between plots (D), and the amount of acreage (A) that is in the tract which sets up into a formula that tells them how many plots they have to take to cover the entire tract. They start in a random area and pace out the length to their first plot where they will record the data they would like to have and store it until they can reach the office and put it in a computer for future use. Once they reach the end of their transect inventory specialists then turn 90° (degrees) and continue on to their next transect. Most of the amount of plots and how many transects inventory specialists take determines what they are trying to accomplish. What it is used for The main reason it is used is to make sure the inventory specialists can get an even outlay and see everything in the forested tract. Inventory specialists use it to also get a rough estimate of the tract or stands attributes. It is also used for an application of systematic sampling, similar to statistical properties as random sampling, but often easier to carry out. Example Some examples of this are stand regeneration surveys to make sure inventory specialists know what they are growing in the forest. They take a transect bearing of 300° (degrees) while making their plots one chain apart and the size of their plot will be one tenth acre and measuring everything in the one tenth acre plot then maybe walking four chains to the next plot while still on the 300° (degree) bearing.

Work Cited Forest Measurements, 5th Ed, by Avery and Burkhart 2002