Full text of this article is only available in PDF format.

Annika Kangas (email), Lauri Mehtätalo, Matti Maltamo

Modelling percentile based basal area weighted diameter distribution

Kangas A., Mehtätalo L., Maltamo M. (2007). Modelling percentile based basal area weighted diameter distribution. Silva Fennica vol. 41 no. 3 article id 282. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.282

Abstract

In percentile method, percentiles of the diameter distribution are predicted with a system of models. The continuous empirical diameter distribution function is then obtained by interpolating between the predicted values of percentiles. In Finland, the distribution is typically modelled as a basal-area weighted distribution, which is transformed to a traditional density function for applications. In earlier studies it has been noted that when calculated from the basal-area weighted diameter distribution, the density function is decreasing in most stands, especially for Norway spruce. This behaviour is not supported by the data. In this paper, we investigate the reasons for the unsatisfactory performance and present possible solutions for the problem. Besides the predicted percentiles, the problems are due to implicit assumptions of diameter distribution in the system. The effect of these assumptions can be somewhat lessened with simple ad-hoc methods, like increasing new percentiles to the system. This approach does not, however, utilize all the available information in the estimation, namely the analytical relationships between basal area, stem number and diameter. Accounting for these, gives further possibilities for improving the results. The results show, however, that in order to achieve further improvements, it would be recommendable to make the implicit assumptions more realistic. Furthermore, height variation within stands seems to have an important contribution to the uncertainty of some forest characteristics, especially in the case of sawnwood volume.

Keywords
stand structure; diameter distribution; prediction; interpolation

Author Info
  • Kangas, Department of Forest Resources Management, P.O.Box 27, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland E-mail ak@nn.fi (email)
  • Mehtätalo, University of Joensuu, Faculty of Forestry, P.O. Box 111, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland E-mail lm@nn.fi
  • Maltamo, University of Joensuu, Faculty of Forestry, P.O. Box 111, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland E-mail mm@nn.fi

Received 4 December 2006 Accepted 17 August 2007 Published 31 December 2007

Views 2279

Available at https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.282 | Download PDF

Creative Commons License CC BY-SA 4.0

Register
Click this link to register to Silva Fennica.
Log in
If you are a registered user, log in to save your selected articles for later access.
Contents alert
Sign up to receive alerts of new content

Your selected articles
Your search results
Mehtätalo L., (2019) Reporting modern statistical analyses: reproduci.. Silva Fennica vol. 53 no. 3 article id 10257
Kangas A., Myllymäki M. et al. (2023) Understanding uncertainty in forest resources maps Silva Fennica vol. 57 no. 2 article id 22026
Levkoev E., Mehtätalo L. et al. (2018) Development of height growth and frost hardiness.. Silva Fennica vol. 52 no. 3 article id 9980
Čugunovs M., Tuittila E.-S. et al. (2017) Variability and patterns in forest soil and vege.. Silva Fennica vol. 51 no. 1 article id 1718
Korpela I., Mehtätalo L. et al. (2014) Tree species identification in aerial image data.. Silva Fennica vol. 48 no. 3 article id 1087
Siipilehto J., Mehtätalo L. (2013) Parameter recovery vs. parameter prediction for .. Silva Fennica vol. 47 no. 4 article id 1057
Wallenius T., Laamanen R. et al. (2012) Analysing the agreement between an Airborne Lase.. Silva Fennica vol. 46 no. 1 article id 69
Kangas A., Mehtätalo L. et al. (2011) Sensitivity of harvest decisions to errors in st.. Silva Fennica vol. 45 no. 4 article id 100
Pietilä I., Kangas A. et al. (2010) Influence of growth prediction errors on the exp.. Silva Fennica vol. 44 no. 5 article id 111
Islam Md. N., Kurttila M. et al. (2009) Analyzing the effects of inventory errors on hol.. Silva Fennica vol. 43 no. 1 article id 218
Kangas A., Mehtätalo L. et al. (2007) Modelling percentile based basal area weighted d.. Silva Fennica vol. 41 no. 3 article id 282
Siipilehto J., Sarkkola S. et al. (2007) Comparing regression estimation techniques when .. Silva Fennica vol. 41 no. 2 article id 300
Mehtätalo L., Maltamo M. et al. (2006) The use of quantile trees in the prediction of t.. Silva Fennica vol. 40 no. 3 article id 333
Mehtätalo L., (2005) Height-diameter models for Scots pine and birch .. Silva Fennica vol. 39 no. 1 article id 395