Joe,
I have no doubt that methods such as those you suggest could be
developed, and perhaps some are as we speak. However, their widespread field
employment would require a source of money that I currently don't have the
slightest access to. But for our contribution, maybe if we continue to beat the
drum long enough, university researchers with the financial wherewithall will
take notice and become interested. You'd think that state forestry departments
would be interested, but so far that hasn't happened in the Northeast. I'm not
entirely sure about the Pacific Northwest, but do believe that BVP has a pretty
good working relationship with state of Washington folks.
I see lots of ENTS work as up-front development in nature. I often think
of us as the low cost vanguard to what may be extensive research later. The
most practical application of our volume and individual dimensional analysis is
likely to be the establishment of time-based growth curves, that express the
natural capabilites of a number of species. The curves could act as baselines
to provide managers with a better understanding of how the species they select
to manage would behave over time if left unmanaged. I do realize that this
information is supposed to be out there, but in truth I see little evidence
that very many forest managers truely grasp what a specific site can be
expected to produce over a time span of 150 years. I would not argue with their
short-term undertsanding, but I think most of them have lost sight of the
longer growth cycles, if they actually ever had an understanding. I could give
dozens of examples, but am not making the point to criticize the peopl
e out there now. You and a few others like Russ Richardson seem to have a good
appreciation for what is possible, but over all, it appears to be a diminishing
talent. The breadth of vision seems to be shrinking proportional to the
shrinking of the average size of the species and processing equipment.
If we continue to gather data, the ENTS databases will eventually allow
the likes of Drs. Lee Frelich, Don Bragg, Tom Diggins, and perhaps a few others
to establish statistically validated maximum growth-volume curves for a wide
range of latitudes, longitudes, altitudes, and average levels of precipitation.
For the present, that is where we're headed, but I think I'd like to pursue
research in the direction you suggest with a couple of university contacts.
Bob
-------------- Original message --------------
From: the Forestmeister <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
> Hey Bob, I know next to nothing about the sophisticated methods ENTS
> people use to determine tree volumes- I only know standard, basic,
> simple methods of tree measurements used by field foresters. But, I
> should think that there must be some way using the best technology in
> the world today to get an exact 3 dimensional image of any tree- using
> something like radar or some other electromagnetic radiation- by
> moving the energy generator AROUND the tree- sort of like a giant scan
> of a hospital patient.
>
> The scan could scan the shape to great detail in 3-D, then incorporate
> that into data into a holograph in order to project it- and I'm sure
> mathematical geniuses could easily then use that data to calculate the
> volume of the tree to an order of accuracy orders of magnitude beyond
> current ENTS methods.
>
> And, while at it, why not use penetrating energies such as the
> hospital scan to give a true internal image of the tree which could
> then be studied for whatever reasons, such as the work done by Alex
> Shigo to determine the course of "discoloration and decay"- or to
> discern the value of the tree for wildlife habitat (assuming some
> hollows in the tree).
>
> And, if this is done for many trees close together- it could be useful
> to Gary Beluzo who I recall is interested in the emergent properties
> existing in forests- and for that, having such information and
> modeling tools- might be significant in such research.
>
> Just a crazy thought.
>
> Joe
>
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