Ed,
You're probably right in advocating adjustments to simple formulas through ratios and I completely agree that in the case of irregular shapes, such as those of virtually all tree crowns, making too big of a fuss over applying the exact formulas for particular geometrical shapes is usually time NOT well spent. I hope that we can collectively work on a broad range of tools to apply to crown measurement, tools of two basic types: (1) easy to apply approximating formulas and processes, and (2) more exacting formulas and processes for limited high profile situations. While I'm recuperating from my upcomng surgery I intend to spend a lot of time hunting for approximating formulas and methods with accuracy levels that can be calculated. On a different topic, the Boston Globe is interested in doing an article on outstanding places in Massachusetts and guess what? They are interested in including the Jake Swamp white pine in their article(s). It might be a series. Jake's fame may grow. For problem#17, I am turning to crown area -i.e its projection onto a level plane and how to measure that area. Thanks to Larry's many great discoveries and to your thoughts about our under-valuing of tree crowns in our measuring, I'm hoping to spend a lot of time develping field methods of measurement. I welcome the participation of fellow and lady Ents. Much of the research currently being done is slated to go into the book on Dendromorphometry, which will be my consuming project over teh coming months to produce a draft for the coauthors. From simple beginnings, it has grown into a significant undertaking. Bob ----- Original Message ----- From: "Edward Frank" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, March 9, 2009 7:23:28 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: [ENTS] Re: Problem#16 Bob, Don, Larry, Your math looks good to me. What I wonder if not at some point the task of taking the additional number of measurements needed to get an exact value for volume might outweigh their usefulness given the variation of an actual crown shape from the ideal geometric form, the presence of voids, and different densities of leaves in describing the crown of a tree. It seems to me that the volume calculated by your top of the sphere form in problem 11, if multiplied by the ratio of the lengths of the minor and major horizontal axis will generate almost the same numbers with fewer measurements. In each of the examples I have given for calculating volumes of the crown, they are not meant to be the ultimate of measurement, but a useful estimate based upon a minimal number of measurements. It is something that can be used to order the crown volume measurements so that patterns can be determined. In each case, I am sure a much more intricate and detailed measurement of the crown could be made that would better quantify this value. Don, I do appreciate your ideas on these matters, even if I don't always agree with them. Differing viewpoints are needed in these types of discussions in order to refine our own thoughts. perhaps my concept is erroneous.. Ed ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 6:48 PM Subject: [ENTS] Problem#16 Ed, Larry, Don, et. al, The solution we were searching for is attached (I think). The challenge is to develop a protocal for obtaining the measurements. The protocal will require our collective input. Naturally I have ideas, to share, but this needs to be a community effort. If we can settle on a process, I can automate it in the usual way. Larry, I believe the solution in the attachment addresses your last concern. Bob --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
