The last lab was training and this lab is more of a test of a real situation. A regular challenge (particularly in the Pacific Northwest) is taking accurate coordinates in a dense forest. For this, we need to obtain an accurate benchmark and then shoot to each of the trees as accurately as we can. This is critical for research in small areas such as plots and for features along river and stream reaches.
Note: If you are remote from HSU or choose not to participate in person, please find an area of dense forest that is near an area with a feature that can be used as a benchmark (i.e. seen from aerial photographs).
There will be times when you do not have aerial photography that is high enough resolution. In this case, you will need professional grade surveying equipment which will also provide accuracy to several centimeters for at least your benchmark. This equipment is expensive and heavy to carry into the field so you'll only want to use it when needed. GSP 330 covers using this equipment.
You'll need to checkout the following equipment from the stock room:
You'll need to get together with your partners and create your own protocol and data sheet for this lab. See the report template in the Canvas assignment for the columns you might need.
For this lab, we're going to be doing a common exercise, mapping the location and, optionally, the size of trees.
We'll be heading to the parking lot by CCAT and establishing a benchmark. Then you'll find the location of one tree by shooting the tree with the compass and range finder. Then, you'll move to the tree, take a GPS reading for that tree. Then, you'll return to your benchmark and shoot the next tree. There will be one tree, known as the Group Tree, that is identified by your instructor that everyone will shoot to determine uncertainty and then each group will be given a section of the small forest to map. You can also estimate the height of your trees.
I also recommend taking notes and even photos as you do the survey. It is very common to be back in the office with field data and wish that you had taken more notes in the field. I have never heard anyone say they wished they took fewer notes!
See your steps from the previous lab and the report template for your analysis methods.
Note: You'll need to get together with the other groups to figure out the best way to exchange data.
Note: You cannot find the standard deviation or RMSE for each of the trees because you will only have two coordinates for each and you cannot see their trunks on the aerial photograph.
You may want to make two shapefiles from your data; one for the GPS coordinates and one for the compass/range finder coordinates. In ArcGIS, create a map that clearly labels the coordinates that were measured with the GPS and those that were measured with the compass/range finder.
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