ESTIMATION OF TOTAL BASAL AREA AND TOTAL WOOD VOLUME BY CLUSTER POINT SAMPLING

Abstract

This work develops a theory for simultaneous estimation of total basal area and total wood volume by an extension of the classical point sampling to a cluster point sampling scheme in three stages. Modifications made to traditional sampling produced a three-stage scheme that can readily be used in a forest without increasing sampling cost. The corresponding estimation theory reduced the necessary calculations to counting the selected trees in the last stage. Using uniform size for all plots generated around each sampling point, made construction of clusters and of sampling frames easier; it also helped locate in the field the primary and secondary sampling units in a forest.