Some aspects of inventory integration

Abstract

Integrating such disparate topics as are covered by this conference is daunting, because to do it well requires in-depth expertise of many complex technical methodologies. Based on experiences in Asia and Australia, it is suggested that there can never be one inventory design or one planning system, it will increasingly be necessary to implement specialized inventories and projects that are oriented towards meeting specific short-term and longer term objectives. Each separate study must be designed to enable all the information to be integrated in order to answer the various alternative questions that will emerge in the future. Systematic sampling may often be preferred as the more pragmatic alternative to stratified random or multi stage, multi phase designs. Stratification will increasingly be carried out after plot measurement rather than before. It is often appropriate to build redundancy and flexibility into the project even at a significant cost. No one approach is correct for all circumstances, and any planner or inventory designer must understand all the disparate technologies in order to put together the most appropriate total package of linked systems.

Parent Publication

• Integrated tools for natural resources inventories in the 21st century

Citation

Leech, Jerry. 2000. Some aspects of inventory integration. In: Hansen, Mark; Burk, Tom, eds. Integrated tools for natural resources inventories in the 21st century. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-212. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station. 110-115.