Preliminary results from a method to update timber resource statistics in North Carolina

Abstract

Forest Inventory and Analysis units of the USDA Forest Service produce timber resource statistics every 8 to 10 years. Midcycle surveys are often performed to update inventory estimates. This requires timely identification of forest lands. There are several kinds of remotely sensed data that are suitable for this purpose. Medium scale color infrared aerial photography has the spatial resolution necessary to locate and identify forest land undergoing transition. This study examines the land cover and timber resource acreage classification results produced by the photointerpretation or 111, 1,000 acre plots In North Carolina imaged on 1:12,000 scale color infrared aerial photography acquired In November of 1985. The results are compared with timber resource statistics produced by the Southeastern Forest Inventory and Analysis unit in 1983. There is a high degree of agreement between the two data sources in the majority of categories. The discrepancies, however, may prove to contain much useful and timely information.

Citation

Catts, Glenn P.; Cost, Noel D.; Czaplewski, Raymond L.; Snook, Paul W. 1987. Preliminary results from a method to update timber resource statistics in North Carolina. In: Everitt, James H.; Nixon, Paul R., editors. Color aerial photography and videography in the plant sciences and related fields. Proceedings of the Eleventh Biennial Workshop on Color Aerial Photography in the Plant Sciences. Hoblitzelle Auditorium, Agricultural Experiment Station, Weslaco, Texas, April 27- May 1, 1987. Bethesda, MD: American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. p. 39-52.