To achieve objective a) the following topics will be dedicated, carried out through lecturers in the classroom, for a total of 32 hours (4 CFU):
Definition and purposes of dendrometry.
Evolution of the meaning of forest mensuration. Importance of sampling in dendrometry.
The measure of tree diameter. The tree caliper. Errors to avoid when measuring tree diameter in forest.
Sampling plots: shape and size; delimitation rules.
The basic attributes of a forest stand: Number of tree, Basal area, Average diameter, Top diameter; Distribution curve of the number of trees in diameter classes.
The measurement of the total height of a tree.
- Blume Leiss hypsometer, Vertex hypsometer and forest clysimeter: trigonometric principles of operation and practical use;
- height model trees sampling criteria;
- the diameter-height curve;
- average height and top height of a forest stand; slenderness coefficient.
Estimation of volume of fallen and standing trees.
- dendrometric prototypes and the geometric theory of the volume of a tree
- the volume of logs: formula of the median section and the average section;
- estimation of stem volume by sections: Heyer's formula, trapezoid formula,
- single and double entry volume tables: characteristics and use;
- general formula for the tree and a stand volume; the ordinary reduction coefficient;
- volume of a pile of wood;
Measurement of the age of a tree: direct and indirect methods. The tree borer.
Principles of relascopic dendrometry;
The Bitterlich relascope: characteristics and methods of use; choice of basal area factor; adiametric relascopic sampling for estimating the basal area of a forest stand; diametric relascopic sampling for estimating stand basal area, number of trees and stand volume.
Dendroauxonomy (tree and stand growth):
- the volume-age curve of an even-aged stand
- current, average and percentage increments: definition and trend;
- yield tables: definition and characteristics;
- the growth of an uneven-aged stand.
- measurement of the volume increment of standing trees: general formula, simplified Pressler and Schneider formulas; comparison of subsequent inventories.
Inventory of forest resources
Dendrometric sampling.
Recall of statistics: mean, standard deviation, confidence interval, standard error
Sampling method: subjective, random, systematic.
The stratification of the sample.
National forest inventories.

The practical activities of measuring trees in the forest with dendrometric instruments are dedicated to achieving objective b), and the processing of measurements for the calculation of the dendrometric and auxometric variables of the stands detected, in class, with the use of a spreadsheet, for a total of 12 hours (1.5 CFU).

To achieve objective d) the preparation of a report on the results of the practical activities carried out in the forest will be dedicated, which can be presented in class and evaluated for the purposes of the exam grade.

The discussion of the topics covered in the lectures, the results of the practical activities in the forest and other case studies proposed by the teacher will be dedicated to the achievement of objectives c) and e), for a total of 4 hours (0.5 CFU).

Kershaw J.A., Ducey M.J., Beers T.W., Hursh B, 2017 - Forest mensuration, Fifth edition. John Wiley & Sons.