{"id":117,"date":"2016-01-28T20:48:12","date_gmt":"2016-01-29T01:48:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/jgourley\/?page_id=117"},"modified":"2025-04-02T12:03:32","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T16:03:32","slug":"lab-8-campus-trees-partially-outside","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/jgourley\/courses\/envs-149l\/lab-8-campus-trees-partially-outside\/","title":{"rendered":"Trinity College ENVS 149 Campus Trees Data"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since 2010 Trinity ENVS 149 students have made measurement of tree diameter (Using DBH method<\/a>) and estimates of tree height using a pace and inclinometer technique on trees around McCook Hall. \u00a0These measurements are useful in forestry to quickly obtain data on individual trees. \u00a0The methods are not perfect but over a long period of time they can be quite useful to evaluate the growth of trees. \u00a0 This lab will be part of a long term project that has tracked the growth of trees. \u00a0The past data is sometimes messy. \u00a0So after the field work portion of the lab, the data mining and presentation (Once again using MS Excel) portion of this lab is equally important. \u00a0All of your team’s data will be compiled in a master Google Docs spreadsheet. \u00a0Your data plus past classes’ data will be used to construct graphs of tree grown.<\/p>\n

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a) Measuring Tree Circumference, Diameter and Radius<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Using a tape measure you will measure the DBH in centimeters. \u00a0See link on DBH (above) for full explanation). \u00a0The tapes used can measure either circumference or diameter.\u00a0 Diameter and radii can always be calculated from the circumference or vice-versa.\u00a0 All measurements should be taken on the trunk immediately above the tag.\u00a0 Take multiple measurements by removing the tape and then re-measure.\u00a0 Having different people in your group take measurements will also help ensure repeatable results.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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b) Calculating tree height using pace and an inclinometer<\/b><\/h3>\n
To estimate the height of the trees we will first calculate the length of your pace.\u00a0 To do this, you will lay out a tape measure and count the number of paces it takes you to walk the distance of the tape.\u00a0 You should do at least three trials and take the average number of paces.\u00a0 A pace is defined as two steps.\u00a0 So if you start with your left foot\u00a0 then you count “one” when you step with your right foot.\u00a0 Your gait should be natural and not exaggerated.\u00a0 Once you have the number of paces determined for a set distance you can calculate how many meters 1 pace is for you.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Once your pace has been determined, start with your back to the tree and walk a distance away from the tree that is approximately 1.5 to 2 times longer than the perceived height of the tree.\u00a0 Count your paces as you go.\u00a0 Make sure you end your pace at a location where you can see the top of the tree.\u00a0 From this point,\u00a0 you will use an inclinometer to measure the angle between horizontal and the top of the tree.\u00a0 With the angle and pace (converted to meters), the height of the tree can be calculated using a simple trigonometric function.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Data needed to complete lab:<\/strong>
\nNote the 1998 data is from an original tree survey conducted by Trinity College. \u00a0The units are different and since there is only one measurement for each tree you won’t be able to construct error bars for this year. \u00a0All other years there will be sufficient data for most trees. \u00a0However, not every tree has been measured every year so you may have dig through each year to find the necessary data to complete your graphs. \u00a0YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GRAPH EVERY YEAR. \u00a0Just 1998, the current year and two\u00a0 years between 1998 and the current<\/p>\n

Campus_Trees_1998<\/a>
\nCampus_Trees_2010<\/a>
\n<\/a>Campus_trees_2011<\/a>
\n<\/a>Campus_Trees_2012<\/a>
\n<\/a>Campus_Trees_2013<\/a>
\n<\/a>Campus_Trees_2014<\/a>
\n<\/a>Campus_Trees_2015<\/a>
\n<\/a>Campus Trees 2016<\/a>
\nCampus Trees 2017<\/a>
\nCampus_Trees_2018<\/a>
\nCampus_Trees_2019<\/a>
\nCampus_Trees_2020<\/a>
\nCampus_Trees_2022<\/a>
\nCampus_Trees_2023<\/a>
\nCampus_Trees_2024<\/a><\/p>\n

Example of graphs that you need to make: \u00a0Campus trees_manipulated_example<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Since 2010 Trinity ENVS 149 students have made measurement of tree diameter (Using DBH method) and estimates of tree height using a pace and inclinometer technique on trees around McCook Hall. \u00a0These measurements are useful in forestry to quickly obtain data on individual trees. \u00a0The methods are not perfect but over a long period of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1581,"featured_media":0,"parent":10,"menu_order":8,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/jgourley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/117"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/jgourley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/jgourley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/jgourley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1581"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/jgourley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=117"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/jgourley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/117\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":434,"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/jgourley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/117\/revisions\/434"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/jgourley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/jgourley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}