2021 Western Mensurationists Meeting
Location: Virtual
Click here to view/download the 2021 agenda (PDF)
SUNDAY, JUNE 20, 2021
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Happy Hour Drop-in on Zoom, Meet old friends and make new ones – zoom break out rooms will be available for small groups
MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2021
9:00 – 9:05 Meeting opening and overview – Bianca Eskelson
IUFRO session: Linking growth models with remote sensing data – Moderator: Woongsoon Jang
9:05 – 9:25 CanopyShotNoise – An individual-based tree canopy modelling framework for projecting remote-sensing data and ecological sensitivity analysis – Arne Pommerening
9:25 – 9:45 The effects of thinning on crown structure of Scots pine trees – Ninni Saarinen
9:45 – 10:00 Empirical growth models based on repeated laser scans in non managed area – Peter Surovy
10:00 – 10:15 Regeneration survey using inexpensive unmanned aerial systems – Adam Conrad
10:15 – 10:30 Simulating the growth of Larix olgensis and predicting the future change using 3-PGS Model – Yu Bai
10:30 – 10:45 Coffee break
IUFRO session continued: Linking growth models with remote sensing data – Moderator: Mathieu Fortin
10:45 – 11:05 LiDAR, Stands, FVS, and Woodstock. Happy Together. – Clara Clark
11:05 – 11:25 Tree-Level monitoring of open canopy forests from UAS structure from motion data – Neal Swayze
11:25 – 11:45 A case study on forest inventory consistency between multitemporal field measurement, LiDAR and growth model – Yuzhen Li
11:45 – 12:00 Coupling LiDAR systems analysis with growth and yield models and diameter distribution models for spatially explicit projections of standing timber in fast growing Eucalyptus plantations – John Kershaw
12:05 – 12:55 Networking sessions during lunch – Bring your own lunch! Additional details listed below in the right column.
Moderator: Lara Melo
13:00 – 13:20 Estimating Douglas-fir site index using a Lidar canopy height model and stand age in western Oregon and western Washington – Donald Gagliasso
13:20 – 13:40 Drivers of productivity differences between Douglas-fir planted within its native range in Oregon and on exotic sites in New Zealand – Liam Gilson
13:40 – 13:55 Crown ratio models for loblolly pine – Krishna Poudel
13:55 – 14:10 Development and testing an algorithm for estimating top height in TASS simulations – Ian Cameron
14:10 – 14:30 Hierarchical Gaussian processes for modeling stand diameter distributions from forest inventory data – Brian Clough
14:30 – 14:45 Coffee break – Surprise! – DO NOT MISS!
Moderator: Andrea Cameron
14:45 – 15:00 Thinning from above or below? Maximizing financial value in Douglas-fir rotations. – Todd West
15:00 – 15:20 How good is the data? – Fred Martin
15:20 – 15:40 Regional modeling of an invasive annual grass in the intermountain Pacific Northwest – Ty Nietupski
15:40 – 15:55 Importance of image pre-processing on the analysis of the imagery acquired with small unmanned aerial systems – Sudeera Wickramarathna
15:55 – 16:00 Closing remarks first day
16:00 – 18:00 Happy Hour Drop-in on Zoom, Meet old friends and make new ones – zoom break out rooms will be available for small groups
TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 2021
Moderator: Peter Marshall
9:00 – 9:15 Bridging sampling with covariate designs and rapid biodiversity assessment to estimate local plant species richness – Tzeng Yih Lam
9:15 – 9:35 Decision Space for Field Application of Sector Sampling – Martin Ritchie
9:35 – 9:50 Biomass estimates derived from sector subsampling of 360° spherical images – John Kershaw
9:50 – 10:10 Big trees matter most: Plot optimization for ground-based tropical forest carbon inventories at both country and project scales – Bryan Foster
10:10 – 10:30 Seeing the forest for the clumps: characterizing clumpy regeneration and ladder fuels – Justin Crotteau
10:30 – 10:45 Coffee break
Moderator: Celine Boisvenue
10:45 – 11:05 Post-stratified estimation: Realized and potential efficiency in a national forest inventory – James Westfall
11:05 – 11:20 Improving Forest Sample Estimation through UAS Canopy Structure Stratification – Logan Wimme
11:20 -11:40 Enhanced Forest Inventory using LiDAR data – a hybrid approach – Kat Gunion
11:40 – 11:55 Small area estimation in operational western forest inventories – Corey Green
11:55 – 12:05 Picture taking
12:05 – 12:15 Plans for future years & Closing remarks – Bogdan Strimbu and Bianca Eskelson
For program questions, contact Bianca Eskelson.
The theme for the Monday morning session will be “Linking growth models with remote sensing data” and is sponsored by IUFRO Unit 4.01.02 “Growth models for tree and stand simulation”.
Please visit the Western Mensurationists pages on mensurationist.net for additional information.
Networking sessions for the Monday lunch hour: 12:05 – 12:55
The idea of the networking sessions is to give students and young professionals the opportunity to meet some of the other attendees, which may not be as easy in this year’s virtual format as it used to be during in-person meetings. The hope is that folks show up in the sessions they are interested in, ask questions, and then move to other breakout rooms for small group or one-on-one discussions.
There are 5 networking sessions set up in the following breakout rooms (see more details on each session below):
- Provincial Government Session
- Natural Resources Canada Session
- United States Agency Session
- Industry & Consultants Session
- University Session
While we organized for some folks to specifically attend these sessions to be available for students and young professionals for discussions, please join the session that you fit in and participate. Once folks introduced themselves small groups can move into other breakout rooms as needed.
Provincial Government Session:
In this session, several employees from the British Columbia and Alberta provincial government introduce their groups within the government, talk about their job responsibilities, and discuss what skill sets they are looking for in new hires.
- Woongsoon Jang, Research Scientist, Forest Fertilization and Nutrition, Resource Practices Branch, BC FLNRORD – session moderator
- Catherine Bealle Statland, Team Lead, Stand Development Modelling, Forest Analysis and Inventory Branch, BC FLNRORD
- Tim Salkeld, Manager, Forest Inventory, Forest Analysis and Inventory Branch, BC FLNRORD
- Chris Butson, Team Lead, Remote Sensing & Geospatial Applications, Forest Analysis and Inventory Branch, BC FLNRORD
- Gary Johansen, Team Lead, Productivity and Sample Data, Forest Analysis and Inventory Branch, BC FLNRORD
- Katrina Froese, Resource Analyst, Reforestation, Inventory and Biometrics Section, Forest Stewardship and Trade Branch, Government of Alberta
- Chris Bater, Forest Management Specialist (Remote Sensing), Reforestation, Inventory and Biometrics Section, Forest Stewardship and Trade Branch, Government of Alberta
- Darren Aitkin, Manager, Reforestation, Inventory and Biometrics Section, Forest Stewardship and Trade Branch, Government of Alberta
Natural Resources Canada Session:
In this session several research scientists from Natural Resources Canada introduce their group, what they do in their position, and how young researchers can prepare themselves to successfully apply for positions with Natural Resources Canada.
- Celine Boisvenue, Research Scientist, Pacific Forestry Centre, Natural Resources Canada – session moderator
- Joanne White, Research Scientist, Forest Inventory and Analysis, Natural Resources Canada
- Jim Stewart, Research Scientist, Silviculture and Fibre Production, Natural Resources Canada
- Mathieu Fortin, Research Scientist, Canadian Wood Fibre Centre, Natural Resources Canada
United States Agency Session:
Do you want to work for a US agency? In this session, several US agency employees introduce their group and provide tips on how to succeed in landing the agency job that you dream of!
- Bianca Eskelson, University of British Columbia – session moderator
- Martin Ritchie, Research Forester, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Ecosystem Function and Health
- Andy Gray, Research Ecologist, Leader of the Inventory, Monitoring, & Analysis Team, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station
- Erin Smith-Mateja, Forest Biometrician, Forest Vegetation Simulator, United States Forest Service
- Peter Gould, Data Scientist/Forest Biometrician, Washington State Department of Natural Resources
Industry & Consultants Session:
In this networking session, analysts working in industry or as consultants talk about their job responsibilities, their companies/groups, and the skill sets they are looking for in new hires.
- Eleanor McWilliams, Forest Biometrics Analyst, J&E McWilliams & Associates Ltd. – session moderator
- Cam Brown, Strategic Planning Forester / Manager, Forsite Consultants Ltd.
- Sean Garber, Forest Biometrician, Rayonier
- Donald Gagliasso, Forest Analyst, Mason Bruce & Girard Inc.
- Theresa Marquardt, Forest Resource Analyst, Green Diamond Resource Company
- Greg Johnson, Director, Advanced Forestry Systems, Weyerhaeuser NR Company
University Session:
In this networking session academics from different universities provide some insights about their careers. Join this session and ask questions about how to succeed in graduate school, land a tenure track job, or how to succeed once you landed that university job.
- Peter Marshall, Professor, University of British Columbia – session moderator
- Valerie LeMay, Professor, University of British Columbia
- Temesgen, Professor, Oregon State University
- Samantha Gill, Professor, Cal Poly
- Leah Rathbun, Assistant Professor, North Carolina State University
- John Kershaw, Professor, University of New Brunswick