Land Area Determination

The purpose of this section of the class is to become familiar with the principals of land area determination methods as they are applied to forestry and other natural resource disciplines. The lectures, assignments, and labs in this section, will enable the student to achieve the following learning objectives:

• Know how to pace out a chain and how to do traditional chaining

• Understand the concepts of land surveying and the importance of topographic maps, GIS, and GPS

• Explain the use of a theodolite and laser rangefinder for determining distances

• Recognize the different tools used in the determination of land area

• Explain the concepts of aspect and slope position

• Explain the concepts of the U.S. Public Land Survey system and be able to Understand public survey data

• Week 4M - Plots and Cruising (PDF) **UPDATED**
• Week 4W - Principals of Surveying (PDF)
• Week 4F - Recitation

Labs:

• Week 4 Lab: Survey Locations and Plots (we will provide sheets)

  • Meet at the Shattuck Amphitheatre

Required Readings:

• Avery and Burkhart pp 71-89

• NWCG PMS 475 Chapter 1: Overview of Maps (PDF)

• NWCG PMS 475 Chapter 2a: Basic Map Reading (PDF)

• Map Resource 1

• USFS Slope Correction Handout (DOC) **NEW**

Additional Resources:

• NWCG PMS 475 Chapter 3: US Pubic Land Survey (PDF)

• NWCG PMS 475 Chapter 4: Compass and Clinometers (PDF)

• The Compass and Declination (PDF)

• COMPASS BEARINGS EXAMPLE HANDOUT

• NRCS Summary Sheets: (NRCS Plants website)

  • Douglas Fir (PDF)

  • Engelmann Spruce (PDF)

  • Grand Fir (PDF)

  • Ponderosa Pine (PDF)

  • Western Red Cedar (PDF)

  • Oceanspray (PDF)

  • Serviceberry (PDF)

  • Snowberry (PDF)

  • Cheatgrass (PDF)

  • Idaho Fescue (PDF)

  • Kentucky Bluegrass (PDF)

  • Bulbous Bluegrass (PDF)