Treatment Visualization Project

Montana Department of Natural Resources

Robert J. McGaughey
USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station
and
Chris Tootell
USDA Forest Service (formerly with Montana DNR)

Overview

The objective of this project is to develop a set of images that represent treatment options for a small land area, presumably held in private ownership. Treatment options include individual tree selection, group selection, and a mixture of the two. Data describing the unmanaged stand was provided by Chris Tootell. Images were generated by Robert McGaughey using the Stand Visualization System (SVS) and EnVision rendering systems.
 

Data Describing Unmanaged Stand

Species
DBH
Height
Crown ratio
Crown radius
Status
Plant class
Crown class
Trees per acre
DF
7.0
35.0
0.5
6.0
1
0
0
16.0
DF
9.0
45.0
0.55
6.5
1
0
0
25.0
DF
10.0
52.0
0.6
10.0
1
0
0
24.0
DF
13.0
70.0
0.6
12.0
1
0
0
5.0
PP
9.0
49.0
0.25
5.5
1
0
0
8.0
PP
13.0
68.0
0.37
7.5
1
0
0
9.0
PP
14.0
72.0
0.41
11.0
1
0
0
21.0
PP
15.0
75.0
0.41
13.0
1
0
0
12.0

 
Basal area (sq ft)
Trees per acre
Ave DBH
Understory
32
73
8.9
Overstory
50
47
14
Total
82
120
10.9

Illustrations

Overhead view
Perspective view

Plate 1: Unmanaged two-storied stand

Stand has 82 square feet of basal area and 120 trees per acre. 

Plate 2: Individual tree selection--evenly distributed

Retained trees are uniformly distributed over the 6-acre area.
Harvest retained 45 square feet of basal area and 62 trees per acre.

Plate 3: Individual tree selection--variable density

Retained trees are distributed to achieve variable density.
Harvest retained 45 square feet of basal area and 62 trees per acre.

Plate 4: Group selection for wildlife habitat enhancement

Opening create wildlife feeding area and add an additional age class of shade intolerant species. Approximately 1/3 of the area is harvested.
Harvest retained 58 square feet of basal area and 84 trees per acre.

Plate 5 and 6: Group selection for regeneration

Management objective is to add another age class of shade intolerant species. Approximately 1/3 of the area is harvested. Harvest for this treatment are the same as the group selection for wildlife habitat enhancement except the groups are more symmetric to bring more sunlight into the openings to encourage regeneration of shade intolerant species.
Harvest retained 58 square feet of basal area and 84 trees per acre.

Plate 7: Group selection to establish uneven-age stand conditions

Management objective is to create four age classes. Approximately 1/4 of the area is harvested now and an additional 1/4 will be harvest in 20-30 years.
Harvest retained 60 square feet of basal area and 88 trees per acre.

Plate 8 and 9: Combination group and individual tree selection

Individual tree selection was applied to the western 1/2 of the stand and group selection was used to rehabilitate the southeast corner of the stand where disease resulted in high mortality.
Harvest retained 50 square feet of basal area and 72 trees per acre.

Additional images to demonstrate visual simulation capabilities

Unmanaged stand (plate 1) as seen from within the stand.

Individual tree selection--evenly distributed (plate 2) seen from within the stand.

Group selection for regeneration (plates 5 and 6) seen from within the stand.

Unmanaged stand (plate 1) as seen from within the stand looking up with wide-angle lens.

Individual tree selection--evenly distributed (plate 2) seen from within the stand looking up with wide-angle lens.

Group selection for wildlife habitat enhancement (plate 4) with overlay delineating group selection boundaries.