Abstract :
Stratified space angle-count sampling is a newly proposed method for estimating stand volume. This new method includes the theory and all the premises of space point sampling, as well as the following: (i) all trees taper, (ii) the box-like sampling space imagined in space point sampling is divided into several strata with the same vertical distances, (iii) the diameter of expanded tree stems in each stratum is represented at the middle of the vertical distance in each stratum. Stand volume is calculated using the following equation: V (m3/ha)=kH/Z i, where V is volume (m3/ha), k is basal area factor (m2/ha), H is the maximum tree height in the stand, Z is the number of strata in the sampling space, N is the number of trees in the stand, and i is an indicator variable that takes the value 1 or 0, depending on whether the tree stem is in the sample or not. Since this method does not require a measurement or an estimation of a critical height, it could be an easy method for estimating stand volume.
