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FRES Home


FW2051 - Field Techniques

Click on the pictures for a larger view.

Click HERE for Fall 2007 Pictures.

Instructor:
Jim Rivard
134 Noblet,
SFRES
Phone: 487-2009
jcrivard@mtu.edu

Office Hours:
 T,W 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Th 12:00pm to 1:00pm
and by arrangement
open door policy

Lab Time & Location:
Location varies - check your email.
Section 1 Tuesday
2:05pm - 4:55pm
Section 2 - Wednesday
2:05pm - 4:55pm
Section 3 - Thursday
1:05pm - 3:55pm

Goals/Format: Management decisions by natural resource professionals are made in large part from data collected in the field. This data can be used to determine habitat suitability/quality, diversity, ecosystem integrity, water runoff, timber value, fire risk and more. The goal of this class is to have students become proficient in the use of tools commonly used by natural resource professionals, learn basic techniques to measure natural resources and build confidence in navigating through the forest.
Grading:  All quizzes, tests and assignments are cumulative
 
Four field tests (one can be retaken)
---
50%
Eight Lab Reports  
---
40%
Peer Reviews  
---
10%
 
 
The syllabus is located here.
FW2051: Lab Schedule Fall 2007
Week 1:
Lab 1 handout
Peer Review Form
 Compass and Pacing;
Location: Trails
Reading: Land Measurements Chapter
Week 2:
Lab 2 handout 		GPS
Location:Trails
Field Test 1 (Compass & Pacing)
Week 3:
Lab 3 handout
Lab 3 Excel Spreadsheet
 Coarse Woody Debris; Understory Veg sampling
Lab Report 1
Location:MTU 40 (Vans)
Field Test 2 (GPS)
Week 4:
Lab 4 handout
 Diameters, heights and merchantability of trees
Location:Trails
Field test 3 (Tree Measurements)
Reading: Measuring Standing Trees
Week 5:
Lab 5 handout		 Bird Point Counts
Lab Report 2
Location: Alberta Jack Pine & Northern Hardwoods (Vans)
Week 6:
Lab 6 handout
Lab 6 Excel Spreadsheet
 Otter River, Stream Measurements, Fish Habitat, Animal Tracks (Vans)
(Lab Report 3)
Week 7:
Lab 7 handout
Lab 7 Excel Spreadsheet
 Fixed Area Plots - Pine Plantation
Week 8:
Lab 8 handout
Lab 8 Excel Spreadsheet 		Fixed Area Plots - Northern Hardwoods (Vans, Lab Report 4)
Week 9:
Lab 9 handout
Lab 9 Excel Spreadsheet
Lab 9 Pivot Table Handout 		Indoor Lab - processing data with Excel (Lab Report 5)
Week 10:
Lab 10 handout 		Introduction to Point Sampling
Reading: Inventories with point samples
Week 11:
Lab 11 handout
Lab 10 Tally Form
Lab 10 Volume Tables 		Point Sampling in Mixed Hardwoods (Vans)
Week 12:
Lab 12 handout		 Point Sampling in Red Pine (Vans) (Lab Report 7, field test 4)
Week 13:
Lab 13 handout		 Radio Telemetry for Wildlife Tracking (Vans) (Lab Report 6)
Week 14:
Lab 14 handout		 Increment Borer, Trimble and Other Measurement Tools (Vans) (Lab Report 8)