Author Alder, D.

Year of publication 1995

This manual is directed at the analysis of permanent sample plot (PSP) data from mixed tropical forests to produce growth and yield models. It assumes some knowledge of matrix algebra, statistical methods, and computer programming. Its emphasis is on the practical technique of data analysis and model building. It is divided into five sections. The first covers definition of modelling terms and selection of strategy. It recommends a deterministic empirical strategy as most appropriate for forest planning applications from conventional PSPs and inventory data, and describes two basic approaches; Diameter class projection and cohort modelling. The second section covers the basic analysis of PSP data to the point of calculating increments and competition indices. The third section covers diameter class projection in both its classical and matrix algebra formulations. The fourth section covers cohort modelling methods and the derivation of increment, mortality, and recruitment functions. The final part of the manual deals with model validation. procedures for residual analysis of individual functions are discussed, with examples of common pathologies (heteroscadactiv. bias, lack-of-fit).