Title: The AFIS tree growth model for updating annual forest inventories in Minnesota

Author: Holdaway, Margaret R.

Year: 2000

Publication: In: Hansen, Mark; Burk, Tom, eds. Integrated tools for natural resources inventories in the 21st century. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-212. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station. 507-514.

Abstract: As the Forest Service moves towards annual inventories, states may use model predictions of growth to update unmeasured plots. A tree growth model (AFIS) based on the scaled Weibull function and using the average-adjusted model form is presented. Annual diameter growth for four species was modeled using undisturbed plots from Minnesota's Aspen-Birch and Northern Pine Inventory Units. On the validation database, the AFIS model showed increased precision over the recalibrated STEMS model by 5 percent for diameter predictions and 8 percent for stand basal area predictions. The average adjusted model form has a number of desirable features.