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Page 1 of 15
FSH 2409.12A – TIMBER VOLUME ESTIMATOR HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 50 – APPLICATION
FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK
EASTERN REGION (REGION 9)
MILWAUKEE, WI
FSH 2409.12A – TIMBER VOLUME ESTIMATOR HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 50 – APPLICATION
Supplement No.: R9 RO 2409.12a-2011-1
Effective Date: September 28, 2011
Duration: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
Approved: CHARLES L. MYERS
Regional Forester
Date Approved: 09/13/2011
Posting Instructions: Supplements are numbered consecutively by Handbook number and
calendar year. Post by document; remove the entire document and replace it with this
supplement. Retain this transmittal as the first page(s) of this document. There is no previous
supplement to this Handbook.
New Document
R9 RO 2409.12a-2011-1
15 Pages
Superseded Document(s)
R9 RO 2409.12a-2008-1
16 Pages
Digest: In order by code, summarize the main additions, revisions, or removal of direction
incorporated in this supplement.
51.1 – Corrects “Stem Profile Coefficients” for “Approved Regional Volume Estimators”,
Exhibits 01 - 08. Corrections address discovery of a R9 Profile Model error causing the Cruise
Processing program to selected improper coefficients used in the calculation of tree volumes.
The error was documented and corrected in the Bulletin and reissue of version 02.08.2011of the
Cruise Processing program and successive versions available from the Washington Office Forest
Management Service Center (FMSC) website in fort Collins, CO
http://www.fs.fed.us/fmsc/measure/cruising/index.shtml.
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Page 2 of 15
FSH 2409.12A – TIMBER VOLUME ESTIMATOR HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 50 – APPLICATION
51 - STANDARDIZATION
51.1 – Approved Regional Volume Estimators
51.11 – Cubic Foot Volume
1. Through Calendar Year 2008. Timber sales appraised through December 31, 2008
must have the cubic foot volume calculated or derived from equations based on the system
described in the document Composite Volume Tables for Timber and Their Application in the
Lake States, Forest Service Technical Bulletin No. 1104 (1955) by S.R. Gevorkiantz and L.P.
Olsen. This is a direct volume estimation model. Species-specific correction factors are applied,
as discussed in Standard Correction Factors By Species To Be Applied When Calculationg
Individual Tree Volumes In Units Of Piled Cords, Cubic Feet, Board Feet (1959) by W.W.
Barton, G. Semmens, and C. Stott.
2. Calendar Year 2009 and Later. Timber sales appraised on or after January 1, 2009
must have the cubic foot volume calculated or derived from the system described in the
document Stem Profile Equations for Southern Tree Species, Research Paper SE-282 (1991) by
Alexander Clark III, Ray A. Souter, and Bryce E. Schlaegel (hereafter referred to as Research
Paper SE-282). This document describes a segmented-profile model.
Model coefficients for the equations presented in Research Paper SE-282 have been developed
for species and species groups found in Region 9, and are displayed in exhibits 01 through 08 on
the following pages. In some cases the set of coefficients used depends on the diameter inside
bark (DIB) to which the upper-stem height of the tree was measured, or the diameter outside
bark (DOB) at a particular point on the stem. Diameter at breast height (DBH) is always
measured outside the bark.
The equations presented in Research Paper SE-282 are used in such a way that regardless of the
type of height recorded, the cubic foot volumes can be calculated to any upper-stem diameter,
including to the very tip of the tree. The timber cruising software allows for specification of the
upper-stem diameter to which volumes are calculated.
Topwood is the merchantable part of the main stem of a sawtimber tree that exists above the
sawtimber material. The timber cruising software uses a method that allows calculation of
topwood volume to any merchantable diameter specified. Since the topwood ratio described in
Research Paper SE-282 uses a fixed merchantable diameter of 4.0 inches, it is not flexible
enough for general use in Region 9.
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FSH 2409.12A – TIMBER VOLUME ESTIMATOR HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 50 – APPLICATION
51.1 – Exhibit 01
Inside-Bark Stem-Profile Coefficients For Use When Total Height Is Known1/
Species or Species Group
All Conifers
Balsam Fir
Eastern RedCedar
All Spruces
White Spruce
Black Spruce
All Pines
Jack Pine
Shortleaf Pine
Red Pine
Eastern White Pine
Northern White-Cedar
Eastern Hemlock
All Hardwoods
All Maples
Red Maple
Silver Maple
Sugar Maple
All Birches
Yellow Birch
Paper Birch
All Hickories
Shagbark Hickory
American Beech
All Ashes
White Ash
Black Ash
Yellow Poplar
All Poplars
Balsam Poplar
All Cottonwoods
Eastern Cottonwood
Bigtooth Aspen
Quaking Aspen
All Cherries-Plums
Black Cherry
All Oaks
White Oak
Scarlet Oak
Northern Pin Oak
Bur Oak
Northern Red Oak
Black Oak
All Basswoods
American Basswood
All Elms
American Elm
1/
r
22.00
40.50
25.40
21.06
12.10
42.50
42.00
50.10
18.10
36.10
37.10
18.10
30.71
29.20
38.20
34.37
2.05
51.52
45.30
36.00
52.10
57.57
69.00
54.69
56.79
56.10
57.10
6.50
46.00
80.00
-10.00
-10.00
65.19
43.32
60.50
55.10
33.42
34.10
67.20
14.10
0.02
37.78
36.92
21.10
21.10
32.00
40.10
Butt
c
0.645
1.316
1.090
1.048
0.899
1.390
0.647
0.690
0.529
0.573
0.694
1.245
1.098
0.764
0.691
0.567
0.281
0.891
1.091
0.990
1.125
0.950
1.224
0.799
1.080
1.022
1.587
0.481
0.818
1.383
0.329
0.329
0.784
0.840
0.509
0.482
0.975
1.116
1.082
0.803
0.521
1.002
0.968
0.794
0.794
0.952
1.116
For use in equations 1, 2, and 3 in Research Paper SE-282.
e
16
-12
43
-38
17
-69
13
12
-24
22
45
-5
-120
16
62
52
956
97
-6
114
-1
390
464
93
-17
-109
-40
-121
-40
281
188
188
-43
-40
140
138
25
112
238
9
384
-2
62
-63
-63
209
205
Lower Stem
p
1.283
0.969
1.122
1.740
1.952
0.582
0.529
-0.181
3.355
0.813
4.718
2.200
1.264
3.801
5.834
6.773
-0.027
5.086
5.497
6.170
3.883
9.447
17.110
6.368
6.379
9.382
-0.097
8.651
2.490
-0.431
8.258
8.258
-0.549
2.653
8.670
9.905
1.890
1.312
4.310
1.446
-2.575
2.331
2.859
8.945
8.945
6.314
6.982
Upper Stem
a
0.742
0.869
0.899
0.839
0.861
0.850
0.717
0.790
0.731
0.732
0.624
0.718
0.615
0.406
0.273
0.143
0.223
0.285
0.323
1.509
0.405
0.469
0.346
0.246
0.355
0.340
0.476
0.558
0.575
0.719
0.476
0.476
0.572
0.572
0.710
0.712
0.273
0.203
0.180
0.157
0.040
0.355
0.269
0.534
0.534
0.205
0.190
b
2.148
1.941
1.467
2.187
2.062
2.956
2.190
2.260
3.052
2.417
1.696
1.357
1.711
1.273
1.148
1.073
1.076
1.183
1.169
1.070
1.312
1.161
1.398
1.149
1.267
1.261
1.333
1.625
1.734
2.203
1.331
1.331
1.713
1.732
1.585
1.588
1.198
1.116
1.213
1.031
1.108
1.247
1.230
1.493
1.493
1.051
1.046
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Page 4 of 15
FSH 2409.12A – TIMBER VOLUME ESTIMATOR HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 50 – APPLICATION
51.1 – Exhibit 02
Inside-Bark Stem-Profile Coefficients For Use When Height to 4-Inch DIB Is Known1/
Species or Species Group
All Conifers
Balsam Fir
Eastern RedCedar
All Spruces
White Spruce
Black Spruce
All Pines
Jack Pine
Shortleaf Pine
Red Pine
Eastern White Pine
Northern White-Cedar
Eastern Hemlock
All Hardwoods
All Maples
Red Maple
Silver Maple
Sugar Maple
All Birches
Yellow Birch
Paper Birch
All Hickories
Shagbark Hickory
American Beech
All Ashes
White Ash
Black Ash
Yellow Poplar
All Poplars
Balsam Poplar
All Cottonwoods
Eastern Cottonwood
Bigtooth Aspen
Quaking Aspen
All Cherries-Plums
Black Cherry
All Oaks
White Oak
Scarlet Oak
Northern Pin Oak
Bur Oak
Northern Red Oak
Black Oak
All Basswoods
American Basswood
All Elms
American Elm
1/
r
12.10
26.99
17.92
16.40
13.95
25.81
27.10
34.80
16.10
25.79
34.20
14.10
19.60
20.42
24.10
22.60
3.16
36.09
31.10
30.32
32.74
39.10
54.10
40.03
40.10
42.10
40.21
5.50
31.10
61.01
-10.00
-10.00
47.70
33.20
40.10
40.10
22.20
24.10
44.10
16.10
49.74
23.10
25.20
12.30
12.30
25.01
32.10
Butt
c
0.598
1.218
1.100
1.033
0.892
1.180
0.583
0.654
0.529
0.529
0.688
1.188
1.023
0.723
0.641
0.480
0.261
0.891
1.008
1.019
0.983
0.809
1.236
0.690
0.984
0.946
1.485
0.480
0.740
1.023
0.294
0.294
0.739
0.792
0.441
0.440
0.911
1.036
0.930
0.799
0.527
0.907
0.897
0.707
0.707
0.897
1.142
For use in equations 4, 5, and 6 in Research Paper SE-282.
e
17
36
44
-21
120
-24
30
29
-19
41
138
58
-114
36
88
89
1098
146
38
182
48
668
380
180
36
-41
24
-117
-13
566
246
246
-17
-10
178
180
62
205
285
124
2728
21
145
-39
-39
343
315
Lower Stem
p
1.531
0.624
0.909
1.360
1.835
-0.040
1.009
0.696
2.773
1.064
2.644
1.738
0.868
3.740
3.491
3.967
-0.472
3.209
3.342
4.037
2.366
8.832
14.211
5.312
6.740
8.457
4.153
6.853
2.744
0.188
6.688
6.688
0.079
2.883
3.044
5.246
1.702
0.977
2.666
1.258
0.357
2.443
2.540
6.904
6.904
5.921
6.742
Upper Stem
q
1.035
0.808
1.058
0.833
0.809
1.028
1.063
1.000
1.492
1.183
0.871
0.811
0.997
0.943
0.898
0.807
0.833
0.947
0.893
0.797
1.045
0.807
1.136
0.820
0.887
0.881
0.943
1.028
1.217
1.286
0.891
0.891
1.182
1.219
0.806
0.804
0.944
0.889
0.955
0.951
0.890
0.939
0.985
0.998
0.998
0.797
0.796
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FSH 2409.12A – TIMBER VOLUME ESTIMATOR HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 50 – APPLICATION
51.1 – Exhibit 03
Inside-Bark Stem-Profile Coefficients For Use When Height to 7- or 9-Inch DIB Is Known1/
Species or Species Group
All Conifers
Balsam Fir
Eastern RedCedar
All Spruces
White Spruce
Black Spruce
All Pines
Jack Pine
Shortleaf Pine
Red Pine
Eastern White Pine
Northern White-Cedar
Eastern Hemlock
All Hardwoods
All Maples
Red Maple
Silver Maple
Sugar Maple
All Birches
Yellow Birch
Paper Birch
All Hickories
Shagbark Hickory
American Beech
All Ashes
White Ash
Black Ash
Yellow Poplar
All Poplars
Balsam Poplar
All Cottonwoods
Eastern Cottonwood
Bigtooth Aspen
Quaking Aspen
All Cherries-Plums
Black Cherry
All Oaks
White Oak
Scarlet Oak
Northern Pin Oak
Bur Oak
Northern Red Oak
Black Oak
All Basswoods
American Basswood
All Elms
American Elm
1/
r
9.70
17.99
23.75
7.36
8.58
3.10
26.04
26.90
11.80
28.01
33.10
14.07
13.25
16.16
21.80
15.89
1.00
25.95
17.21
10.92
24.58
27.48
46.44
30.00
29.36
37.70
25.27
16.20
20.72
-0.20
-10.00
-10.00
22.60
21.09
62.08
62.08
18.90
16.79
28.10
21.10
-1.90
18.30
28.60
13.20
13.20
10.10
13.61
Butt
c
0.537
0.903
1.553
0.909
0.858
1.053
0.577
0.591
0.439
0.517
0.630
0.635
0.902
0.684
0.517
0.381
0.343
0.648
0.679
0.671
0.481
0.797
1.060
0.753
0.908
0.988
0.973
0.335
0.608
0.010
0.325
0.325
0.507
0.630
0.343
0.343
0.844
0.888
0.826
1.296
0.115
0.932
0.827
0.796
0.796
0.848
0.978
e
85
422
-81
21
124
-154
113
132
50
172
703
910
98
265
733
480
443
865
535
419
1081
1036
3189
516
451
362
1534
810
320
618
240
240
297
353
2117
2117
355
574
210
-338
1318
50
811
-195
-195
364
351
For use in equations 4, 5, and 6 in Research Paper SE-282.
Height measured in conifers to 7-inch DIB, and in hardwoods to 9-inch DIB.
Lower Stem
p
1.459
1.049
0.845
1.408
1.405
1.448
1.347
1.036
2.830
1.087
3.449
1.098
0.820
2.784
2.813
2.306
3.253
2.905
2.287
2.576
1.752
3.551
3.474
2.829
3.340
3.889
2.090
6.659
1.780
1.500
-20.010
-20.010
1.187
1.791
6.683
6.683
1.990
2.131
3.144
0.283
-1.680
1.744
1.485
3.980
3.980
4.118
4.352
Upper Stem
q
1.137
0.845
1.132
0.957
0.933
1.076
1.093
0.883
1.424
1.221
0.996
0.887
1.189
1.077
1.074
0.968
0.912
1.145
1.021
1.119
1.168
1.051
1.280
1.181
0.977
0.964
1.123
1.126
1.193
0.448
1.012
1.012
1.279
1.188
0.815
0.815
1.175
1.126
1.287
1.260
0.980
1.109
1.185
1.076
1.076
0.797
0.789
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EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/28/2011
DURATION: Effective until superseded or removed
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Page 6 of 15
FSH 2409.12A – TIMBER VOLUME ESTIMATOR HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 50 – APPLICATION
51.1 – Exhibit 04
Coefficients For Estimating DIB at 4.5 Feet From DBH1/
Species or Species Group
All Conifers
Balsam Fir
Eastern RedCedar
All Spruces
White Spruce
Black Spruce
All Pines
Jack Pine
Shortleaf Pine
Red Pine
Eastern White Pine
Northern White-Cedar
Eastern Hemlock
All Hardwoods
All Maples
Red Maple
Silver Maple
Sugar Maple
All Birches
Yellow Birch
Paper Birch
All Hickories
Shagbark Hickory
American Beech
All Ashes
White Ash
Black Ash
Yellow Poplar
All Poplars
Balsam Poplar
All Cottonwoods
Eastern Cottonwood
Bigtooth Aspen
Quaking Aspen
All Cherries-Plums
Black Cherry
All Oaks
White Oak
Scarlet Oak
Northern Pin Oak
Bur Oak
Northern Red Oak
Black Oak
All Basswoods
American Basswood
All Elms
American Elm
1/
DIB = b * DBH + a
a
0.075
-0.072
-0.162
-0.171
-0.050
-0.122
0.025
-0.180
-0.151
0.142
0.039
0.124
-0.390
-0.100
-0.091
-0.080
-0.455
-0.019
-0.095
-0.090
-0.095
-0.411
-0.220
-0.059
-0.381
-0.480
-0.291
0.334
-0.241
-0.507
-0.354
-0.354
-0.237
-0.231
-0.440
-0.440
-0.351
-0.171
-0.270
-0.490
-0.821
-0.193
-0.536
-0.431
-0.431
-0.081
-0.081
b
0.921
0.949
0.989
0.969
0.961
0.959
0.919
0.941
0.919
0.910
0.919
0.940
0.941
0.941
0.949
0.951
0.980
0.941
0.951
0.951
0.951
0.960
0.951
0.970
0.949
0.951
0.969
0.920
0.949
0.951
0.940
0.940
0.950
0.949
0.981
0.981
0.949
0.939
0.951
0.952
0.969
0.940
0.960
0.959
0.959
0.939
0.939
R9 RO SUPPLEMENT
EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/28/2011
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2409.12a - 2011 - 1
Page 7 of 15
FSH 2409.12A – TIMBER VOLUME ESTIMATOR HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 50 – APPLICATION
51.1 – Exhibit 05
Coefficients For Estimating DIB at 17.3 Feet From DBH and Total Height1/
Species or Species Group
All Conifers
Balsam Fir
Eastern RedCedar
All Spruces
White Spruce
Black Spruce
All Pines
Jack Pine
Shortleaf Pine
Red Pine
Eastern White Pine
Northern White-Cedar
Eastern Hemlock
All Hardwoods
All Maples
Red Maple
Silver Maple
Sugar Maple
All Birches
Yellow Birch
Paper Birch
All Hickories
Shagbark Hickory
American Beech
All Ashes
White Ash
Black Ash
Yellow Poplar
All Poplars
Balsam Poplar
All Cottonwoods
Eastern Cottonwood
Bigtooth Aspen
Quaking Aspen
All Cherries-Plums
Black Cherry
All Oaks
White Oak
Scarlet Oak
Northern Pin Oak
Bur Oak
Northern Red Oak
Black Oak
All Basswoods
American Basswood
All Elms
American Elm
1/
a
0.929
0.858
0.864
0.891
0.890
0.900
0.919
0.902
0.951
0.939
0.879
0.862
0.931
0.911
0.901
0.871
0.989
0.940
0.889
0.849
0.919
0.911
0.890
0.929
0.869
0.862
0.900
0.930
0.931
0.931
0.901
0.901
0.959
0.929
0.939
0.939
0.922
0.919
0.969
0.941
0.959
0.921
0.899
0.931
0.931
0.930
0.931
DIB17 = DBH ( a + b (17.3 / H )2 )
where H is total height
b
-0.981
-0.561
-0.919
-0.800
-0.877
-0.713
-0.751
-0.740
-0.610
-0.831
-0.401
-0.940
-0.880
-0.860
-0.800
-0.500
-3.371
-1.321
-0.562
-0.281
-0.821
-0.910
-0.221
-1.211
-0.211
-0.020
-0.863
-1.113
-0.890
-1.030
-1.300
-1.300
-1.281
-0.881
-1.161
-1.161
-1.010
-0.941
-1.151
-1.176
-1.641
-1.050
-0.681
-1.280
-1.280
-1.545
-1.600
R9 RO SUPPLEMENT
EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/28/2011
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2409.12a - 2011 - 1
Page 8 of 15
FSH 2409.12A – TIMBER VOLUME ESTIMATOR HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 50 – APPLICATION
51.1 – Exhibit 06
Coefficients For Estimating DIB at 17.3 Feet From DBH and Height to 4-Inch DIB1/
Species or Species Group
All Conifers
Balsam Fir
Eastern RedCedar
All Spruces
White Spruce
Black Spruce
All Pines
Jack Pine
Shortleaf Pine
Red Pine
Eastern White Pine
Northern White-Cedar
Eastern Hemlock
All Hardwoods
All Maples
Red Maple
Silver Maple
Sugar Maple
All Birches
Yellow Birch
Paper Birch
All Hickories
Shagbark Hickory
American Beech
All Ashes
White Ash
Black Ash
Yellow Poplar
All Poplars
Balsam Poplar
All Cottonwoods
Eastern Cottonwood
Bigtooth Aspen
Quaking Aspen
All Cherries-Plums
Black Cherry
All Oaks
White Oak
Scarlet Oak
Northern Pin Oak
Bur Oak
Northern Red Oak
Black Oak
All Basswoods
American Basswood
All Elms
American Elm
1/
a
0.881
0.833
0.730
0.851
0.851
0.868
0.886
0.861
0.938
0.898
0.870
0.787
0.902
0.878
0.880
0.859
0.932
0.898
0.877
0.859
0.891
0.883
0.899
0.874
0.858
0.839
0.881
0.920
0.881
0.898
0.890
0.890
0.918
0.878
0.909
0.911
0.889
0.887
0.941
0.877
0.913
0.890
0.873
0.902
0.902
0.850
0.877
DIB17 = DBH ( a + b (17.3 / H )2 )
where H is height measured to a 4-inch DIB
b
-0.227
-0.129
-0.146
-0.188
-0.254
-0.155
-0.181
-0.143
-0.301
-0.186
-0.186
-0.182
-0.368
-0.147
-0.208
-0.164
-1.250
-0.251
-0.181
-0.211
-0.195
-0.190
-0.194
-0.160
0.009
0.299
-0.265
-0.509
-0.031
-0.254
-0.644
-0.644
-0.291
-0.022
-0.305
-0.329
-0.244
-0.251
-0.355
-0.244
-0.500
-0.237
-0.150
-0.410
-0.410
-0.162
-0.351
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FSH 2409.12A – TIMBER VOLUME ESTIMATOR HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 50 – APPLICATION
51.1 – Exhibit 07
Coefficients For Estimating DIB at 17.3 Feet From DBH and Height to 7- or 9-Inch DIB1/
Species or Species Group
All Conifers
Balsam Fir
Eastern RedCedar
All Spruces
White Spruce
Black Spruce
All Pines
Jack Pine
Shortleaf Pine
Red Pine
Eastern White Pine
Northern White-Cedar
Eastern Hemlock
All Hardwoods
All Maples
Red Maple
Silver Maple
Sugar Maple
All Birches
Yellow Birch
Paper Birch
All Hickories
Shagbark Hickory
American Beech
All Ashes
White Ash
Black Ash
Yellow Poplar
All Poplars
Balsam Poplar
All Cottonwoods
Eastern Cottonwood
Bigtooth Aspen
Quaking Aspen
All Cherries-Plums
Black Cherry
All Oaks
White Oak
Scarlet Oak
Northern Pin Oak
Bur Oak
Northern Red Oak
Black Oak
All Basswoods
American Basswood
All Elms
American Elm
1/
a
0.856
0.816
0.828
0.858
0.856
0.876
0.867
0.852
0.928
0.879
0.862
0.752
0.879
0.864
0.856
0.839
0.928
0.867
0.846
0.820
0.869
0.889
0.872
0.855
0.857
0.855
0.867
0.907
0.881
0.878
0.832
0.832
0.890
0.879
0.893
0.893
0.869
0.862
0.912
0.901
0.821
0.880
0.874
0.881
0.881
0.873
0.872
b
-0.028
-0.023
-0.136
-0.131
-0.140
-0.106
-0.016
-0.044
-0.140
-0.007
-0.046
-0.032
-0.158
0.000
0.000
-0.001
-0.581
0.000
-0.002
-0.009
-0.002
-0.017
0.130
0.001
0.000
0.000
-0.050
-0.003
0.000
0.000
0.150
0.150
0.000
0.000
-0.058
-0.058
-0.022
-0.011
-0.001
-0.108
-0.004
-0.080
-0.065
-0.046
-0.046
-0.170
-0.176
DIB17 = DBH ( a + b (17.3 / H )2 )
where H is height measured in conifers to 7-inch DIB, in hardwoods to 9-inch DIB.
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FSH 2409.12A – TIMBER VOLUME ESTIMATOR HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 50 – APPLICATION
51.1 – Exhibit 08
Average DIB Where DOB is 4.0 Inches And Where DOB is 7.0 or 9.0 Inches1/
Species or Species Group
All Conifers
Balsam Fir
Eastern RedCedar
All Spruces
White Spruce
Black Spruce
All Pines
Jack Pine
Shortleaf Pine
Red Pine
Eastern White Pine
Northern White-Cedar
Eastern Hemlock
All Hardwoods
All Maples
Red Maple
Silver Maple
Sugar Maple
All Birches
Yellow Birch
Paper Birch
All Hickories
Shagbark Hickory
American Beech
All Ashes
White Ash
Black Ash
Yellow Poplar
All Poplars
Balsam Poplar
All Cottonwoods
Eastern Cottonwood
Bigtooth Aspen
Quaking Aspen
All Cherries-Plums
Black Cherry
All Oaks
White Oak
Scarlet Oak
Northern Pin Oak
Bur Oak
Northern Red Oak
Black Oak
All Basswoods
American Basswood
All Elms
American Elm
1/
4.0 DOB
3.7
3.7
3.8
3.7
3.7
3.7
3.7
3.7
3.6
3.7
3.7
3.7
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.7
3.7
3.7
3.7
3.6
3.7
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.6
3.5
3.6
3.5
3.7
3.6
3.6
3.6
3.7
3.7
3.7
3.7
3.6
3.5
3.6
3.5
3.2
3.6
3.6
3.5
3.5
3.5
3.5
7.0 or 9.0 DOB
6.6
6.5
6.8
6.6
6.6
6.6
6.6
6.6
6.5
6.7
6.5
6.6
6.3
8.3
8.4
8.4
8.3
8.4
8.4
8.3
8.4
8.3
8.5
8.6
8.1
8.0
8.4
8.4
8.4
8.3
8.1
8.1
8.4
8.4
8.4
8.4
8.2
8.2
8.3
8.3
7.8
8.3
8.2
8.2
8.2
8.2
8.2
For use in equations 4, 5, and 6 in Research Paper SE-282.
Conifers show DIB for 7-inch DOB, hardwoods for 9-inch DOB.
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FSH 2409.12A – TIMBER VOLUME ESTIMATOR HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 50 – APPLICATION
51.12 – Board Foot Volume
Board foot volumes are estimated using either the Scribner board foot rule or the International
1/4-Inch board foot rule. The rule used varies by Forest.
1. Through Calendar Year 2008. Timber sales appraised through December 31, 2008
must have the board foot volume calculated or derived from appropriate tables, as described
below. Species-specific correction factors are applied, as discussed in Standard Correction
Factors By Species To Be Applied When Calculationg Individual Tree Volumes In Units Of Piled
Cords, Cubic Feet, Board Feet (1959) by W.W. Barton, G. Semmens, and C. Stott.
The Chequamegon-Nicolet, Chippewa, Hiawatha, Ottawa, and Superior use Scribner board foot
volumes from Composite Volume Tables for Timber and Their Application in the Lake States,
Forest Service Technical Bulletin No. 1104 (1955) by S.R. Gevorkiantz and L.P. Olsen.
The Hoosier, Huron-Manistee, Mark Twain, Shawnee, and Wayne use International 1/4-Inch
volumes from Composite Volume Tables for Timber and Their Application in the Lake States,
Forest Service Technical Bulletin No. 1104 (1955) by S.R. Gevorkiantz and L.P. Olsen.
The Allegheny uses International 1/4-Inch volumes from Tables For Estimating Board Foot
Volume Of Timber (1946) by C. Mesavage and J.W. Girard. Form class 82 is used.
The Green Mountain and Finger Lakes and White Mountain use International 1/4-Inch volumes
from International Log Rule For Long Logs, Journal Of Forestry 42(2):136-138 (1944) by F.C.
Simmons. Form class 80 used.
The Monongahela uses two different systems. For hardwoods, International 1/4-Inch volumes
are from Tables For Estimating Board Foot Volume Of Timber (1946) by C. Mesavage and J.W.
Girard. Form class 82 is used. For conifers, International 1/4-Inch volumes are from FormClass Volume Tables For Estimating Board-Foot Content Of Northern Conifers, Station Paper
NE-38 (1951) by C.A. Bickford. Form class 80 used.
2. Calendar Year 2009 and Later. Timber sales appraised on or after January 1, 2009
must have the board foot volume calculated or derived from the appropriate equation, as
described below. The length of sawtimber in a tree is first segmented into logs. The board foot
volume of each log is calculated and the volume from all logs is then summed.
The Chequamegon-Nicolet, Chippewa, Hiawatha, Ottawa, and Superior use Scribner board foot
volumes from the Official Log Scaling and Grading Rules developed by the Northwest Log
Rules Advisory Group, and revised July 1, 1972. The factors are shown in exhibit 09 below.
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FSH 2409.12A – TIMBER VOLUME ESTIMATOR HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 50 – APPLICATION
51.1 – Exhibit 09
Factors For Computing Scribner Board Foot Log Volumes
Dia (in)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Factor
0.000
0.143
0.390
0.676
1.070
1.160
1.400
1.501
2.084
3.126
3.749
4.900
6.043
7.140
8.880
10.000
11.528
13.290
14.990
17.499
18.990
20.880
23.510
25.218
28.677
31.249
34.220
36.376
38.040
41.060
Dia (in)
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
Factor
44.376
45.975
48.990
50.000
54.688
57.660
64.319
66.730
70.000
75.240
79.480
83.910
87.190
92.501
94.990
99.075
103.501
107.970
112.292
116.990
121.650
126.525
131.510
136.510
141.610
146.912
152.210
157.710
163.288
168.990
Dia (in)
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
Factor
174.850
180.749
186.623
193.170
199.120
205.685
211.810
218.501
225.685
232.499
239.317
246.615
254.040
261.525
269.040
276.630
284.260
292.501
300.655
308.970
317.360
325.790
334.217
343.290
350.785
359.120
368.380
376.610
385.135
393.380
Dia (in)
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
Factor
402.499
410.834
419.166
428.380
437.499
446.565
455.010
464.150
473.430
482.490
491.700
501.700
511.700
521.700
531.700
541.700
552.499
562.501
573.350
583.350
594.150
604.170
615.010
625.890
636.660
648.380
660.000
671.700
683.330
695.011
The following equation is used to calculate Scribner board foot volume.
BF = Fi * L
where
BF = Scribner board foot volume
Fi = Scribner factor (from the table) corresponding to log diameter i
i = diameter inside bark at small end of log in inches
L = log length in feet
All other forests use International 1/4-Inch board foot volumes from Shortcuts For Cruisers And
Scalers, Southern Forest Experiment Station Occasional Paper 126 (1952) by L.R.
Grosenbaugh. The equation is shown below.
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FSH 2409.12A – TIMBER VOLUME ESTIMATOR HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 50 – APPLICATION
BF = 0.497691 L D2 + 0.006220239 L2 D - 0.1854762 L D
+ 0.0002591767 L3 - 0.01159226 L2 + 0.04222222 L
where
BF = International 1/4-Inch board foot volume
D = diameter inside bark at small end of log in inches
L = log length in feet
51.12 – Cord Volume
Cord volume is estimated from the calculated cubic foot volume. The equation is shown below.
CD = CF / 79
where
CD = cord volume
CF = cubic foot volume
51.2 - Total Cubic Content
51.21 - Smalian’s Formula
Smalian’s formula should only be used for the calculation of cubic foot volume of individual
logs, such as may be found during a timber trespass. Cubic foot volume for a timber sale must
be calculated using an approved Regional volume estimator.
51.3 - Merchantable Volume
51.31 - Segmenting the Tree
For the purpose of calculating board foot volume, the sawlog portion of a sawtimber tree is
segmented into logs. In these calculations the nominal length of a sawlog is 8.3 feet, which
includes 0.3 foot of trim allowance.
Cubic foot volume is calculated using an integrated cubic foot volume model, so it does not rely
on segmentation.
51.32 - Trim
For the purpose of calculating board foot volume, the assumed trim is 0.3 foot, or approximately
4 inches, per sawlog. Trim is not included in the board foot volume calculations.
There is no trim allowance for the calculation of volumes other than board foot volume.
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FSH 2409.12A – TIMBER VOLUME ESTIMATOR HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 50 – APPLICATION
51.33 - Rounding Diameters
For the purpose of calculating board foot volume, the diameter is calculated at the end of each
log, as segmented by the segmenting logic, and the diameters are rounded to the nearest whole
inch.
No rounding of diameters is done for calculation of cubic volume.
51.34 - Top Log
If the length of the sawlog portion of the tree is not an exact multiple of the nominal sawlog
length, there will be a leftover piece that is less than the nominal length. If the leftover piece is
at least the 4 feet in length, then the leftover piece and the last full sawlog are re-segmented into
two logs of approximately equal length, but always in whole feet. If the length of the leftover
piece is less than 4 feet in length it is not included in the board foot volume calculation.
51.35 - Merchantable Cubic Volume
Cubic volume represents roundwood volume without reference to product class. It is calculated
without any segmentation or trim allowance. It does not make allowance for slabs or saw kerf.
Cubic volume is calculated as the total amount of merchantable inside-bark wood volume in the
tree stem between two specified heights on a tree stem (for example, between the stump and the
merchantable height). Net cubic volume is simply gross cubic volume minus the defect
percentage.
52 - VOLUME ESTIMATOR USES AND CAPABILITIES
52.1 - Types of Volume Estimators
52.11 - Profile Equations
Timber sales appraised on or after January 1, 2009 must have volumes calculated or derived
from the approved profile model.
52.12 - Direct Volume Estimators
Timber sales appraised through December 31, 2008 must have volumes calculated or derived
from the approved direct volume estimation model.
53 - APPLYING THE ESTIMATORS
53.3 - Tree Height
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FSH 2409.12A – TIMBER VOLUME ESTIMATOR HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 50 – APPLICATION
For general purposes, upper-stem tree heights can be measured either as total tree height or
height to a 4-inch diameter inside bark. Sawtimber height is measured to the top of the sawlog
material. All heights must be recorded to the nearest foot.
53.31 - Missing and Abnormal Tops
When the top of a tree is missing or deformed, the cruiser should make an estimate of the height
the tree would have had if normally formed. An appropriate amount of defect should be
estimated to account for the difference between the actual top and the estimated normal top.
53.32 - Height to a Merchantable Top
In general, all trees may have the upper-stem tree heights measured either as total tree height or
merchantable height (height to a 4-inch diameter inside bark), however total height measurement
should be reserved for those trees with a relatively undivided main stem (such as most conifers
or excurrent hardwoods).
Sawtimber height is measured to the top of the sawlog material, which may be limited by stem
diameter or some other limiting factor.
53.33 - Height Measured in Logs
Tree heights should no longer be measured in logs for timber cruising. An exception is for
additional volume for an existing timber sale where the timber cruising was done before the
change to measurement of heights in feet.
53.4 - Utilization Specifications
Forest Supervisors should supplement this section with the approved forest utilization
specifications. The Regional Office should be notified of any updates so necessary changes can
be made to the volume estimation systems.