FOR 59 - Page 1
Date Approved:
1/26/01
Date Scanned:
5/31/2005
Date Inactivated
2/22/08
College of the Redwoods
COURSE OUTLINE
PROGRAM AND COURSE NUMBER:
FOR 59
FORMER NUMBER (If previously offered)
COURSE TITLE: Forest Mensuration
I.
CATALOG AND OUTLINE CATALOG DESCRIPTION: The application of natural resource inventory
skills to design, layout, and perform a timber cruise using fixed radius plot sampling, variable plot
(point) sampling, and 3-P sampling. Scaling will also be covered along with cull determination and
grading of logs and trees. Electronic data collectors will be used along with paper tally sheets to
collect data. Results will be obtained by hand and on the computer.
NOTE:
Field trips are required. The College does not provide transportation.
1. COURSE OUTLINE:
Review basic statistics and sampling design
Log scaling and grading
Plot cruising
Point cruising
3-P cruising
II. PREREQUISITES
Prerequisite?
No
Corequisite?
No
Recommended Preparation?
No
% of Classroom His spent on each Topic
11
11
22
44
12
TOTAL
100
Yes NR 54 __________________
(course)
Yes ______________________
(course)
Yes_______________________
(course)
Rationale for Prerequisite. Corequisite. Recommended Preparation: This is a continuation of NR s~ in
which students will lean how to map forest areas, measure and inventory resources, and calculate the
relevant statistics. This course will be taught assuming students have the NR 54 skills so they can then
learn to apply those skills to develop and implement a timber cruise.
FOR 59 - Page 2
Date Approved:
1/26/01
Date Scanned:
5/31/2005
Date Inactivated
2/22/08
III. OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENTS
COURSE OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES:
List the primary instructional objectives of the class. Formulate some of them in terms of specific
measurable student accomplishments, e.g., specific knowledge and/or skills to be attained as a result of
completing this course. For degree-applicable courses, include objectives in the area of “critical thinking.”
Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:
1. Calculate the statistics needed to determine what type of timber cruise to use and how many plots or
points are required to achieve the desired sampling error.
2. Choose the proper sampling design to use in a timber cruise based on forest stand criteria and
conditions, as well as the objective of the cruise.
3. Design and implement a successful timber cruise in the field, collecting data and mapping the forest
stand.
4. Collect data by hand as well as with a Husky electronic data collector and then properly download the
information and analyze it.
5. Scale logs and determine the gross volume within +/- 2% and the merchantable volume within +/- 6%.
6. Properly and efficiently use all the equipment involved in a timber cruise, including tapes, compass.
maps, clinometers, Abney levels, relaskops, wedge prisms, angle gauges, dot grids, engineer rulers,
protractors, and data collectors.
7. Analyze the results of a timber cruise to determine the value and health of a forest stand and what
management is required to improve the stand and meet the owner’s objectives.
8. Design and implement a successful 3-P cruise, estimating the total volume in a stand within +/- 5%.
COLLEGE LEVEL CRITICAL THINKING TASKS/ASSIGNMENTS:
Degree applicable courses must include critical thinking tasks/assignments. This section need not be
completed for non-credit courses. Describe how the course requires students to independently analyze,
synthesize, explain, assess, anticipate and/or define problems, formulate and assess solutions, apply
principles to new situations, etc.
1. Students must collect data in the field, compute results, and analyze and synthesize those results to
determine the best alternatives for managing the natural resources in an area. This will also include
anticipating problems that can occur in the field and developing solutions.
2. They must analyze the statistics of a timber cruise and determine the validity of the sample and
results.
3. They must directly apply knowledge of sampling design, statistics, and forest growth and health to an
actual project in a forest stand to determine the relevant information about the stand.
FOR 59 - Page 3
Date Approved:
1/26/01
Date Scanned:
5/31/2005
Date Inactivated
2/22/08
3. ASSESSMENT
Degree applicable courses must have a minimum of one response in category A, B, or C. If category A is
not checked, the department must explain why substantial writing assignments are an inappropriate basis
for at least part of the grade.
A. This course requires a minimum of two substantial (500 words each) written assignments which
demonstrate standard English usage (grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary) and proper paragraph and
essay development. In grading these assignments, instructors shall use, whenever possible, the English
Department’s rubric for grading the ENGL 150 exit essay. Substantial writing assignments. including:
essay exam(s)
term or other paper(s)
laboratory report(s)
written homework
reading report(s)
other (specify) _____
If the course is degree applicable, substantial writing assignments in this course are inappropriate
because:
The course is primarily computational in nature.
The course primarily involves skill demonstrations or problem solving.
Other rationale (explain) __________________________________________
B. Computational or Non-computational problem-solving demonstrations, including:
exam(s)
quizzes
homework problems
laboratory report(s)
field work
other (specify)_______
C. Skill demonstrations, including:
class performance(s)
other (specify)____
D. Objective examinations, including:
multiple choice
completion
field work
performance exam(s)
true/false
other (specify)
matching items
E. Other (specify) ____________________________________
NOTE: A course grade may not be based solely on attendance.
IV. TEXTS AND MATERIALS
APPROPRIATE TEXTS AND MATERIALS:
(Indicate textbooks that may be required or recommended, including alternate texts that may be used.)
Text(s)
Title: A Manual on Forest Mensuration for Forest Technicians
Required
Edition: latest
Alternate
Author: Ross Tomlin
Recommended
Publisher: CR Printing Services
Date Published: 1998
(Additional required, alternate, or recommended texts should be listed on a separate sheet and attached.)
For degree applicable courses the adopted texts have been certified to be college-level:
Yes. Basis for determination:
is used by two or more four-year colleges or universities (certified by the Division Chair or
Branch Coordinator, or Center Dean)
OR
has been certified by the LAC as being of college level using the Coleman and Dale-Chall
Readability Index Scale.
FOR 59 - Page 4
Date Approved:
1/26/01
Date Scanned:
5/31/2005
Date Inactivated
2/22/08
No. Request for Exception Attached
REQUIRED READING, WRITING, AND OTHER OUTSIDE OF CLASS ASSIGNMENTS:
Over an 18-week presentation of the course, 3 hours per week are required for each unit of credit. ALL
Degree Applicable Credit classes must treat subject matter with a scope and intensity which require the
student to study outside of class. Two hours of independent work done out of class are required for each
hour of lecture. Lab and activity classes must also require some outside of class work. Outside of the
regular class time the students in this class will be doing the following:
Study
Answer questions
Skill practice
Required reading
Problem solving activity or exercise
Written work (essays/compositions/report/analysis/research)
Journal (reaction and evaluation of class, done on a continuing basis throughout the
semester)
Observation of or participation in an activity related to course content (e.g., play, museum,
concert, debate, meeting, etc.)
Field trips
Other (specify) ____________________________
V. TECHNICAL INFORMATION
1. Contact Hours Per Week: (Indicate
5. Recommended Maximum Class Size 30
"TOTAL" hours if less than semester length)
Lecture:
2
Lab:
Weekly 18
3
Weekly 27
No. of Weeks 9
TOTAL
TOTAL
(S = semester length)
6. Transferability
CSU
UC
List two UC/CSU campuses with similar courses
(include course #s)
(Use Request for Exception sheet to justify
more-than-minimum required hours.)
Units 1.5
or
Variable Unit Range
7. Grading Standard
Letter Grade Only
CR/NC Only
2. TLUs 3.0
Grade-CR/NC Option
3. Does course fulfill a General Education
requirement? (For existing courses only;
for new courses, use GE Application Form)
Yes
Articulation with UC requested
No
Grade-CR/NC Option Criteria:
Introductory
1st course in sequence
Exploratory
8. Is course repeatable
Yes
No
FOR 59 - Page 5
Date Approved:
1/26/01
Date Scanned:
5/31/2005
Date Inactivated
2/22/08
If so, repeatable to a maximum of:
If yes, in what G.E. area?
Total Enrollments
AA/AS Area
Total Units
CSU/GE Area
(Use Request for Exception sheet to justify repeatability.)
IGETC Area
9. SAM Classification C
4. Method of Instruction:
Lecture
Lab
Lecture/Lab
Independent Study
Course Classification I