Measuring tree height with a laser rangefinder and clinometer

Lesson 5: Some basics about measurement of tree heights with laser rangefinder and clinometer.
#unigöttingen
#forestinventory
#forestmensuration

[@shadijalilvand8446]

I am a forestry student in Iran and your explanations really help me, thank you.🙏

[@grimmashley8422]

Same here

[@malter7186]

Lutz - bester Mann

[@stephend]

Pro tip from an electrical engineer: If you are worried about the batteries running out in the field, instead of taking a back up device with you, take some spare batteries. You will find this works out a lot cheaper.

[@forestinventory]

Thank you, good tip and I agree 100%! Nevertheless we usually have a robust backup in case you accidentally drop it in water or destroy it. But right, batteries are not the main argument!

[@JPC_Data_Forest]

Could you tell some options for forest plantation, where has high density

[@trollenz]

Interesting, thanks for sharing this knowledge. Once you have the height from the trees, I'm wondering about the following workflow... Do you use a total station in order to get the coordinates of the tree ? I don't know how to explain properly but I mean how do you use this height data afterwards. Thanks.

[@blueskyhigh420]

We use the TruPulse, and it's very handy. For my purposes, I typically already have the coordinates, and am on site to merely verify tree heights at the location (for microwave path validation). In the event I need to locate a previously unknown tree or structure, I merely use my lensatic compass for angle, which is suitable for my application (being sure to include the magnetic declination). I can also record location with GPS. Though the TruPulse can provide horizontal bearings, those require onsite calibration each time (unlike the vertical angles which do not), so I find it easier to simply turn angles by compass since I am moving along a path to various locations throughout the day. One important note, the Trupulse uses 2 "AA" batteries which are easy to source if I were to exhaust the spares I bring, whereas the Nikon requires a "CR2" battery which you'd better ensure you have plenty of ahead of time, and likely won't be able to use for anything else one you buy them.

[@RADCuserBGA]

How can I display decimal units on the screen in the Truepulse200?

[@forestinventory]

In case of the TruPulse the displayed accuracy depends on the quality of the distance measurement. If you have a low reflection from the target, it will display integer values, while a better measurement will come with one decimal automatically. See wiki.awf.forst.uni-goettingen.de/wiki/index.php/File:TruPulse_360-B_Users_Manual_2nd_Edition_English.pdf

[@roksolanapetrovska1023]

I like your video-presentations very much! Could you please advise what is the min. horizontal distance that TruePulse 360 can measure when establishing a circle plot? I know that Nikon Forestry Pro II does not see a distance from 1 m to 7 m and thus, is not suitable for measurements on small circle plots. Is TruePulse 360 better on this account compared to Vertex Hagloff IV? I am trying to save a bit of money on the inventory budget. :):)

[@forestinventory]

Yes, correct, the Nikon Forestry Pro model 1 does not measure distances smaller 9-10 meters (even 7 meter is not possible). This changed with the new model, which measures smaller distances. I will test how far down it measures and will report later. Regarding TruPulse: it measures down to short distances and is used to measure tree positions in sample Plots. Also here I can check how far down it measures. Regarding Vertex: the main argument for the Vertex is the sound-based distance measurement that also works with limited visibility, which makes it the first choice tool for plot assessments!

[@forestinventory]

Here is my result for a small experiment in front of the door: I tested the minimum distance you can measure for 1) Nikon Forestry Pro I, 2) Nikon Forestry Pro II, 3) TruPulse 200, 4) TruPulse 360B. I tested on A) rough tree bark and B) a flat white wall, but see no differences for all devices. Be careful with measurements close to the minimum distance for Nikon devices, they don't change even for slighlty varying distance. 1) Nikon Forestry Pro I: 9,8m, but reliable only for >10m 2) Nikon Foretry Pro II: 7,3m 3) TruPulse 200: down to 0,1m! 4) TruPulse 360B: down to 0,1m! Conclusions: - Nikon not useful for distance measurements on sample plots! - If you don't need angle measurements, TruPulse 200 (~800 EUR) is working, - if you like angles (usually we do to get polar coordinates), TruPulse 360 (~1400 EUR) is better.

[@roksolanapetrovska1023]

​@@forestinventory Thank you so much! This info is very valuable because usually, it is not stated in device characteristic or instruction.

[@brandonellis8111]

I only heard this accent (I assume Deutschland) in movies such as the big lebowski. What part of Germany you are from if you don't mind me asking?

[@lutzfehrmann5219]

Or like Helmut, the taxi driver in Night on Earth... Yes, sorry for the German accent, we are from Göttingen in Germany.

[@forestinventory]

I feel more like Helmut, the German taxi driver in New York in Jim Jarmusch's Night on Earth... Yes, sorry for the accent, I am from Göttingen, Germany

[@PeterPan-xb7rb]

What is the exact trupulse model?

[@forestinventory]

The model shown here is a 360B, but in the video I only demonstrate the much cheaper Nikon Forestry Pro 1

[@soulone26]

Nice video but it didn’t teach me HOW to measure tree height, just told me that it can. I know it can.

[@fairwayfreunde]

How can I do this on the golf course if my laser only measure distance? I read about a tipp to hold my iron 9 in front of me and find the distance to the tree, where it fits between grip and club head of my iron 9. The distance from there = height of tree.

[@forestinventory]

Es gibt durchaus nützliche Apps zum Messen von Baumhöhen, die den internen Neigungsmesser des Smartphones verwenden. Z.B. der "Baumhöhenmesser" oder vergleichbare. Hier kann man die gemessene Entfernung vorgeben und die Winkel messen.

[@forestinventory]

play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ftools.baumhoehenmesser

[@fairwayfreunde]

Das ist ein super Tipp, aber wird nicht regelkonform sein fürchte ich. Es gibt auch Golf-Entfernungsmesser, die das können, aber auch die sind nicht regelkonform. Reine Entfernungsmesser sind aber erlaubt. Ich suche also nach einer Möglichkeit, eine Baumhöhe regelkonform einschätzen / vermessen zu können@@forestinventory

[@forestinventory]

​​OK, die Golf regeln waren mir nicht bekannt. Dann bleibt nur die sog. Spazierstock-Methode, die ich hier kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqLYoYClnsaZg7ssi=tb0rcKo2BE6PSg9U#t=07m50s erkläre. Wenn man mit seinem ausgestrecktem Arm und dem Schläger ein gleichseitiges Dreieck konstruiert und mit der Baumlänge in Deckung bringt, entspricht die Baumhöhe der Entfernung. ​@@fairwayfreunde

[@fairwayfreunde]

@@forestinventory Perfekt! Vielen Dank 🙂

[@cobaltcalciumiodinenitroge3998]

By the way, the cheap one is almost $500 😭

[@gregroth4696]

I just want to know how tall my tree is I don’t need product descriptions and reviews. I’m 29 yards from my tree and it’s 63° to the top. How tall is my tree that’s it? I don’t need speeches I don’t need lectures. I don’t need product reviews. I don’t need to chat about the difference between Klein and lasers. I just want to know how tall my tree is is that so freaking hard? This is my fifth video trying to figure that out Everyone goes out often these tangents go around in circles. it’s very frustrating. Thank you for trying, but you didn’t help me forgot how tall my tree is.

[@forestinventory]

;-) why are you watching this channel then? Short answer: height= 29 yards * tangent(63°). In flat terrain, add the height of your eyes.

[@forestinventory]

This is what I can do for you in 59 seconds: kzbin.infoEJAjt2rJFAQ?si=PavkLXjMKN-ObD-v

[@forestinventory]

Forgot the result: 57 yards. But be careful, the measured angle of >45° is a clear indication that you stand very close to the tree, more distance is better here!