{"id":{"repo_id":"vt","oai_identifier":"oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/138661"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/vt/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/138661","repository":{"repo_id":"vt","name":"Virginia Tech","base_url":"https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Evaluating the Value of Information Concerning Different Methods of Forest Sampling","abstract":"Forest inventory is essential for estimating stand value and assists with making informed management decisions. However, the compromise made between the cost of sampling methods during inventory, and the accuracy of the information gathered has not been fully recognized. This study evaluates the value of information across multiple sampling methods and intensities. The objectives focus on 1) evaluating measurement and travel time across multiple plot sizes, 2) comparing absolute present value errors across sampling intensities, 3) evaluating the impact of timber markets on absolute present value error, and 4) determining how sampling intensity affects the absolute harvest age error. Stands of a thinned loblolly pine plantation in Charlotte State Forest, Virginia were sampled using fixed-radius plots to inform a simulation study. An intensive sample was designated as the true optimal value during the comparison of absolute error values from the sample data. All inventory data were analyzed to compare accuracy across multiple sampling methods. The intensity of samples significantly influenced sampling error. Smaller plot sizes with decreased intensities increased error in estimates of absolute present value error and absolute harvest age error. Larger plots required fewer samples to obtain decreased error, but the cost associated with larger sample sizes increases the total inventory cost. The results confirm that as sample size and intensity increase, sampling error will decrease. However, in a management setting, mid-sized plots offer a balance between accuracy, cost, and time that provide reliable estimates without diminishing inventory costs. Forest managers can use the methodology presented in our study for their own management objectives and circumstances to determine a sampling design that is most suitable and efficient under their conditions.","abstract_html":"Forest inventory is essential for estimating stand value and assists with making informed management decisions. However, the compromise made between the cost of sampling methods during inventory, and the accuracy of the information gathered has not been fully recognized. This study evaluates the value of information across multiple sampling methods and intensities. The objectives focus on 1) evaluating measurement and travel time across multiple plot sizes, 2) comparing absolute present value errors across sampling intensities, 3) evaluating the impact of timber markets on absolute present value error, and 4) determining how sampling intensity affects the absolute harvest age error. Stands of a thinned loblolly pine plantation in Charlotte State Forest, Virginia were sampled using fixed-radius plots to inform a simulation study. An intensive sample was designated as the true optimal value during the comparison of absolute error values from the sample data. All inventory data were analyzed to compare accuracy across multiple sampling methods. The intensity of samples significantly influenced sampling error. Smaller plot sizes with decreased intensities increased error in estimates of absolute present value error and absolute harvest age error. Larger plots required fewer samples to obtain decreased error, but the cost associated with larger sample sizes increases the total inventory cost. The results confirm that as sample size and intensity increase, sampling error will decrease. However, in a management setting, mid-sized plots offer a balance between accuracy, cost, and time that provide reliable estimates without diminishing inventory costs. Forest managers can use the methodology presented in our study for their own management objectives and circumstances to determine a sampling design that is most suitable and efficient under their conditions.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Horton, Jackson Davis"],"institution":"Virginia Tech","degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"masters","degree_discipline":"Forestry","degree_department":"Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":["Green, Patrick Corey","Berry, Michael David"],"committee_members":["Sullivan, Bradley J."],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-10-24","date_published":"2025-10-24","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:19:24Z","subjects":["Value of information","forest inventory","forest sampling design","growth and yield modeling"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["In Copyright"],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:44780"],"render_values":[{"text":"vt_gsexam:44780","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/10919/138661","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.committeechair","label":"Committee Chair","values":["Green, Patrick Corey","Berry, Michael David"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Sullivan, Bradley J."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Horton, Jackson Davis"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2025-10-25T08:00:22Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2025-10-25T08:00:22Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2025-10-24"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Virginia Tech"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Forestry"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Value of information","forest inventory","forest sampling design","growth and yield modeling"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:44780"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/10919/138661"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Forest inventory is essential for estimating stand value and assists with making informed management decisions. However, the compromise made between the cost of sampling methods during inventory, and the accuracy of the information gathered has not been fully recognized. This study evaluates the value of information across multiple sampling methods and intensities. The objectives focus on 1) evaluating measurement and travel time across multiple plot sizes, 2) comparing absolute present value errors across sampling intensities, 3) evaluating the impact of timber markets on absolute present value error, and 4) determining how sampling intensity affects the absolute harvest age error. Stands of a thinned loblolly pine plantation in Charlotte State Forest, Virginia were sampled using fixed-radius plots to inform a simulation study. An intensive sample was designated as the true optimal value during the comparison of absolute error values from the sample data. All inventory data were analyzed to compare accuracy across multiple sampling methods. The intensity of samples significantly influenced sampling error. Smaller plot sizes with decreased intensities increased error in estimates of absolute present value error and absolute harvest age error. Larger plots required fewer samples to obtain decreased error, but the cost associated with larger sample sizes increases the total inventory cost. The results confirm that as sample size and intensity increase, sampling error will decrease. However, in a management setting, mid-sized plots offer a balance between accuracy, cost, and time that provide reliable estimates without diminishing inventory costs. Forest managers can use the methodology presented in our study for their own management objectives and circumstances to determine a sampling design that is most suitable and efficient under their conditions."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstractgeneral","label":"General Abstract","values":["This study assesses how foresters can best measure the value of their forests and decide when to make management decisions. Measuring every tree in a forest would take too much time and money, therefore measuring samples of the forest allows for managers to understand what that forest consists of without wasting unnecessary resources. We assess multiple common methods to measure forests in our study. We found that smaller sample sizes were quicker and cheaper but provided less reliable results. Larger sample sizes were more accurate, but they required more time and money. Medium sized samples offered a good balance between accurate information, time, and cost. Inaccurate information during sampling can result in financial losses once the timber is harvested but additional information requires an investment of more time and money. Our study helps forest managers to select the best sampling design for their unique situations. This will aid in saving money and time without making significant losses to accuracy during the process of measuring their forests."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"dc:format.medium","label":"Dc Format Medium","values":["ETD"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Evaluating the Value of Information Concerning Different Methods of Forest Sampling"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.committeechair":["Green, Patrick Corey","Berry, Michael David"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Sullivan, Bradley J."],"dc:contributor.department":["Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation"],"dc:creator":["Horton, Jackson Davis"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-10-25T08:00:22Z"],"dc:date.available":["2025-10-25T08:00:22Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2025-10-24"],"dc:description.abstract":["Forest inventory is essential for estimating stand value and assists with making informed management decisions. However, the compromise made between the cost of sampling methods during inventory, and the accuracy of the information gathered has not been fully recognized. This study evaluates the value of information across multiple sampling methods and intensities. The objectives focus on 1) evaluating measurement and travel time across multiple plot sizes, 2) comparing absolute present value errors across sampling intensities, 3) evaluating the impact of timber markets on absolute present value error, and 4) determining how sampling intensity affects the absolute harvest age error. Stands of a thinned loblolly pine plantation in Charlotte State Forest, Virginia were sampled using fixed-radius plots to inform a simulation study. An intensive sample was designated as the true optimal value during the comparison of absolute error values from the sample data. All inventory data were analyzed to compare accuracy across multiple sampling methods. The intensity of samples significantly influenced sampling error. Smaller plot sizes with decreased intensities increased error in estimates of absolute present value error and absolute harvest age error. Larger plots required fewer samples to obtain decreased error, but the cost associated with larger sample sizes increases the total inventory cost. The results confirm that as sample size and intensity increase, sampling error will decrease. However, in a management setting, mid-sized plots offer a balance between accuracy, cost, and time that provide reliable estimates without diminishing inventory costs. Forest managers can use the methodology presented in our study for their own management objectives and circumstances to determine a sampling design that is most suitable and efficient under their conditions."],"dc:description.abstractgeneral":["This study assesses how foresters can best measure the value of their forests and decide when to make management decisions. Measuring every tree in a forest would take too much time and money, therefore measuring samples of the forest allows for managers to understand what that forest consists of without wasting unnecessary resources. We assess multiple common methods to measure forests in our study. We found that smaller sample sizes were quicker and cheaper but provided less reliable results. Larger sample sizes were more accurate, but they required more time and money. Medium sized samples offered a good balance between accurate information, time, and cost. Inaccurate information during sampling can result in financial losses once the timber is harvested but additional information requires an investment of more time and money. Our study helps forest managers to select the best sampling design for their unique situations. This will aid in saving money and time without making significant losses to accuracy during the process of measuring their forests."],"dc:description.degree":["Master of Science"],"dc:format.medium":["ETD"],"dc:identifier.other":["vt_gsexam:44780"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/10919/138661"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:publisher":["Virginia Tech"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright"],"dc:rights.uri":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"dc:subject":["Value of information","forest inventory","forest sampling design","growth and yield modeling"],"dc:title":["Evaluating the Value of Information Concerning Different Methods of Forest Sampling"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Forestry"],"thesis:degree_level":["masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science"],"thesis:institution_name":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:19:24Z"}