Michał Zasada | Szkoła Główna Gospodarstwa Wiejskiego (original) (raw)

Papers by Michał Zasada

Forests

We present here an example of research into methodology of an estimation of carbon and biomass po... more We present here an example of research into methodology of an estimation of carbon and biomass pools in forests using the USDA Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA), data of the 1989 and 1998 surveys for Georgia forests, as relevant for comparison with other extremely highly-cited estimates of similar, but different, methodologies. Based on the derived estimates, we produce an example map of the biomass density and pools at a sub-county level resolution, which is based on spatially explicit simulations of the potential cover-type polygons implied by the FIA data with approximate plot locations. Our results include estimates of the biomass pools in the belowground biomass in roots, aboveground woody biomass in trees, and the biomass of foliage. We estimated the biomass densities and pools at a tree level using diameters and heights and previously published models, then propagated these results to the plot level using tree expansion factors, and then transformed these es...

Salvage logging is performed to remove the fallen and damaged trees after a natural disturbance, ... more Salvage logging is performed to remove the fallen and damaged trees after a natural disturbance, e.g., fire or windstorm. From an economic point of view, it is desirable to remove the most valuable merchantable timber, but usually, the process depends mainly on topography and distance to forest roads. The objective of this study was to evaluate the suitability of the Black-Bridge satellite imagery for the spatial distribution of salvage cutting in southern Poland after the severe windstorm in July 2015. In particular, this study aimed to determine which factors influence the spatial distribution of salvage cutting. The area of windthrow and the distribution of salvage cutting (July–August 2015 and August 2015–May 2016) were delineated using Black-Bridge satellite imagery. The distribution of the polygons (representing windthrow and salvage cutting) was verified with maps of aspect, elevation and slope, derived from the Digital Terrain Model and the distance to forest roads, obtained...

Visnyk of the Lviv University. Series Geography, 2014

In the article there are presented examples of metrication of stands biomass with a predominance ... more In the article there are presented examples of metrication of stands biomass with a predominance of pine (Pinus sylvestris L), such as: hand-held measuring of trees biomass in the forest; average data for forest compartments, selected from the Computer System of State Forests; data from hemispheric photos; data from Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and Aerial Laser Scanning (ALS). Collected and measured data was inserted into the FORKOME model, which predicted the biomass dynamics of pine stands for the period of 100 years. Key words: biomass, pine stands, metrication, prediction.

Forests, 2019

In the 1980s, the Western Sudety Mountains were affected by a forest dieback process, resulting i... more In the 1980s, the Western Sudety Mountains were affected by a forest dieback process, resulting in large-scale deforestation covering an area of about 15,000 ha. A similar phenomenon is presently being observed in the Western Beskidy and Eastern Sudety Mountains, where the course of the process and the final effects are similar. The presented study analyzed the relationships between forest dieback processes today and in the past. Among others, the impact of the following factors was examined: exposure, slope, altitude, and topographic index, which was generated based on the airborne LIDAR (also airborne laser scanning abbreviated as ALS) data. The identification of forest dieback areas in the past was carried out based on the archived Landsat satellite imagery, as well as data obtained from the Polish State Forests. The identification of forest dieback areas at present was carried out based on the ALS data (single-tree detection approach) and color infrared aerial images. In the stu...

Southern Journal of Applied Forestry, 2011

Three dendrometers are used to measure dbh. Two of the devices are the well-known and widely used... more Three dendrometers are used to measure dbh. Two of the devices are the well-known and widely used d-tape and caliper. The third device is the lesser-known sector fork. In this study, measurements of dbh were collected from each dendrometer for each tree in nine plots, with each of the three plots nested in one of the diameter classes (small, medium, and large). The results from repeated-measures analysis of variance show that different dendrometers, the interaction between the dendrometer and diameter class, and the interaction between the dendrometer and plot significantly affected the dbh measurements. Statistically significant differences were detected in most of the comparisons of dbh measured by the three dendrometers. However, the actual mean differences and limits of agreement (Bland, J.M., and D.G. Altman. 1986. Statistical methods for assessing agreement between two methods of clinical measurement. Lancet 1:307–310) were small enough to support the claim that the dbh measur...

Southern Journal of Applied Forestry, 2009

We used long-term simulation analysis in a spatially explicit forest management model called OPTI... more We used long-term simulation analysis in a spatially explicit forest management model called OPTIONS to investigate the impact of the rotation age, intensive management practices, and harvesting limits on wood production, harvesting opportunities, and long-term resource sustainability. The initial forest inventory is compiled from data sets of the US Forest Service Forest Inventory Analysis Unit, various GIS data, Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper imagery, and simplified assumptions about the spatial distribution of different forest cover types. We determined the parameters of the model from published and unpublished literature and from interviews with experts in the area of forest management in the southeastern United States. The sensitivity analyses reveal the impacts of the individual factors of the rotation age, intensive management practices, and harvesting limits and of the interaction of these factors on the sustainability of the forest resources. The results of the analyses suggest ...

The Open Forest Science Journal, 2011

Silva Fennica, 2005

Geostatistically based methods that utilize textural information are frequently used to analyze r... more Geostatistically based methods that utilize textural information are frequently used to analyze remote sensing (RS) images. The role of these methods in analyzing forested areas increased rapidly during the last several years following advancements in high-resolution RS technology. The results of numerous applications of geostatistical methods for processing RS forest images are encouraging. This paper summarizes such results. Three closely related topics are reviewed: 1) specific properties of geostatistical measures of spatial variability calculated from digital images of forested areas, 2) determination of biophysical forest parameters using semivariograms and characterization of forest ecosystem structure at the stand level, and 3) forest classification methods based on spatial information.

The 1st International Electronic Conference on Forests—Forests for a Better Future: Sustainability, Innovation, Interdisciplinarity, 2020

This dataset covers all data used for biomass estimation in the related article. The dataset cont... more This dataset covers all data used for biomass estimation in the related article. The dataset contains: Diameter at breast height (DBH, cm), tree height (H, m), stem dry biomass (SDB, kg), branches dry biomass (BDB, kg) and foliage dry biomass (FDB, kg) of 38 black locust sample trees from 13 stands located in west Poland.

So−far developed and published Polish equations for determination of aboveground biomass of Scots... more So−far developed and published Polish equations for determination of aboveground biomass of Scots pine are based on two predictors: diameter at the breast height (DBH) and tree height. The main goal of the presented study were i) to build the simplified empirical biomass equations that use exclusively DBH as the independent variable, and ii) to compare the obtained results with values from equations based on both predictors (optimal model). The empirical material consisted of biomass data for 90 Scots pines growing on typical habitats in Bory Lubuskie (western Poland). The elaborated equations have a lower accuracy than the optimal ones. The R value for all biomass components is higher than 0.69, and reaches as much as 0.976 in the case of dry wood biomass. The root mean square error (RMSE) for such components as dry biomass of bark and alive or dead branches and branches with needles is lower for the simplified model. However, for the dry wood biomass the optimal model has lower RM...

There are no original local yield tables for Douglas fir stands grown in Poland. In the presented... more There are no original local yield tables for Douglas fir stands grown in Poland. In the presented study we attempted to answer the question whether it is possible to successfully use the German yield tables for Douglas fir developed by Bergel [1985]. Based on the data from these yield tables we developed the height growth model (site index curves) for Douglas fir in the form of the polymorphic equation with variable asymptotes. This model appeared to be, as expected, far better than the anamorphic model. We applied the elaborated equation for calculation of the site index for 63 randomly selected research plots located on the typical Douglas fir habitat types (fresh mixed broadleaved forest and fresh broadleaved forest) in western Poland. We concluded that the mean site index values are significantly higher in younger stands than in the older ones. To determine the reason for this phenomenon, we tested the resulting model using the published data from the permanent research plots. W...

Forests, 2021

Abandoned agricultural lands in Central and Northern Europe undergo a quite rapid secondary succe... more Abandoned agricultural lands in Central and Northern Europe undergo a quite rapid secondary succession of woody species, especially silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) as a pioneer tree species. Such a process is desirable both from natural and economic point of views, as afforestation involves a change to the entire ecosystem and, in particular, the transformation of anthropogenic habitats typical for agriculture into habitats similar to a natural forest. In the present study, we report the chemical properties of soils under birch stands that naturally regenerated on abandoned agricultural lands and answer the question of whether silver birch modifies the chemical properties of soils over a (relatively short—17 years) time and with depth in the soil profile. The research investigated the natural secondary succession of silver birch on 28 study plots established as a chronosequence in seven locations in Central Poland. The age of the stands ranged from 2 to 17 years. We analysed the...

Sylwan, 2019

Taper models are used to determine the diameter along the trunk and allow to determine the tree t... more Taper models are used to determine the diameter along the trunk and allow to determine the tree trunk volume or volume of any part of it. The paper presents the method of determining the thickness of bark along the trunk using compatible taper models. Four taper models with different levels of complexity were analyzed based on data from 13 sample plots and 39 sample trees measured in black locust (<em>Robinia pseudoacacia</em> L.) stands from west Poland. For modelling the over and under bark diameter and bark thickness along the trunk seemingly unrelated regression of independent equations was applied. During the analyzes, the logical assumption that the thickness of the bark at any place on the trunk is determined in a difference of over and under bark diameter was applied. It was found that selected models fit the shape of the trunk with different accuracy. The worst results were obtained with the use of a polynomial model. The best fit for modelling bark thickness along the trunk was characterized by variable−form taper models. However, regardless of the complexity and quality of fit to the trunk shape, all analyzed models allowed determining the bark thickness along the trunk without systematic error and with practically acceptable accuracy.

Forests, 2020

Secondary succession that occurs on abandoned farmlands is an important source of biomass carbon ... more Secondary succession that occurs on abandoned farmlands is an important source of biomass carbon stocks. Both direct and indirect tree biomass estimation methods are applied on forest lands. Using empirical data from 148 uprooted trees, we developed a seemingly unrelated mixed-effects models system for the young silver birch that grows on post agricultural lands in central Poland. Tree height, biomass of stem, branches, foliage, and roots are used as dependent variables; the diameter at breast height is used as the independent variable. During model elaboration we used restricted cubic spline: 5 knots at the quantiles (0.05, 0.275, 0.5, 0.725, and 0.95) of diameter at breast height provided sufficiently flexible curves for all biomass components. In this study, we demonstrate the use of the model system through cross-model calibration of the biomass component model using tree height measured from 0, 2, 3, and 4 available extreme trees feature in the plot in question. A different num...