Forest Inventory Software

Kruzer 2003

National Cruise Program

Field Data Collection Software

Pilot-DB Palm® Software

 DB Editor

FS Tally Meter

FScruiser

  XS Forms and XS Designer

CyberTracker

Kruzer 2003™ 1.6 (WI DNR Version) is an efficient, Excel-based forest inventory program that calculates a combination of both sawtimber and pulpwood from individual trees and summarizes species and product volumes for forest stands. It provides two-inch diameter increments and basal area factor sampling options. Kruzer uses volume look-up tables, which estimate tree volumes based on US Forest Service forest inventory research. This version is based on Lakes States yield data and tree species codes used in Wisconsin, but Kruzer can be modified for other regions by substituting appropriate tables.

Field foresters report that Kruzer is simple and fast to use. Input records required by Kruzer include tree species, tree diameters and the number of logs and/or pulp sticks in each tree. A field forester can use paper tally sheets to collect he data, but Kruzer also lends itself well to digital data collection with a handheld Palm or Pocket PC PDA devices as described below. Information from the tally form is then transferred to the Kruzer spreadsheet (which runs in Microsoft Excel®) for calculations on a PC desktop.

A couple example Kruzer data files (zip 20KB) are available if you'd like to see how the program works. One set for a pine plantation has has 32 plots with 466 trees. The other is a mixed aspen/oak stand with 38 plots and 274 trees. Both are actual cruises. You would copy/paste the data into Kruzer to view the results for the entire stand or just the trees marked to cut by sorting the data tables. Here is a small part of the Kruzer report (which also generates volumes by species and diameter classes) for the pine plantation:

Kruzer (zip 141KB) is written by Wisconsin forester Kris Wimme, an experienced forestry educator and land manager. He makes the Kruzer template available free with the understanding that there is no warranty whatsoever and no user support. Contact Kris Wimme if you have suggestions or would like information about adapting the system to your region.

National Cruise Program (NatCRS - US Forest Service) is the definitive forest inventory program used on all the US National Forests. It calculates timber volumes for forest reconnaissance and timber sales using sophisticated volume estimator functions. The program offers approximately 190 reports including:

•  Raw Data and Individual Tree Information

•  Low Level Volume Summaries

•  Volume/Value Reports by Population

•  Volume/Value Reports by Strata and Sale

•  Statistics for Sample Populations

•  Sampling Errors for Strata and Sale

•  Score Statistics

•  Log Level Reports

•  Region Specific Reports

•  Stand Table Reports

•  Unit Level Reports

•  Variable Log Length (Export Grade) Reports

NatCRS is somewhat complicated to learn (recommended only for trained foresters familiar with technical forest measurement terminology) and to use since it is still DOS-based. The Forest Service does, however, provide extensive documentation.  The Pacific Northwest Region 6 has additional "user friendly" setup programs and instructions that explain using NatCRS under Windows.

Also check out the National Cruise Data Entry Program (NatCDE). It provides field personnel with an easy method of collecting cruise data with digital field recorders. The original DOS-based software runs on dedicated handheld recorders, but a new Pocket PC FSCruiser program is now under development. The beta version of FSCruiser is available here by ftp.

Data collected for NatCRS can also be used in the Landscape Management Simulator, a 3D forest visualization program for Windows available from Yale University and the University of Washington.

Dick Hall's Wisconsin TIMBER INVENTORY, GROWTH, AND ECONOMIC REVIEW (TIGER) is a commercial timber cruise option that landowners in Wisconsin might want to look into. Hall offers a classroom introduction to the program and a lucid operation manual.

Field Data Collection

With the advent of rugged field data recorders, tablet PCs and PDA devices, foresters can collect digital forest inventory data. With tree information recorded in a digital format from the start, cruisers can simply copy field data into the program that completes the calculations. Office time, transcription errors and drudgery are significantly reduced.

For a versatile ― though moderately expensive ― approach, the HP1100 tablet PC with a Delorme Earthmate  GPS provide high resolution maps and data collection in a full Windows XP operating environment. The tablet here is in a rugged field case, and the Earthmate GPS is attached to a camera monopod with rubber bands. The monopod is usually placed in a vest back pocket to elevate the GPS receiver over the cruiser's head for best reception (or you can attach the Bluetooth GPS to your hat).

Field data for Kruzer or other inventory programs  can be collected with a PDA. The setup shown above includes a Pocket PC PDA in a rugged "Otterbox", which allows GPS and power connections by cable through a port in the case. Click the image above for details.

Considering the low cost of some PDAs (like the Palm units below), it is also feasible to simply use them "as is" or inside a Ziplock® bag to keep water out. The other extreme is to use a specialized field recorder like an Allegro® CX.

Following are a few applications for collecting field data.

Palm Zire 21 ― said to run for 10+ hours on a battery charge. Data fields can be set up as integer, string, Boolean, notes, date and other options. The resulting records can be exported to Excel with DB Editor for use in Kruzer 2003.

Pick lists for Pilot-DB can be set up easily with DB Editor on your desktop PC. The duplicate icon (circled in red) also speeds data entry for identical trees by copying all fields to a new record.

This image shows the relative size of a Palm Tungsten E screen compared to the Zire model above. The 320x320 Tungsten display has four times the area of a Zire 21 or 31. The base Tungsten E is about twice the price of a Zire 21, but its touch screen's bigger text and icons would be easier to hit. The Tungsten's color screen also has a backlight, improving visibility in low light.