Foresters usually measure the diameter of trees at Breast Height – traditionally 4 foot, 6 inches – now 1.3 m – which is termed Diameter Breast Height Over Bark (DBHOB). The most common way to measure tree diameter is to place a calibrated tape around the stem at breast height. It’s simple, but can be slow, particularly if the scrub is thick, or if there are heaps of trees. A tree caliper is another quick method of estimating DBHOB. Wooden tree measuring calipersMeasurements are in inches (pre metrication in 1974) A crown faint crown mark (331) and crows foot is visible on one end forest measurement

The Forests Commission began using computers in the 1960s for resource inventory under the Chief Forest Assessor Murray Paine IBM introduced the Port-A-Punch in 1958 as a fast, accurate means of manually punching holes in specially scored IBM punched cards. Designed to fit in the pocket, Port-A-Punch made it possible to create punched card documents anywhere. The product was intended for "on-the-spot" recording of data such a assessment plotsThe IBM Port-A-Punch prepared computer data and programming cards. Normally there is a a separate stylus pen, similar to a ball-point pen to punch the holes in the cards, but it is missing This instrument consists of a plastic frame that holds 13 long plastic rectangles along its length. A transparent plastic template which has an array of evenly spaced holes fits over the rectangles, and cards are placed over this. IBM Portapunchforest measurement

This instrument measures elevation by sensing minute changes in barometric air pressure relative to a fixed datum point at sea level or a known elevation, such as the starting point of a major town during a road survey, and has an accuracy of +/- 20 feet when used in experienced hands. The finely divided scale around the perimeter of the face is marked from 0 to 6000 feet elevation and 25 to 31 inches of mercury (Hg) for barometric pressure The single fine counter-balanced hand or pointer rotates anti-clockwise with increasing elevation and decreasing pressure. The label "compensated" indicates that the instrument is constructed to compensate for the effect of temperature changes on the accuracy of readings. Surveyor's Pocket Altimeter - Aneroid Barometer Type Branded N H Seward, Melbourne. Made in England. With leather carrying case and strap.forest measurement, forests commission victoria (fcv), surveying

Decimal currency was spectacularly introduced in an overnight overthrow on 14 February 1966, but it took another 8 years before metrication finally arrived in the forest and timber industry. Eventually, the measurement of logs and sawn timber changed from imperial, and excruciating, measures such as super feet of sawn timber, billets and cunits (100 cubic feet) of stacked pulpwood and hoppus log volumes to simpler cubic metres. Measuring firewood was a particular nightmare. For example, there were standard chords, stove cords, kitchen cords, running cords, face cords, thrown chords, fencing cords, country cords, long cords, raummeter or steres (1m x 1m x 1m). A standard cord of firewood had a volume of 128 cubic feet, measured as a pile 8 feet long, 4 feet high and 4 feet wide (3.624 m3). And how about this for confusing…. in Victoria, an imperial or long ton (by measure) of green firewood was a stack 5 feet long billets (2 axelengths at 2′ 6″ each), one axelength high (2′ 6″) and two axelengths long (5 feet) equalling 62.5 cubic feet. For added befuddlement, there were three different sorts of tons: Imperial tons or long tons, American short tons and metric tonnes (spelled with two n’s). Not forgetting that a cubic imperial ton of firewood (40 cubic feet) which equalled 1.133 cubic metre. The metrication process began in 1974 and was completed by 1976 but the transition was not without its challenges along the supply chain for foresters, overseers, logging contractors, sawmillers, hardware stores and builders alike. Timber lengths changed from feet to metres but were still sold in multiples of one foot or 0.3 m (1.8, 2.1, 2.4, 2.7 etc) whereas a menacing lump of 4-Bee-2 transformed into a rather less colourful 100mm by 50mm. Measurement and calculations of area also became so much easier in hectares rather than complicated acres, roods and perches. The Forest Metriverter slide-rule was issued by the Forestry and Timber Bureau to make metric conversions easier.Forest MetriverterRoss Pennyforest measurement, surveying, forests commission victoria (fcv)

Logs were sold to sawmillers from State forest from 1 July 1974 in cubic metres (true volume). Previously sawlogs had been sold on the basis of Hoppus volume. This simple device with two rotating wheels enabled staff in FCV offices to rapidly calculate log volumes from measurements taken in the bush of log girth and length and recorded on paper log dockets. From the early 1980s automated systems became available with the advent of cheap electronic office calculators and simple computers. An early manual device that was superseded by electronic calculatorsOffice Device Twin rollers used to quickly and simply calculate true log volumes using measurements of girth and length. An allowance could also be made for pipe defects. The top roller was for larger diameter logs.forest measurement, forests commission victoria (fcv)

Bushfire behaviour is influenced by many factors including temperature, relative humidity (RH), forest type, fuel quantity and fuel dryness, topography and even slope. Wind has a dominant effect on the Rate of Spread (ROS), as well as fire size, shape and direction. Temperature and relative humidity have major impacts on fuel dryness and therefore upon the availability of fuel for combustion. A thermo-hygrograph measures and records both temperature and humidity. It produces a continuous record by drawing ink traces on a paper chart held in revolving cylinder. Humidity is measured by shortening or lengthening of specially treated human hair. Temperature is measured by means of a bi-metallic strip. This particular instrument is a seven day recorder. The instrument is driven by clockwork. Serial number 10186 which probably dates from about 1960. The chart indicates it was last used in March 1979.Used for bushfire research.Clockwork Thermo Hygro GraphCasella London 10186 Made in England Research Branch. Forests Commission Orbostbushfire, forests commission victoria (fcv), forest measurement

A prismatic compass is a common navigation and surveying instrument which was used extensively by the Forests Commission The compass most commonly used to run a traverse line. The compass calculates bearings of lines with respect to magnetic needle. A magnetic deviation correction was needed to convert the reading to a true bearing The compass could also determine angles between the traverse and waypoints (such as hilltop features). Commonly used for navigation. Largely replaced by modern GPS technology.Ex Army WW2 prismatic compass with leather case and strap. Rugged design and made of metal the internal compass plate floats on oil to help it stabilise The user lines up the direction of travel with the hair sightline in the fliptop cover and readings are taken through the viewfinder prism (hence the name).forest measurement, surveying, forests commission victoria (fcv)

This pocket stereoscope was used to view a pair of separate and overlapping aerial photos as a single three-dimensional image. It was small and could be easily used in the field. Larger, mirror stereoscope were also available in some offices. The aerial images were used to map forest types, timber stands, new roads and tracks, firebreaks, boundaries of timber harvesting, plantations, bushfires, insect and disease attack and so on In 1928, the Forests Commission undertook its first major aerial photography project over 15,000 acres of forest which is said to be the first of its kind in Australia. During the Second World War, large areas of Victoria were photographed by RAAF and used to produce orthophoto maps. By 1945 aerial photography of 13,000 square miles (3.4 M ha) was completed, including much of the inaccessible eastern forests. The Forests Commission started developing its own small format photography in the early 1970s. Simple, cheap and rapid methods of obtaining photographs using 70mm and 35mm cameras were developed Small pocket stereoscope to interprete aerial photographs in the field Adjustable lenses on foldaway wire legsSokkisha Tokyoforest measurement, surveying, forests commission victoria (fcv)

An increment borer is a specialised tool to extract a core sample of wood tissue from a living tree. The tool consists of a handle, an auger bit and a small, half circular metal tray (the core extractor) that fits inside the auger bit. The core sample can be used to count the rings, to reveal the age of the tree and its growth rate.Increment borer. The central core is stuck. AGN Mattison - Sweden #4333forest measurement, forests commission victoria (fcv)

Foresters usually measure the diameter of trees at Breast Height – traditionally 4 foot, 6 inches – now 1.3 m – which is termed Diameter Breast Height Over Bark (DBHOB). Basal Area is the cross section of the tree trunk at breast height, and the sum for the stand or group of trees is expressed square feet per acre (after 1973 it was expressed in square metres per hectare). Lots of skinny trees, or a few fat ones, can have the same Basal Area, but when combined with the number of stems, Basal Area is a good indicator of stand density. Two common methods are used to measure of Basal Area – fixed area plots and angle count sampling. 1. Fixed area plots require setting out a small area, commonly 50 m x 20 m, and measuring all the trees at breast height, and doing some quick sums. 2. Angle count sampling involves a simple sweep of the forest from a fixed sampling point using a relascope, dendrometer sight, angle gauge, or glass wedge prism. This wooden builders ruler has been shaped at one end to create a shallow angle (usually less than 3 degrees). Standing in one spot, a sweep is made with the wedge held to the eye, and trees are counted as either “in” or “out”. The number of trees is multiplied by conversion factor of the wedge (10 in this case) to estimate basal area. It’s very quick and effective.Basal Area Angle Gauge The two ends fold up and one end (on the right) has been reduced in width to create a shallow angle for the viewer Home made by cutting down a wooden builder's ruler Many forestry students made their own Basal Area Angle Gauges and its thought this may be oneforest measurement, forests commission victoria (fcv)

Before metrication was introduced into Australia in the 1970s land was measured in chains and links. Many old parish plans show length measurements in chains and links. Area was shown in acres, roods and perches. Gunter's chain was used for measuring distance in surveying. It was designed and introduced in 1620 by English clergyman and mathematician Edmund Gunter (1581–1626). Gunter developed the measuring chain of 100 links. The chain and the link, became statutory measures in England and subsequently the British Empire. After metrication units of length were measured in meters and area in hectares. The chain was later superseded by steel ribbon tape.The 66 foot long brass Gunter's Chain is divided into 100 links (each 7.92 inches long), and marked off into groups of 10 by shaped tags which simplify intermediate measurement. It was heavy but flexible enough to be dragged through the bush on surveying transects.(Hence the common forestry term "chainman). The chain was a precision part of a surveyor's equipment. It required frequent calibration, yet needed to be sturdy enough to be dragged through rough terrain for years. It has brass hand grips at each end of chain. 1 chain = 100 links = 22 yards = 66 feet = 792 inches. 10 chains = furlong 80 chains = 1 mile 1 acre = 10 square chains = 4 roods (1/4 acre) = 40 perches.forest measurement, surveying, forests commission victoria (fcv)

Possibly the Yellow Box, Eucalyptus melliodora, Laughing Waters Road, Eltham 80 m from Reynolds Road http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/71057 Outstanding size Outstanding specimen Located 80m from Reynolds Road, this tree is one of the few remaining forest trees that covered the area before settlement. Measurements: 11/1981 Spread (m): 23 Girth (m): 4.3 Height (m): 42 Estimated Age (yrs): 250+ Condition: Good Measurements: 20/09/2010 Spread (m): EW 20 NS 23 Girth (m): 4..5 Height (m): 40 Estimated Age (yrs): 250+ Condition: Access: Unrestricted Classified: 17/02/198335mm colour positive transparency (1 of 3) Mount - Kodak Ektachromeunidentified, significant tree

This is a set of seven photographs of Royal Australian Survey Corps surveyors setting up observation towers in the field and undertaking survey observations during mapping and geodetic control operations. c1950s. Survey observation towers were used mainly to take angular measurements in flat or heavily forested terrain, where height was necessary to achieve observer’s line-of-sight between field survey station. The Bilby Tower seen in photo .5P was erected to a height of 75 feet (23m) above ground level. The use of the Bilby Tower in Topographic Squadron’s field survey operations from 1955 to 1966 is described in page 54 of Valerie Lovejoy’s book 'Mapmakers of Fortuna – A history of the Army Survey Regiment’ ISBN: 0-646-42120-4. CAPT George Ricketts’ period of service was from 1942 to 1976 reaching the rank of LTCOL. It is noted in page 35 of Valerie Lovejoy’s book that then SGT Ricketts hand lettering skills came to the fore from his contribution to the draughting of one of the Japan’s Instruments of Surrender in 1945.This is a set of seven photographs of Royal Australian Survey Corps surveyors setting up observation towers in the field and undertaking survey observations during mapping and geodetic control operations. c1950s. The photographs were printed on photographic paper and are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photographs were scanned at 300 dpi. .1) - Photo, black & white, c1950s, ‘Bilby’ survey observation tower. .2) - Photo, black & white, c1950s, CAPT George Ricketts climbing ‘Bilby’ survey observation tower. .3) - Photo, black & white, c1950s, geodetic survey equipment on ‘Bilby’ survey observation tower. .4) - Photo, black & white, c1950s, two unidentified field surveyors on ‘Bilby’ survey observation tower. .5) - Photo, black & white, c1950s, two unidentified field surveyors, with CAPT Ricketts climbing ‘Bilby’ survey observation tower. .6) - Photo, black & white, c1950s, two unidentified field surveyors undertaking observations on survey observation tower. .7) - Photo, black & white, c1950, two unidentified field surveyors erecting or dismantling a survey observation tower..1P with paper tag annotated ‘Bilby Tower’ .4P on back – ‘Bilby Tower’. .5P on back – ‘Survey Observing Tower. Observing tower used for angular measurement in flat country. 75’ high – CAPT Ricketts climbing. .6P, .7P on back. ‘1960s?’royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr, surveying