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SECTION 1. FIELD FORESTER INFORMATION 



The first step in a forest inventory is to systematically arrange the 

 forest into groups or categories based upon some definite scheme. We shall 

 refer to these groups as either compartments or strata, using these terms 

 interchangeably. The boundaries of these compartments may be determined by 

 forest type, stocking level, merchantability class or administrative conveni- 

 ence. Whatever the criteria actually used, INVENT will assume that each 

 compartment should be processed individually and will produce a complete set 

 of summary tables for each compartment. Furthermore, INVENT will produce a 

 set of summary tables for all compartments combined assuming stratified 

 random sampling (Cf. Freese 1962). INVENT will handle up to 999 compartments 

 although in practice one would seldom have more than 20 compartments within 

 any forest. 



For each forest to be processed, the forester must supply the informa- 

 tion requested on the INVENT Processing Request Form (Appendix A, page 48), 

 This information includes : 



1. Name and address of forester making request. 



2. Number of compartments in the forest. 



3. Alternate form class specification. 



4. Diameter class size. 



5. Confidence level. 



6. Tract description- 

 Alternate^ Form Class Specification . If heights are measured to the 



merchantable top, form class equations are used to determine board foot 

 volume. INVENT uses the following form classes as a default: 



Hemlock 70 All other softwoods 76 All hardwoods 74 

 Alternate form classes may be specified using the space provided on the INVENT 

 Processing Request Form. These form classes will be used for all compartments 

 in the forest. 



