Estimating Tree Height?

[Newfie]

Hey Guys,


I know this has been covered here before but I can't find it through "search".

So how does one go about estimating the height of a standing tree with very little or no lean.


Thanks for the help.

 

[wiley_p]

Buy a Relaskop I think they are only about a 1000.00 or so now, or use the stick trick, the only thing is you need to figure out the llength of your pace. There is instructions for the stick trick in an old Sherrrills catalog, and in J. Beraneks book. I think.

 

[treeman82]

JPS told me about a way a while back. You take a ribbon or something like that and attach it to the trunk of the tree at a given height. JPS with his vertical abilities said 10', I say 5'. Anywho, you walk away from the tree with a tape measure and when the 5' or 10' or what have you becomes 1" you stop. From that same place you take the tape measure and look at how many inches tall the tree is from that perspective. Multiply the inches by 5 or 10 or whatever feet and you have your height.

 

[Nathan Wreyford]

http://forestry.about.com/library/weekly/aa022298.htm

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Yardstick or ruler will work.

Also you could just keep a 10 ft set of poles (Mine is a 6+4footers) back up till the 10ft pole looks like 1 inch on the rooler then look up to see where the top reads. I'm lazy so 10 ft makes it so I just have to add a zero.

Around here rulers work well, because we rarely see an open grown tree anywhere near 120 ft.

Then just buy a diameter tape, they are more acurate then then a biltmore stick if you dont use them regularly.

Anyone use a clinometer?

 

[tawilson]

I'm just rattling off at the mouth here, but shouldn't there be a way to look a the top of the tree at a 45 degree angle, then the distance from your head to the tree would be the height of the tree. Don't be afraid to tell me to shut up.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Yes, that is what the clinometer does.

If you know one leg of a triangle and two anhes you can determine the length of the other two legs.

My use of perspective is easier though

 

[Burnham]

The clino is mighty easy...I can do a measurement fast as your perspective method and I'd bet it's a good bit more accurate. Does cost more for a decent clino, though, than that ruler ...but not near as much as a Relaskop...about $100.

 

[Ruger14]

THIS MAY SOUND STUPID BUT I JUST USE A $.27 SCHOOL PROTRACTOR WITH A WEIGHT ON A STRING TIED TO THE HOLE IN THE MIDDLE. (ANGLE ORIGIN) STEP BACK 50 FT. USING MY SPENCER, LINE UP THE 90 DEG. LINE ON THE PROTRACTOR WITH THE TOP OF THE TREE, CHECK THE ANGLE, AND TRIG IT OUT. TELLS ME HOW TALL THE TREE IS AND I CAN PACE IT OFF, GIVE OR TAKE A FOOT OR TWO. WORKS FOR ME, AND IS CHEAP. BUT ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR MATH!



B

 

[NeTree]

Anybody ever hear of a sextant?

 

[MasterBlaster]

Yea, I had to get penicillin for it...

 

[NickfromWI]

Originally posted by netree
Anybody ever hear of a sextant?

The things the sailors used when navigating by stars?

 

[NickfromWI]

 

[NeTree]

Give the boy a cigar.

Even the cheapest ones are VERY accurate for estimating height.

 

[coydog]

take a stick, measure it from the end of your hand to your face, with your arm stretched straight out in front of you, grab it at this point and hold it vertical, still stretched straight out in front of you. sight the bottom ( your hand) to the base of the tree, and the top to top of tree, when tree fits inside the stick perfectly your standing on the spot.

 

[wiley_p]

I could never have explained that. nice job.

 

[MasterBlaster]

So thats a fact? I will try it, for sure!


Sounds like something all ground techs should know, eh?

 

[wiley_p]

Yes it works great for dumping a tree, a little slow for cruising or consult inventory.

 

[Newfie]

Thanks guys, coydog's explanantion was the trick I had in mind. I have a client who wants a couple of trees dropped in his yard and assures me that there is "plenty of room". I don't climb so there better be plenty of room. Wanted to be able to make sure I have enough room when I went to price the job.

 

[tawilson]

coydog,
thank you for taking that vague theory I had floating around in my brain and turning it into something actually useful. What kind of stick?