Modeling and validating spatial patterns of a 3D stand generator for central Appalachian hardwood forests

A 3D stand generator and visualization system was developed for generating a spatially explicit forest for central Appalachian hardwood forests. Spatial pattern of the stand generator was modeled and validated by characterizing a 75-year old central Appalachian mixed hardwood forest dominated by red oak, chestnut oak, red maple, and yellow poplar. All the trees larger than 12.7 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) were measured for DBH, total height, crown height and crown width along with their locations in thirty 0.162 ha plots. Stand attributes, i.e. species compositions, mean DBH, total height, basal area and volume in the generated stand never exceeded a difference of 10% from the actual stand attributes. The generated stand can thus be used as an alternate to time consuming manual measurement of spatial location of trees for related ecological studies and training purposes and to visualize the same in 3D perspectives. The results also indicated the potential of using this stand generator in simulating stand spatial patterns and generating stands in other regions with some modification in growth functions.