The story goes like this.
Clinometer tree height measurement tool.
I needed to measure the height of a nearby tree that was too tall to climb.
Top of tree crown.
A clinometer can also be used to measure slope which helps in laying out road grades measuring tree heights on a slope measuring topographic relief and in preliminary surveying measurements.
1 tree measurement for nri grazinglands field study mike steiner and jason baker 1 18 2018 measuring tree height using a clinometer tree heights are measured using a principle called triangulation and with a device called a clinometer.
You can now scan through the dense brush until the laser captures a measurement from the reflective target.
After the horizontal distance is acquired the angles can be measured and a tree height can be calculated.
2 measure the distance to the tree and the height that the clinometer will be from the ground.
This gives you the tree s.
3 look through the clinometer with one eye and at the tree with the other eye this takes a bit of getting used to.
4 read the number on the percent scale.
View of data collector using clinometer to measure tree height.
Total height is 35 5 ft.
A clinometer is basic forest inventory tool for determining merchantable and total tree heights.
With the advantage that you nearly always have one with you.
When used correctly the suunto clinometer has an accuracy of about 0 5 m for a 20 m tall tree ie about 2 5.
Of all the forestry tools you will use the clinometer requires the most practice and skill.
Tree tip can be seen.
This example is a silver maple acer saccharinum a dendritic tree form in middle age.
Simple clinometer for measuring tree height.
Measuring tree height using a clinometer tree height is measured using the principle of triangulation with a clinometer.
Base of tree reading is 8 5 ft and top of tree reading is 27 8 ft.
Assuming that the tree grows at a right angle to the ground even on a slope we use the clinometer at 1 chain 66 feet or 19 8.
My wife had a sudden fear that if a particular old coniferous tree on a neighbor s property was to blow down in a wind storm it would crush our h.
However don t despair as it is quite possible to achieve good results with a smartphone.
Example of height measurement with the tree base below eye level.
The clinometers can be purchased from many us suppliers and are easy to use.
Line up the crosshair in the clinometer with the top of the tree.
These can be quite expensive to buy so you re not likely to invest in one unless you need to measure trees frequently.