Use of the Centroid Method to Estimate Volumes of Japanese Red Cedar Trees in Southern Korea

Abstract

Cubic-meter volumes estimated from two proxy taper functions were compared to observed volumes of Japanese red cedar trees (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) to evaluate accuracy and precision in the centroid method. Centroid volume estimates were also compared to volume estimates from existing whole-tree volume equations developed for another geographic region. This study found that one proxy function produced unbiased volume estimates while the other was biased. Volume estimates from the whole-tree equations were also biased. However, the volume estimates from the whole-tree equations were more precise than those from the centroid method. These results support previous studies that the centroid method can produce reliable volumes of trees when no other reliable volume equations exist.