The tree, or plant, lists used by SVS are simple ASCII text files containing a listing of all the components in a stand. The data files are organized with one individual component per line in the file. Fields are separated by spaces. The first field containing the species indicator must occupy the first 15 characters of each line. The species code need not be 15 characters long but it must be padded with trailing spaces to occupy at least 15 characters in the data file. Comments may be included in the list by using a semi-colon (";") in the first column. Commands in the list begin with "#" in the first column. Commands available for use in tree lists are:
|
Command |
Description and use |
|
#GROUNDFILE file |
file specifies a ground definition that should be loaded and displayed with the stand. |
|
#FORMAT number |
number indicates the format of the individual tree records. The following formats are recognized: 1)Original SVS tree list format. This format does not include the tree identifier or lean angle fields. 2)Extended SVS tree list format. This format includes the tree identifier and lean angle fields. |
|
#PALETTE file |
file specifies a palette file that should be loaded for use with the stand. Palette files are created when users save a palette while modifying the 256-color configuration parameters in the DOS version of SVS. Palette files cannot be created with windows version of SVS. |
|
#PLOTORIGIN x y |
(x,y) specifies the coordinate location of the lower left corner of the stand. |
|
#PLOTSIZE width height |
width specifies the width of the area represented in the tree list measured along the x-axis and height specifies the the height of the area represented in the tree list measured along the y-axis. |
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#R6CVSPLOT radius |
specifies that the tree list represents a circular plot with five subplots. This plot design is used by the U.S. Forest Service Region 6. |
|
#ROUNDPLOT radius |
specifies that the tree list represents a circular plot. radius specifies the plot radius in feet or meters. |
|
#TITLE text |
text is the title that should be displayed in SVS. |
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#TREEFORM file |
file specifies the plant form definition file to be used with the tree list. |
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#TREELISTINDEX |
specifies that the file is a tree list index file containing a list of SVS tree list files and titles. When this command is used, all other command in the file are ignored. The format of a tree list index consists of one line per SVS file with a title enclosed in quotation marks and the corresponding SVS tree list file name enclosed in quotation marks:#TREELISTINDEX"Stand 1005 at year 30" "1005_30.SVS""Stand 1005 at year 60" "1005_60.SVS""Stand 1005 at year 90" "1005_90.SVS"File names can include a full path to the SVS file. When a tree list index file is loaded into SVS, the user is presented with a list of titles (that correspond to SVS tree list files) to choose from. |
|
#UNITS name |
name can be either ENGLISH or METRIC. English units represent diameters in inches and all other dimensions in feet. Metric units represent diameters in centimeters and all other units in meters. |
Parameter Description
Each individual stand component requires parameters describing its size, location, overall shape, and special characteristics. SVS uses the following parameters to describe an individual stand component:
|
Parameter |
Description |
|
Species code |
Alphanumeric code describing the species. May be numeric or text or a combination of numbers and letters. Length may not exceed 15 characters. The species code must occupy all 15 spaces. If the species code contatins fewer than 15 characters, it must be right padded with spaces. |
|
Plant identifier |
Unique alphanumeric identifier for the plant. May be numeric or text or a combination of numbers and letters. The plant identifier cannot contain any embedded spaces. The length of the plant identifier cannot exceed 15 characters. This parameter is only present in tree lists using the extended SVS format. The plant identifier does not need to be padded with spaces to occupy the full 15-character length. |
|
Tree class |
User-defined code used to distinguish different growth forms or plant appearences within a species. Values used for the tree class can range from 0 to 32768. |
|
Crown class |
User-defined code used to further distinguish different growth forms or plant appearences within a species. Values used for the crown class can range from 0 to 32768. |
|
Plant status |
Code designating the status of the plant component. The following status codes are recognized: 0 or 10 indicates the plant is cut, has branches, and is lying on the ground, 1 or 11 indicates the plant is standing and has branches2 or 12 indicates the plant is no longer present and only a stump remains3 or 13 indicates the plant is cut, has no branches, and is lying on the ground. Plants with status codes of 0, 1, 2, or 3 can have their status codes modified using the marking and treatment features of SVS. Plants with status codes of 10, 11, 12, or 13 cannot have their status codes modified by any marking or treatment activity within SVS. |
|
Diameter |
Diameter at breast height (inches or centimeters). |
|
Height |
Total height of the plant (feet or meters). |
|
Lean angle |
Angle of lean for the stand component. The angle is specified as the lean from a vertical. Thus 0 degrees indicates that a plant is standing perpendicular to the ground (degrees). This parameter is only present in tree lists using the extended SVS format. |
|
Felling angle |
Azimuth of the stem for down material relative to the stump end of the stem (degrees, 0 degrees is at 12 o'clock). |
|
End diameter |
Small end diameter of plant stem (inches or centimeters). Normally, the end diameter is 0.0 for standing, live trees. The end diameter can be used to describe down logs or standing trees with a broken top. |
|
Crown radius 1 |
Radius of the plant's crown measured along a radial line at 0 degrees azimuth (feet or meters). |
|
Crown ratio 1 |
Ratio of live crown to total plant height corresponding to "Crown radius 1". |
|
Crown radius 2 |
Radius of the plant's crown measured along a radial line at 90 degrees azimuth (feet or meters). |
|
Crown ratio 2 |
Ratio of live crown to total plant height corresponding to "Crown radius 2". |
|
Crown radius 3 |
Radius of the plant's crown measured along a radial line at 180 degrees azimuth (feet or meters). |
|
Crown ratio 3 |
Ratio of live crown to total plant height corresponding to "Crown radius 3". |
|
Crown radius 4 |
Radius of the plant's crown measured along a radial line at 270 degrees azimuth (feet or meters). |
|
Crown ratio 4 |
Ratio of live crown to total plant height corresponding to "Crown radius 4". |
|
Expansion factor |
Number of individuals represented by an individual listed in the component list (usually plants per acre or hectare). |
|
Marking status |
A code indicating the inclusion of the plant in various, user-defined, marking scenarios. This integer can range from 0 to 255. Individual bits in the integer correspond to the eight possible marking scenarios with the least significant bit corresponding to scenario 1. |
|
X |
Location of the base of the stem (ordinate in feet or meters). |
|
Y |
Location of the base of the stem (abscissa in feet or meters). |
|
Elevation |
Elevation at the base of the stem (feet or meters). SVS assumes that the ground is at an elevation 0.0. If plant elevations other than 0.0 are given, the plant will "float" above or below the ground. |
Crown Dimensions
SVS can display asymmetric crowns represented by crown dimensions measured at four points in the crown. Most data sources will produce data describing crown diameter as a constant value for each tree. Many research studies and some stand growth models produce asymmetric crown data. SVS displays the asymmetric crowns in the perspective view when drawing "realistic trees" and in the overhead view when drawing "solid trees" or "realistic trees". Display of asymmetric crown in the overhead view when marking trees is controlled by the configuration parameter: "Use irregular crown on overhead view".