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Note 3 (frm-2)
Topics covered in the pdf
Measurement of height - Definitions - Methods of measurement of height - Ocular
- non instrumental and instrumental methods. Sources of error in height
measurement - Height measurement of leaning trees.

Measurement of height
Total height of a straight tree is the straight line distance from the tip of the
leading shoot (or from the highest point of the crown where there is no leader) to
the ground level, usually measured on slopes from the uphill side of the tree.
Bole height is the distance along the axis of tree between ground level and crown
point. (crown point is the position of the first crown forming branch).
Commercial bole height is the height of bole that is usually fit for utilization as
timber.
Height of standard timber bole is the height of the bole from the ground level up
to the point where average diameter over bark is 20cm.

Note 3 (frm-2) 1
 Crown length is the vertical measurement of the crown of the tree from the tip to
the point half way between the lowest green branches forming green crown all
round and the lowest green branch on the bole.
Crown height is the height of the crown as a measured vertically from the ground
level to the point half way between the lowest green the lowest green branches
forming green crown all round.

Stump height is the distance between the ground and basal position on the main
stem where a tree is cut.

Methods of Height Measurement

Ocular Estimate: by using specific length of pole
Non-instrumental methods

1. Shadow method: a pole of convenient length is fixed upright in the ground

and its height above the ground is measured. The shadows of the pole and the
tree are also measured.

AB BD

Note 3 (frm-2) 2
 AB BD
​
= ​

ab bd

BD
AB = ​
∗ ab
bd

Where, AB is the tree, ab is the portion of the pole above the ground level, BD
is the length of shadow of the tree and bd is the shadow of ab.

2. Single pole method: a pole of about 1.5 m length vertically at arm's length in
one hand in such a way that portion of the pole above the hand is equal in
length to the distance of the pole from eye.

AB EB
​
= ​

ab Eb

EB
i.e. AB = ​
∗ ab
Eb

Where, AB is the tree, ac is the pole about 1.5 m long, and Eb=ab

Instrumental methods
By using a instruments like hypsometer, clinometer, altimeters, abneys level,
improverised calipers etc.
All these instruments are based either on geometric principle of similar triangles or
on trigonometric principles.

Note 3 (frm-2) 3
 1. Principle of Similar Triangles: Corresponding angles are equal and the
corresponding sides are proportional, e.g.; Christen's hypsometer, improvised
callipers

• By knowing the two sides of a triangle and only one side of the other, the
corresponding second side of the latter can be found.

• Useful in rough estimation, not reliable for precise work.

AD ad
​
= ​

ED Ed

ad
AD = ​
∗ ED
Ed

In similar triangles ABE and abE

AB BD
​
= ​

ab bd

BD
AB = ​
∗ ab
bd

If BD and ab are made constant, AB varies inversely as bd. Christian’s

hypsometer is based on this principle.

2. Trigonometric principles: The principles follow the basic rules of

trigonometry for deriving heights of trees from distance and angle

Note 3 (frm-2) 4
 measurements. Two laws are applicable for this purpose and they are:
tangent law and sine law.

A. Tangent law
• Applicable to right-angle triangle

• Instruments based on this principle are Abney's level, clinometers, altimeter

etc. with clinometers give the direct height reading is possible at fixed
horizontal distances (15 m & 20 m) from the tree.

• For accurate results, trees must not lean more than 5° from the vertical, and
the fixed horizontal distance must be determined by taped measurement.

BC
tan θ = ​

BA

H = d tanθ

On level ground
The height of the tree is calculated with the help of the tangents of the angle
to the top and the distance of the observer from the tree.

AB = AD + BD = ED tanα + BD = BF tanα + EF

Note 3 (frm-2) 5
 Where, AB is the tree, EF is the eye level of the observer, BF is the horizontal
distance

On sloping ground

1. Where the observer is standing at such a place that the top of the tree is
above the eye level and the base below it.

AB = AD + DB
ED tanα + ED tanß = ED (tanα + tanß)
= EB cosß (tanα + tanß)

2. Where top and base of the tree are above the eye level.

AB = AD - BD

Note 3 (frm-2) 6
 ED tanα - ED tanß = ED (tanα - tanß)
= EB cosß (tanα - tanß)

3. Where base and top of the tree are below the eye level

AB = BD - AD
ED tanß - ED tanα = ED (tanα + tanß)
= EB cosß (tanα + tanß)

Note 3 (frm-2) 7
 B. Sine method
• Applicable to non right-angle triangle, is useful in deriving tree height in
difficult conditions.

• Sines of angles are proportional to the opposite sides.

S in(A) S in(B ) S in(C )

​
= ​
= ​

XY XZ Y Z

Different height measuring instruments

1. VL5 Vertex Laser

2. Ravi Multimeter

3. Spiegel Relaskop

4. Blume Leiss Hypsometer

5. HEC Digital Clinometer

6. Haga Altimeter

7. Christan’s Hypsometer

Note 3 (frm-2) 8
 Measuring Height with a Clinometer
1
H = (A − B ) ∗ (d ∗ ​
)
10

Where h is the height of the tree, A is the top measurement, B is the bottom
measurement and d is the distance
Example:

1. Measure a distance (d) of 20 meters from the base.

2. Read the top measurement (left scale %) and note the + or -, let’s take +100

3. Read the bottom measurement (left scale %) and note the + or -, let’s take -5

4. Enter the numbers in the formula and calculate

H = (100 - (-5)) x (20 x .01)
H = 105 x .2
H = 21 meters

Sources of error in Height Measurement

Instrumental Error: Imperfections or miscalibration in the measuring device
(e.g., clinometer, hypsometer, laser rangefinder) can lead to consistent biases.
For instance, a clinometer that isn't properly zeroed will always give readings
that are systematically too high or too low.

Personal/Observer Error: The individual taking the measurement can

introduce inaccuracies through misreading scales, incorrect aiming at the
tree's base or tip, or inconsistencies in technique. Parallax error, where the
eye's position relative to the instrument's scale causes a misreading, is a
common example.

Visibility and Crown Irregularity: Dense canopy, undergrowth, or foliage can

obscure the true top of the tree, making it difficult to identify the highest point
accurately. Additionally, trees with irregular or deliquescent crowns (spreading
rather than a single distinct leader) make precise height determination
challenging.

Note 3 (frm-2) 9
 Tree Lean: If a tree is leaning, measuring its height as if it were perfectly
vertical will introduce error. Standing in the plane of the lean (directly towards
or away from the lean) can lead to significant overestimation or
underestimation if not accounted for with appropriate techniques.

Distance Measurement Error: The horizontal distance from the observer to

the tree's base is a critical component in trigonometric height calculations.
Errors in measuring this distance, whether by pacing, taping, or using a
rangefinder that hits an intermediate object, directly impact the calculated
height.

❓ We know,

H = D tanθ

Where H is height of the tree; D is the horizontal distance; θ is the angle

of inclination.
Error in height measurement due to an error in θ is obtained by
differentiating H with respect to θ. Thus,

dH
2
​
= D sec θ
dθ

Therefore, the percentage error is

2
dH D sec θ 1dθ 2dθ
​
∗ 100 = ​
∗ 100 dθ = ​
∗ 100 = ​
∗ 100
H D tanθ sinθcosθ sin2θ

For any given height percentage error will be least when sin2θ is
maximum, i.e. 2θ = 90°, θ = 45°.

Note 3 (frm-2) 10
 Measuring height of leaning tree
Case - 1
a. When the observer is standing between the top and bottom of the tree (lean
away from observer)

AB EB
​
= ​

sin(< AEB ) sin(< E AB )

EB sin(< AEB )
AB = ​

sin(< E AB )

EB sin(α + ß)
= ​

sin[90 − (α + θ)]

EB sin(α + ß)
= ​

cos(α + θ)

b. When the observer is standing between the top and bottom of the tree (lean
towards observer)

AB EB
​
= ​

sin(< AEB ) sin(< E AB )

EB sin(< AEB )
AB = ​

sin(< E AB )

EB sin(α + ß)
= ​

sin[90 − (α − θ)]

EB sin(α + ß)
= ​

cos(α − θ)

Note 3 (frm-2) 11
 Case - 2
a. When the observer is below the top and bottom of the tree (lean away from
observer)

AB EB
​
= ​

sin(< AEB ) sin(< E AB )

EB sin(< AEB )
AB = ​

sin(< E AB )

EB sin(α − ß)
= ​

sin[90 − (α + θ)]

EB sin(α − ß)
= ​

cos(α + θ)

b. When the observer is below the top and bottom of the tree (lean towards
observer)

AB EB
​
= ​

sin(< AEB ) sin(< E AB )

EB sin(< AEB )
AB = ​

sin(< E AB )

EB sin(α − ß)
= ​

sin[90 − (α − θ)]

EB sin(α − ß)
= ​

cos(α − θ)

Note 3 (frm-2) 12
 Case - 3
a. When the observer is above the top and bottom of the tree (lean away from
the observer)

AB EB
​
= ​

sin(< AEB ) sin(< E AB )

EB sin(< AEB )
AB = ​

sin(< E AB )

EB sin(ß − α)
= ​

sin[90 + (α − θ)]

EB sin(ß − α)
= ​

cos(α − θ)

b. When the observer is above the top and bottom of the tree (lean towards
observer)

AB EB
​
= ​

sin(< AEB ) sin(< E AB )

EB sin(< AEB )
AB = ​

sin(< E AB )

EB sin(ß − α)
= ​

sin[90 + (α + θ)]

EB sin(ß − α)
= ​

cos(α + θ)

Note 3 (frm-2) 13
 Measurement of lean of trees using
instruments
A plum bob (used to establish a true vertical line,
works on the simple principle of gravity) with a
device for reading the angle directly is used for
measuring lean of trees.
Devised by Krishnaswamy.

Note 3 (frm-2) 14