CanadaForestAllometry is an R package that brings together a collection of published allometric models developed for Canadian forests. The package provides a unified interface to estimate a range of tree- and stand-level attributes, based on models published in the Canadian forestry literature. The focus of CanadaForestAllometry is on standardization: models are implemented as faithfully as possible to their original formulations, with transparent parameter tables, consistent inputs/outputs, and jurisdiction-appropriate assumptions (e.g. merchantability rules).
Part of the package standardization is to use NFI species codes in all implemented models (e.g. PICE.MAR for black spruce). The package also includes translate_species_code(), which can translate among jurisdiction-specific codes, NFI and CANFI codes, common English and French names, and scientific names.
Development status
CanadaForestAllometry is under active development. Package functions are tested, but not every published source provides reference values or worked examples that allow the implementation to be checked against expected numerical results. In those cases, models are implemented from the published equations and checked for internal consistency, input validation, and reproducibility, but external validation against benchmark results may still be limited by the available documentation.
If a particular model is not yet implemented and you think it could be, please let me know!
Online documentation
Full documentation is available at https://ptompalski.github.io/CanadaForestAllometry/
Included models
CanadaForestAllometry currently includes allometric models to:
- Estimate tree-level volume (total and merchantable): Tree volume models
- Estimate aboveground biomass (AGB): Aboveground biomass models
- Convert volume to biomass: National volume-to-biomass conversions models
- Estimate site index and site productivity: Site index models
- Convert total volume to merchantable volume
- Apply simple growth models to estimate changes in attributes over time
Installation
You can install the most recent version of the package by executing the code below:
devtools::install_github("ptompalski/CanadaForestAllometry")
library(CanadaForestAllometry)