Optimizing Thinning in Douglas-fir with Three-Descriptor Dynamic Programming to Account for Accelerated Diameter Growth

Abstract

Abstract Accelerated diameter growth as a result of thinning must be incorporated into dynamic programming analysis to account for reduced logging cost and increased income as the size of harvested material increases. A three state-descriptor model is necessary to do this, but a three-descriptor formulation encounters problems of rounding, storage, and computational efficiency. Techniques for overcoming these problems are outlined and applied in representative demonstrations of the model. Forest Sci. 25:665-672.