• Mercier, Wilfred Jean-Baptiste
  University of Maine Graduate School
  

Forests are classified into smaller units, called stands, which are made up of trees of similar species, size, and spacing to allow foresters to more easily understand the complex landscapes that they manage and aid in their decision making. Forest stand type maps historically have been produced by trained photo interpreters who manually interpret high resolution aerial imagery. These stand maps are known for being highly variable due to interpreter experience, and costly due to the large amount of manual labor that is put into their generation. Recent advances in computer technology and availability of high resolution digital imagery has facilitates research using computer technology and availability of high resolution imagery has facilitated research using computer-automated systems that attempt to reduce the cost and variability of stand mapping; however, little previous research has been attempted in the northeastern forests of the United States.