Tree volume equations for fifteen urban species in California

There are many allometric equations to describe the amount of wood in forest timber species, but little work has been done in quantifying how urban trees grow. In this field study, 15 species (5 each from three California regions) were chosen for volumetric determination. For 50-60 specimens of each species, a variety of size measurements across of range of trunk diameters were taken including height, crown diameter, and number and length of terminal branches. Volumetric equations were derived from these measurements. The initial impetus for this study was to estimate the amount of wood stored in trees to assist urban forest managers with finding uses for wood residue. In recent years, however, this study has become the basis for improved allometric equations for urban trees in the context of greenhouse gas offsets.