Subjects offered Biennially - Next offered 2011
Master of Forest Ecosystem Science
220412 Wood Science and Technology |
In this subject students will develop a basic understanding of the structural and functional elements of a tree and how it grows in height and girth; the cell wall and how the anatomy of wood can be used for species identification; and the effect of wood anatomy on wood properties with particular emphasis on wood permeability. The subject will also introduce students to the biology of wood decay fungi and wood destroying insects; the behaviour, anatomy and physiology of the biological agents and a taxonomic description of the economic important fungi, termites, and wood borers. Students will be introduced to the basics of wood processing, including solid wood processing (sawmilling, drying and wood preservation), composite products manufacture and pulp and paper manufacture. This topic also develops an understanding of the issues facing the forest industries in Australia. Subject coordinator: Prof Peter Vinden |
220417 Forest Health |
This subject covers the ecology, impact and management of insect pests and pathogens in forests, woodlands, plantations and urban environments. An understanding of the dynamics of pest and pathogen populations is essential in order to determine the risk they pose and to determine appropriate management actions. The increasing globalisation of trade also requires a thorough understanding of biosecurity protocols for the protection of trees in the landscape from exotic incursions and for maintaining overseas access for timber-based products. Subject coordinators: Nick Collett and Ian Smith |
220501 Wood Quality |
This subject provides students with advanced concepts in wood quality, the origin and cause of wood defects, their distribution in the tree and impact on wood properties. Wood quality attributes are defined together with a description of the systematic variation of wood properties within and between trees. Students will develop an understanding of wood as a complex material and factors responsible for its characteristics including density, moisture content, shrinkage and swelling. Students are given an in depth knowledge of the impact of environmental and genetic manipulation of wood quality attributes; how silvicultural techniques can be used to manage wood quality in softwood and hardwood plantations and the concepts of managing forests to end-user requirements. Students are introduced to quality surveys of forests, commercial techniques for measuring quality and log grading. Subject coordinators: Prof Peter Vinden |
220502 Bushfire and Climate |
This subject covers the fundamentals of forest fire behaviour and the factors affecting it including fuels, weather, topography, fire scale and climatic conditions. This knowledge will be the underlying understanding required for the planning and execution of prescribed burning for land management and to understand the fundamentals of wildfire suppression strategies and tactics. Subject coordinators: Dr Kevin Tolhurst |
220505 Advanced Plantation Silviculture |
This subject presents theory and practice of how growth and product quality can be manipulated and modelled in intensively managed plantations. It consists of three modules comprising:
Subject coordinators: Dr Peter Ades, Dr Chris Weston and Dr Tom Baker |
220720 Forest Operations |
This subject will provide an overview of forest & plantation harvesting operations including mechanized harvesting methods, cable yarding, transportation systems, forest road management, and harvest planning. Harvesting and operations cost assessment techniques, and applications of planning software to help frame problems and provide information for contemporary forest & plantation management. Students will apply the information learned in the course to develop a harvesting plan and present the plan. Subject coordinators: Professor Loren Kellogg and Mr Mark Brown |