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Syllabus

PFS0181 Considering Uncertainty in Forest Management Planning, 4.5 Credits

Subjects

Forest Management

Education cycle

Postgraduate level

Grading scale

Language

English

Prior knowledge

Students should be enrolled as PhD-students and have a master’s (or similar) in forest science or in mathematics, mathematical statistics, or engineer with interest in forest issues. In addition, the student must have basic knowledge of forest management planning and some experience with optimization methods used in forest planning e.g., linear programming

Objectives

The objective of the course is to introduce and provide basic knowledge of the methods used in forest management planning to deal with uncertainty. This would include understanding the different sources of uncertainty and the potential methods to handle it, in optimization problems. In addition, the course provides basic knowledge of how to implement these methods and basic understanding of the solving techniques.

After completing the course, the students should be able to:

• Demonstrate basic knowledge about uncertainty methods used to solve forest planning problems.

• Identify the appropriate uses of each particular method

• Be able to develop optimization models for forest planning that account for uncertainty

• Demonstrate the ability to interpret and explain the results of forest planning case studies involving consideration of uncertainty

Content

The course is divided into 6 modules that address the different approaches to deal with uncertainty in forest management planning. The first section is a full-time module that provides an Introduction to Uncertainty in forest management, optimization in forestry, and forest management decision support systems. The other five modules will cover the following topics:

Adaptive Forest Management, Monte Carlo simulation, Stochastic Programming, Stochastic Dynamic Programming, and Robust Optimization. During each module, there will be lectures, workshops, and teacher-led exercises.

There will be seminars and guest lectures on forest management applications associated with each module and specific assignments linked to each of the learning outcomes.

Formats and requirements for examination

To successfully complete and pass the course, the students are required to 1) actively participate in discussions and lectures during the course, 2) complete a 2-page maximum written learning sheet on each module (instructions will be provided), and 3) complete the assignments on each separate module.

• If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.

• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.

• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.

• For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Additional information

first week and that week will be offered full time. The rest of the 4 weeks will continue half time

Responsible department

Department of Forest Resource Management