Use Of Altmetrics To Analyze Scholarworks In Natural Resource Management, David L. Kulhavy, R Philip Reynolds, Daniel R. Unger, Matthew W. Mcbroom, I-Kuai Hung, Yanli Zhang

Faculty Publications

Digital preservation of library materials has increased the need for methods to access the documents and contents maintained in digital archives. The use of altmetrics to quantify the impact of scholarly works, including PlumX, is increasing readership by listing articles in reference services. The outreach from the digital repository ScholarWorks at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU) highlights the impact within the natural resources community from Digital Commons, Forest Sciences Commons; and from the Natural Products Chemistry and Pharmacognosy Commons. The use of PlumX altmetrics was examined to evaluate usage, impact, and digital audience downloads for the Arthur Temple College …

Integration Of Citygreen Landscape Ecological Analysis Into A Capstone Environmental Science Course, David L. Kulhavy, Daniel R. Unger, Reid Viegut, I-Kuai Hung, Yanli Zhang

Faculty Publications

CITYgreen Geographic Information Systems software was used to develop a campus wide cover type map for Stephen F. Austin State University in an environmental science landscape ecology course. The finding indicated an equal division of forest cover type compared to impervious surface of buildings and paved surface. Once the classification was completed, students chose an area for reforestation identified in CITYgreen, while raising funds for the purchase of trees for the project. Before completing the project, students reviewed tenets of landscape ecology, civic ecology education, and benefits of urban forestry. At the completion of the project, students reviewed service-learning aspects …

Comparing Canopy Metric Estimations Using Three Conifer Species In The Netherlands, Alan Duncan Hibler, Brian P. Oswald, Nienke Brouwer, Ester Willemsen, Hans M. Williams

Faculty Publications

A growing concern associated with fire in The Netherlands is estimating the spread of wildfire, however often the data needed to estimate canopy fires are lacking. The primary parameter required is canopy bulk density (CBD), which requires estimations of canopy gap fraction and leaf area index (LAI). The accuracy of three indirect methods of estimating CBD (a densiometer, hemispherical canopy photographs (HCP), and a LI-COR LAI 2200c plant canopy analyzer) was compared for three common tree species in the Netherlands [Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco)]. No …

Internet Of Things For Sustainable Forestry, Abdul Salam

Faculty Publications

Forests and grasslands play an important role in water and air purification, prevention of the soil erosion, and in provision of habitat to wildlife. Internet of Things has a tremendous potential to play a vital role in the forest ecosystem management and stability. The conservation of species and habitats, timber production, prevention of forest soil degradation, forest fire prediction, mitigation, and control can be attained through forest management using Internet of Things. The use and adoption of IoT in forest ecosystem management is challenging due to many factors. Vast geographical areas and limited resources in terms of budget and equipment …

Digital Preservation And Access Of Natural Resources Documents, David Kulhavy, R Philip Reynolds, Daniel Unger, Steven H. Bullard, Matthew W. Mcbroom

Faculty Publications

Digitization and preservation of natural resource documents were reviewed and the current status of digitization presented for a North American university. It is important to present the status of the digitation process for natural resources and to advocate for increased collections of digital material for ease of reference and exchange of information. Digital collections need to include both published documents and ancillary material for research projects and data for future use and interpretation. The methods in this paper can be applied to other natural resource collections increasing their use and distribution. The process of decision making for documents and their …

Bullish On Forestry Careers, Steven H. Bullard, Thomas J. Straka

Faculty Publications

During the next decade, baby boomer-aged foresters, those born from 1946 to 1964, will be retiring in large numbers. This retirement trend is true for all sectors of forestry employment, from state and federal agencies to private firms and industries.

Forestry employers in both public and private sectors are clamoring for more graduates, as well as for more diverse graduates, from forestry degree programs. With looming retirements and industry growth, employers can project the number of positions opening, and they are aware that U.S. forestry schools are not producing sufficient graduates to fill the positions.

Producing “Society-Ready” Foresters: A Research-Based Process To Revise The Bachelor Of Science In Forestry Curriculum At Stephen F. Austin State University, Steven H. Bullard, Pat Stephens Williams, Theresa Coble, Dean W. Coble, Ray Darville, Laurie Rogers

Faculty Publications

“Society-ready” foresters are capable of dealing effectively with the complex economic, ecological, and social issues involving forestry in the 21st century. To assess the knowledge areas, skill sets, abilities, and behaviors needed by society-ready, entry-level foresters today, we surveyed 800 forestry employers and forestry alumni from Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU), and we also conducted focus group sessions with a total of 58 forestry employers. Important areas of knowledge on emerging issues for society-ready Bachelor of Science in Forestry (BSF) graduates included climate change, water availability and quality, and dealing with invasive plants, pathogens, and insects. However, the skill …

University-Based Forestry Research And "The Little Red Hen", Steven H. Bullard

Faculty Publications

Universities have three basic mission areas: service, teaching, and research. Through the service mission, many forest landowners participate in forestry extension programs and use university-based out reach materials and resources. Many forest landowners also recognize the teaching mission of universities by interacting regularly with forestry professionals who were trained through academic programs accredited by the Society of American Foresters. These two mission areas, service and teaching, have been and continue to be relevant to millions of forest landowners across the nation.

But what about university-based forestry research? As a forestry dean and as current president of the National Association of …

Stream Water Quality And Quantity Effects From Select Timber Harvesting Of A Streamside Management Zone, Luke Sanders, Matthew W. Mcbroom

Faculty Publications

A naturally regenerated, even aged, mixed pine/hardwood, streamside management zone (SMZ) was selectively harvested in May 2006. The 27.8 ha SMZ buffered an intermittent headwater stream draining a 98 ha watershed. The harvest complied with Texas, USA best management practices (BMPs) by maintaining a minimum SMZ width of 15 m on either side of the channel, retaining a minimum basal area (BA) greater than 11.47 m² ha^-1, and minimizing forest floor and stream channel disturbance. No changes in soil bulk density were measured with only a slight increase in bare soil. No changes in water quality or …

Sub-Pixel Classification Of Forest Cover Types In East Texas, Joey Westbrook, I-Kuai Hung, Daniel Unger, Yanli Zhang

Faculty Publications

Sub-pixel classification is the extraction of information about the proportion of individual materials of interest within a pixel. Landcover classification at the sub-pixel scale provides more discrimination than traditional per-pixel multispectral classifiers for pixels where the material of interest is mixed with other materials. It allows for the un-mixing of pixels to show the proportion of each material of interest. The materials of interest for this study are pine, hardwood, mixed forest and non-forest. The goal of this project was to perform a sub-pixel classification, which allows a pixel to have multiple labels, and compare the result to a traditional …

The Mapping Of Composite Pollen From Point Sampled Data And Cartographic Generalization, Peter P. Siska, I-Kuai Hung, Vaughn M. Bryant Jr.

Faculty Publications

Pollen grains are microgametophytes produced by angiosperm and gymnosperm plants. They are responsible for transporting genetic material and carrying out fertilization. The study of pollen has numerous practical applications such as plant biodiversity, paleoclimatology, archaeology, allergy studies, the study of nectar sources in honey (melissopalynology), searching for sources of petroleum, and more recently, using pollen as a trace evidence component in forensics. Once pollen grains become airborne, their dispersal is controlled by a number of physical factors that determine the deposition distance from their source area. The purpose of this work is to study spatial pattern of composite pollen in …

A ‘Driving Force’ In Developing The Nation’S Forests: The Mcintire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research Program., Steven H. Bullard, Perry J. Brown, Catalino A. Blanche, Richard W. Binker, Don H. Thompson

Faculty Publications

The McIntire-Stennis (M-S) Cooperative Forestry Research Program has provided fundamental support for creating and strengthening forestry research and graduate training efforts at colleges and universities across the nation for nearly 50 years. M-S funding has helped produce thousands of forestry scientists and other research professionals, and M-S–supported research has provided critical basic understanding and applied solutions to extend the benefits that flow from forests and related rangelands across the nation over time. The 1962 legislation that created the M-S program authorized funding of up to one-half of the funds appropriated for federal forestry research conducted directly by the USDA. Throughout …

Basic Concepts In Forest Valuation And Investment Analysis: Edition 3.0, Steven H. Bullard, Thomas J. Straka

Faculty Publications

This book was originally intended to supplement lectures in forestry economics at the undergraduate level. It’s currently used for that purpose in ‘Forest Resource Economics’ courses at several universities. The book is also intended, however, to serve as a basic reference for foresters with experience in valuation and investment analysis concepts and methods. It has proven to be a valuable resource in forest valuation and investment analysis workshops for practicing foresters, landowners, and others interested in forestry investments.

Web-Based Spatial Decision Support System And Watershed Management With A Case Study, Yanli Zhang, Matthew W. Mcbroom, J. Degroote, R. L. Kauten, P. K. Barten

Faculty Publications

In order to maintain a proper balance between development pressure and water resources protection, and also to improve public participation, efficient tools and techniques for soil and water conservation projects are needed. This paper describes the development and application of a web-based watershed management spatial decision support system, WebWMPI. The WebWMPI uses the Watershed Management Priority Indices (WMPI) approach which is a prioritizing method for watershed management planning and it integrates land use/cover, hydrological data, soils, slope, roads, and other spatial data. The land is divided into three categories: Conservation Priority Index (CPI) land, Restoration Priority Index (RPI) land, and …

Food, Nutrition, And Natural Resource Sciences In The Fy 2011 Budget. Chapter 27, American Assoc. For The Advancement Of Science Report Xxxv, William Fisher, Karl Glasener, Caron Gala Bijl, Mary Lee Watts, Lowell Randel, Steven H. Bullard, Jim Gulliford

Faculty Publications

Food, agricultural, nutrition, and natural resource sciences are poised to make major contributions to improve human health and protect our environment. With the launch of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIF A) in 2009, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said "the opportunity to truly transform a field of science happens at best once a generation." With the release of a report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization stating that food production will need to nearly double by 2050 to meet the demands of a world population totaling more than nine billion, this announcement is timely. The current …

Wood Furniture Components: Implementation Of Flow-Line Technology Based On Lean Manufacturing Concepts, W. D. Motsenbocker, P. H. Steele, S. L. Hunter, Steven H. Bullard, A. Schuler

Faculty Publications

This case study is #3 in a series of studies that relate specifically to the development and application of lean manufacturing techniques for the furniture and wood component supplying industries. Case study #3 is an example of how productivity can be increased in a furniture manufacturing organization by using flow-line technology.

This case study provides information about lean manufacturing and how a lean manufacturing system can be implemented, followed by a detailed case study of a wood component manufacturing company’s adoption of a new flow-line technology based on lean manufacturing concepts.

The Double-D Cell For Assembling Hardware In Upholstered Furniture Production, S. L. Hunter, Steven H. Bullard, P. H. Steele, W. D. Motsenbocker

Faculty Publications

This is the first case study in a series of studies that relate specifically to the development and application of lean manufacturing techniques of furniture and wood component supplying industries. Case study one is an example of how a subassembly process in an upholstered furniture facility was re-configured from a traditional flow line to a “Double-D” manufacturing cell. This case study provides general information about lean manufacturing and how a lean manufacturing system can be implemented, followed by a detailed description of Franklin Corporation’s adoption of a new type of manufacturing cell—the “Double-D”. A discussion of the original state of …

Parallel Pull Flow: A New Lean Production Design, S. L. Hunter, Steven H. Bullard, P. H. Steele, W. D. Motsenbocker

Faculty Publications

This case study is #2 in a series of studies that relate specifically to the development and application of lean manufacturing techniques for the furniture and wood component supplying industries. Case study #2 is an example of how productivity can be increased in a furniture manufacturing organization by using a new lean production design termed Parallel Pull Flow (PPF). This case study provides information about lean manufacturing and how a lean manufacturing system can be implemented, followed by a detailed case study of a furniture manufacturing company’s adoption of a new final assembly PPF lean production system.

See The Light: A Multi-Faceted Effort By Mississippi State University Aims To Keep U.S. Manufacturers Competitive, Steven H. Bullard

Faculty Publications

People and organizations change for one of two reasons - when they see the light or when they feel the heat. With global competitors providing the heat, U .S. furniture producers today must be willing to change and innovate if they intend to stay in business long term. The Institute of Furniture Manufacturing and Management at Mississippi State University can help. IFMM exists to document and develop strategies that enable U.S.-based furniture manufacturers to achieve and sustain competitive advantages in the global furniture marketplace.

Innovate Or Evaporate . . . Business Concept Innovation In The Furniture Industry In The Age Of Information, Steven H. Bullard

Faculty Publications

Introduction The U.S. furniture industry has changed dramatically in recent years. Furniture manufacturers, for example, have recently faced competition from foreign producers that has been particularly intense – resulting in factory closings and job losses in many areas of the country, including the Mid-South. In Mississippi, for example, the number of employees in furniture and fixtures industries dropped by 2,100 (6.8%) in the year 2000 (Center for Policy Research and Planning 2001). Similar job losses have been occurring in Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina and other important furniture-producing states. Nationwide, employment in furniture and fixtures manufacturing dropped by 40,000 (7.2%) from …

Forval: Computer Software Package For Forestry Investment Analysis, T. J. Straka, Steven H. Bullard

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Furniture Manufacturing And Marketing: Eight Strategic Issues For The 21st Century, Steven H. Bullard, C. D. West

Faculty Publications

“Take change by the hand, or it will take you by the throat.” Attributed to Winston Churchill, this brief sentence emphasizes the need to understand and embrace change in general. What important “changes” will impact furniture production and marketing in the 21st century? And what can furniture manufacturers and marketers do to “take change by the hand” today and in the future?

Engineered Wood Products May Dramatically Impact Timber Markets In The Southern U.S., Steven H. Bullard

Faculty Publications

"Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine." This bumper sticker saying relates well to recent developments in fo rest products and their potential impact on forest landowners in the South.

Change is inevitable-and very important changes are occurring today in how the trees-we grow are processed and used in the US and around the world. These changes have the potential for very dramatic changes in timber markets in the US South, where there are millions of acres of commercial forestland. Changes in timber markets, of course, affect landowners' profits from timber growing, and they may therefore impact our objectives …

Population Dynamics, Impacts, And Integrated Management Of Forest Defoliating Insects, David Kulhavy, W. G. Ross, R. R. Cahal

Faculty Publications

Pine plantations on Typic Quartzipsamments in East Texas are difficult to establish. Forest management options following clearcutting are limited. An 8-year regeneration study of the growth and survival of loblolly, Pinus taeda, L. shortleaf, P. echinata Mill., slash, P. elliotii Engelm and longleaf pines P. palustris Mill. was conducted to determine optimum tree species and treatments for reforestation, and to recommend practical alternative land uses and management strategies for Typic Quartzipsamments. Successful regeneration provides new opportunities for insects and pathogens. Impacts of the Nantucket pine tip moth, R}iyacionia frustrana (Comstock), the Deodar weevil, Pissodes nemorensis, Germar, Annosus root rot, Heterobasidion …

Manufacturing Upholstered Furniture In The Southeastern U.S.: A Comparative Cost Assessment, Joshua O. Idassi, Steven H. Bullard

Faculty Publications

The upholstered household furniture industry (SIC 25 12) is extremely important in the economies of Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Tennessee. This study uses a comparative cost approach to assess the differences that exist in the manufacturing and distribution of upholstered wood household furniture among southeast U.S. states. Secondary data for raw material, labor, and transportation costs were obtained from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, for 1982, 1987, and 1992. Total costs were estimated for raw material, labor, and transportation of the finished products. A simple cost index was constructed for each cost component. Analysis of …

Geodemographic Approaches To Identifying U.S. Furniture Markets, Frank M. Howell, Larry Doolittle, Jarryl B. Ritchie, Melissa A. Barfield, Steven H. Bullard

Faculty Publications

Demand for household furniture is shaped by a multitude of dynamic forces, from the global economic situation to subtle changes in consumer preferences. Correspondingly, the academic disciplines employed to identify, analyze, and predict these forces range from macroeconomics to psychology, and include demography, sociology, geography, and several applied fields. The demographic characteristics of furniture consumers has been a particularly popular area of research, primarily because of the availability of secondary data from various public · agencies. Some of this research is reviewed in a subsequent section of this report.

Convert: A Program To Evaluate Hardwood Sawmill Conversion Efficiency, Steven H. Bullard, Philip Steele, Craig T. Boden, Penny Scott

Faculty Publications

CONVERT is a computer program that allows users to evaluate the conversion efficiency of hardwood sawmills. Users can consider six factors that influence conversion efficiency. Four of the factors reflect characteristics of hardwood sawmill machines: headrig kerf, headrig type, resaw kerf, and rough green size. The other factors reflect characteristics of the mill's raw material inputs: average log length and average log diameter.

Raw Materials Use By Mississippi Furniture Manufacturers, 1989, Mark A. Glaeser, Steven H. Bullard, Larry Doolittle, Philip Steele

Faculty Publications

Mississippi's furniture industry has grown rapidly in recent years and now ranks nationally in production of specific types of furniture. Furniture pmducers in the state use many types of wood and nonwood raw materials. Raw materials expenditures were almost $330 million for 92 firms that responded to a 1989 survey. The survey included upholstered and nonupholstered furniture producers as well as hardwood dimension and frame producers. Substantial amounts of these raw materials were obtained from suppliers within the state.

Upholstered Expenditures: What U.S. And Canadian Consumers Plan To Spend On Upholstered Furniture, Gary M. Kellum, Eric J. Todd, Steven H. Bullard

Faculty Publications

Approximately 48 percent of U. S. households and 54 percent of Canadian households plan to buy some form of upholstered furniture in the near future. According to a recent survey, spending plans differ somewhat between U. S. and Canadian consumers, however. American consumers, for example, favor less expensive sofas, loveseats, and recliners, while Canadians prefer less expensive upholstered rockers and stationary chairs. Overall, Canadian households plan to spend more for each individual item than U. S. households.

Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! Not Just For Children Anymore! Seeking A National Perspective, David L. Kulhavy

Faculty Publications

Insects as interpretive tools are an invaluable resource for the interpreter. There are many uses, from live insect displays to pinned specimens to the use of insects puppets in classrooms, conferences or other interpretive arenas. In this paper, the use of mealworms, the monarch butterfly as a candidate for our national insect, and the demonstration of insect locomotion are presented. The key to successful interpretation using insects is to encourage audience participation, exude enthusiasm, and promote the use of insects as an easy resource to acquire.