This document details the process of stand typing in QGIS software. It discusses downloading and installing QGIS and useful plugins. It then describes how to create and edit polygon vector layers to delineate forest stands, including assigning attribute information. It explains how to join the spatial vector data with a non-spatial attribute table. Finally, it provides examples of diagnostic assessments of different forest stands and the prescriptions and recommendations that were made based on each stand's conditions.

1. Daniel Guerrero and Vladyslav Zablotskyi
Multifunctional forestry – Spatial Analysis
January 16th 2020
Stand typing in QGIS

2. Agenda
A
B
C
D
Installing QGIS
Download, installation, useful links, installation of plugins and
location of the study area
Vector editing
Creation and editing of polygonal vector layer, stand typing process
Table union and vector file
Connecting spatial elements and tables
Conclusions
Conclusions and recommendations

3. This section will detail the complete procedure to download
the software for the implementation of GIS: QGIS, as well
as useful complements for the stand typing process.
Installation QGIS!

4. Downloading and Installation
01
Enter the official QGIS download
portal, in this linke
Login to the website
02
Although you can choose the latest
version, it is advisable to download
the version with long-term support,
which is more stable, choose the
x64 or x34 operating system
architecture
Select the version of QGIS
03
Open the downloader and follow
the installation instructions
Installation

5. 1
Complements
Complements
Select from the drop-down menu, the
option ‘Manage and install plugins’
2
QuickMapServices
Find the Quick Map Services plug-in
and install
3
Load contribution packages
In the plug-in configuration options,
select the “More Services” tab and
then press the “Get contributed pack”
button.

6. Location of the study area
Location
01 Click on the "QuickMapServices"
button and choose the preferred
web server, in this example the
images stored by Google will be
used.
02 Move by moving the cursor to the
area where the stands are where
your typing will be done. You can
also type the coordinate in the
"Coordinate" field located at the
bottom of the canvas.

7. This section will detail the process to create a vector file,
edit it and set attributes.
Editing

8. Create vectorial layer
General procedure to create ‘shapefile’ of polygon type
Locate the "New Shapefile file layer" button. A dialog box will open in which you must specify the name of the file and
its location, the type of geometry (in this case polygon), set the coordinate system and optionally You can create a new
field, in this example only the ID field and “Add to the list of fields” will be created, which will then act as a key to join
the non-geographic information.

9. Start of editing
Procedure to edit vector file
This process is iterative from step 2 to 4 to make a new polygon.
2 Click on ‘Toggle editing’
3
Go around the stand by
clicking on each of its
vertices
4
Finish the polygon by
right clicking and assign
the attribute (s) to the
defined field (s)
1

10. Editing
Procedure to modify an existing polygon
The tool ‘Reshape features’ can be used in cases where you want to change the
area initially plotted for a polygon, in the example, it was intended to extend the area
of the previously defined stand.
2 Click on the tool ‘Reshape
features’, then modify the initial
area of the polygon, either to
add or subtract its extension,
once the delimitation is
concluded, click on the right
button.
1

11. Finish of editing
Procedure to end the editing session
Once an editing session is closed, the changes made during this session cannot be restored again,
in case of an error or missing new information to be added, a new session must be initiated and
work on the changes.
2 Once the polygons of the area
to be finished are finished,
click on the “Toggle editing”
button again. Next, a pop-up
window will appear asking if
you want to save or download
the changes.
1

12. Table modification
Procedure to modify the fields of an attribute table
Special attention should be paid to the numbering of the identifier ‘ID’ of each of the
polygons, since this will be the anchor to join the vector elements with the
corresponding counterpart in the table with field information.
2 Click on the ‘Toggle editing’ tool,
then a new editing session will
begin.
1
3 Select one by one the records
of the table (polygons on the
canvas), verify their typology
and number properly.

13. Diagnostic
Past, forest structure, dynamics
The process of defining the stands in QGIS must
be accompanied by an in-field recognition, where
the past of the stand can be determined, its
current structure and the dynamics that are
developed there.
Results
Prescription and recommendations
The final objective of the stand typing is to group
areas in which due to its past and current
conditions, a series of recommendations and
treatments can be provided for the future.
In the example shown here, 5 stand units were
determined.
1
23
4
5

14. Attribute Table Load
General procedure to create ‘shapefile’ of polygon type
Locate the "Open Data Source Manager" button. A dialog box will open, select the "Delimited text" button on the left
side panel. In the right pane look for the file path in “.csv” format. In this case, as only the table will be loaded, check
the “No geometry” box. Check the "Example data" section.

15. 1
Join spatial and non-spatial data
Properties
Select the stand layer, right click and
select properties.
2
Joins
Select in the side panel the button of
‘Joins’.
3
Add
Indicate the fields that will act as a link
between the two layers, for the
example it will be “ID” and “ID_”.

16. Operations with the
new fields
Once the binding process has been completed and verified, the relationship can be
permanently saved by saving the file in a new work path. Likewise, at this time
operations can be made between fields, selections, combinations, among others.
Revision
With a quick check you can
verify that the spatial and
non-spatial information have
been correctly linked.

17. This section will detail the prescription of the defined
stands.
Prescription and
recommendations

18. Diagnostic
The area where the stand is now belongs to a private owner
and was cleaned not so long ago. There are no signs of any
recent treatment on trees and recent regeneration or
undergrowth, a tractor was apparently used to clean.
It is a monospecific stand of Populus nigra that has been
growing since a clear cut. As the trees are still very small, the
canopy of the stand is open. The undergrowth vegetation is
mainly composed of pastures.
Prescription
Prescription and recommendations
Selection, cutting less developed trees and leaving a
higher quality wood on the stump, since the purpose is
to produce good quality wood. It is recommended to
keep undergrowth vegetation clean, as it represents a
very high risk of forest fires and damage to trees.
1

19. Diagnostic
There is a stand with diseased trees, with signs of
damage to the trunk from sprains, breakage, low leaf
cover, open canopy coverage, easy access and transit,
flat slope. In the past it was determined that the area
was afforested. A lot of dead plant material is observed
along the stand (branches, leaves, trunks).
Prescription
Prescription and recommendations
It was evidenced a stand in poor
phytosanitary state, it is recommended to
perform a clear cut and check the soil
conditions to assess the possibility of a
new plantation.
2

20. Diagnostic
There is a stand in good phytosanitary state and in
good condition, easily accessible, with herbaceous
vegetation cover in the undergrowth, flat slope, with
high quality wood for veneers, semi closed canopy
cover.
Prescription
Prescription and recommendations
A stand is evidenced in good conditions, it
is recommended in some specific cases to
prune the lower branches, or simply do
nothing and let it continue to grow.
3

21. Diagnostic
It is an easily accessible but difficult transit, flat slope,
composed of plant regeneration, it was determined that
there was a complete cut previously, in some specific
areas near the riverbank, it was concluded that the high
water table could be affecting the growth of some
species.
Prescription
Prescription and recommendations
A selection of stems, cutting branches and
eliminating competition is recommended if
the purpose is to obtain good quality of
wood, likewise, the removal of
undergrowth vegetation is recommended.
4

22. Diagnostic
Prescription
Prescription and recommendations
Tree selection is recommended, cutting less developed trees
and leaving a higher quality stem per stump, since the
purpose is to produce good quality wood. It is recommended
to clean the vegetation of the undergrowth,
since it represents a very high risk of forest fires and damage
to trees.
5
It is a monospecific understory stand of Populus nigra.
There are about 7-8 stems no taller than 3 m that return
to sprout from each tree stump, which represents a support
of very high density. Since the trees are still very small,
The canopy of this stand is open. Joint development of shrubs and
pastures is observed in this area due to the low canopy coverage.
The high number of stems will affect the development of the tree in
diameter and height, since they will compete for the nutrients
that come from the roots. He is expected to stand has a very
high density and competition in the future.

23. D
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Thank you