Jim Westfall
Title: Research Forester
Unit: Forest Inventory & Analysis
Address: NRS
11 Campus Blvd., Suite 200
Newtown Square, PA 19073
Phone: 610-557-4043
E-mail: Contact Jim Westfall
Jump to Publications
Education
- Ph.D., Forestry, 2001,
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
- M.S., Statistics, 2001,
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
- M.S., Forestry, 1998,
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
- B.S., Natural Resources, 1996,
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
- A.A.S., Forest Technology, 1993,
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Ranger School, Wanakena, NY
Civic & Professional Affiliations
- Society of American Foresters (2001-present)
- Southern Mensurationists (2005-present)
- Northeastern Mensurationists Organization (2004-present)
Current Research
Forest monitoring methods to assist in planning and implementation of scientifically-credible monitoring programs.
Improving field work efficiency and data quality via quantitative analyses for forest inventory.
Why is This Important
Increasing accountability for managing resources in a sustainable manner has resulted in an emergent need for monitoring status and trends on both public and private lands. These monitoring efforts occur at various scales, from relatively small forest holdings to large National Parks and National Forests. Conducting research on monitoring methods and developing an integrated suite of tools will assist in planning and implementation of scientifically-credible monitoring programs.
Data collection is often the most costly aspect of conducting a forest inventory. Research on methods that improve field-work efficiency and maximize the quality and use of the data may result in significant opportunities to reduce data collection costs and/or enhance the amount of information provided. Ultimately, this type of research strives to provide the maximum amount of analytical information at the least possible cost
Future Research
- Development of taper equations for the NRS-FIA region (24 states). Upon completion, this project will reduce field work, improve consistency, and advance analytical flexibility.
- Estimation methods for utilize both stand-level information and data from sample plots.
Featured Publications
- Woodall, C.W.; Zhu, K.; Westfall, J.A.; Oswalt, C.M.; D'Amato, A.W.; Walters, B.F.; Lintz, H.E. 2013. Assessing the stability of tree ranges and influence of disturbance in eastern US forests. Forest Ecology and Management. 291: 172-180.
- Woodall, Christopher W.; Perry, Charles H.; Westfall, James A. 2012. An empirical assessment of forest floor carbon stock components across the United States. Forest Ecology and Management. 269: 1-9.
- Westfall, James A.; MacFarlane, David W.; Weiskittel, Aaron R. 2012. Biomass measurement and modeling challenges for hardwood species in the northern region. In: Morin, Randall S.; Liknes, Greg C., comps. Moving from status to trends: Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) symposium 2012; 2012 December 4-6; Baltimore, MD. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-105. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. [CD-ROM]: 357-360.
- Westfall, James A.; Morin, Randall S. 2012. Canopy cover estimates for individual tree attributes. In: Morin, Randall S.; Liknes, Greg C., comps. Moving from status to trends: Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) symposium 2012; 2012 December 4-6; Baltimore, MD. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-105. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. [CD-ROM]: 248-253.
- Domke, Grant M.; Woodall, Christopher W.; Smith, James E.; Westfall, James A.; McRoberts, Ronald E. 2012. Consequences of alternative tree-level biomass estimation procedures on U.S. forest carbon stock estimates. Forest Ecology and Management. 270(15): 108-116.
Additional
Online Publications
- McWilliams, Will; Lehman, Shawn; Roth, Paul; Westfall, Jim. 2012. Forest Service's Northern Research Station FIA launches 24-state study of forest regeneration. The ForestrySource. 17(12): 12, 15.
- McWilliams, William H.; Morin, Randall S.; Johnson, Katherine; Moser, W. Keith; Westfall, James A. 2012. Invasive plant monitoring for northern U.S. forests. In: Morin, Randall S.; Liknes, Greg C., comps. Moving from status to trends: Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) symposium 2012; 2012 December 4-6; Baltimore, MD. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-105. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. [CD-ROM]: 283-287.
- McWilliams, William H.; Canham, Charles D.; Morin, Randall S.; Johnson, Katherine; Roth, Paul; Westfall, James A. 2012. Sampling forest regeneration across northern U.S. forests: filling a void in regeneration model input. In: Morin, Randall S.; Liknes, Greg C., comps. Moving from status to trends: Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) symposium 2012; 2012 December 4-6; Baltimore, MD. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-105. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. [CD-ROM]: 290-294.
- Woodall, C.W.; Walters, B.F.; Westfall, J.A. 2012. Tracking downed dead wood in forests over time: Development of a piece matching algorithm for line intercept sampling. Forest Ecology and Management. 277: 196-204.
- Woodall, C.J.; Nowak, D.J.; Liknes, G.C.; Westfall, J.A. 2010. Assessing the potential for urban trees to facilitate forest tree migration in the eastern United States. Forest Ecology and Managment. 259: 1447-1454.
- Westfall, James A. 2010. New Models for Predicting Diameter at Breast Height from Stump Dimensions. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry, Volume 27, Number 1, March 2010 , pp. 21-27(7)
- Woodall, C.W.; Oswalt, C.M.; Westfall, J.A.; Perry, C.H.; Nelson, M.D.; Finley, A.O. 2010. Selecting tree species for testing climate change migration hypotheses using forest inventory data. Forest Ecology and Management. 259: 778-785.
- Woodall, C.W.; Oswalt, C.M.; Westfall, J.A.; Perry, C.H.; Nelson, M.D.; Finley, A.O. 2009. An indicator of tree migration in forests of the eastern United States. Forest Ecology and Management. 257: 1434-1444.
- Westfall, James A. 2009. FIA national assessment of data quality for forest health indicators. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-53. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Service. 80 p.
- Westfall, James A.; Frieswyk, Thomas; Griffith, Douglas M. 2009. Implementing the measurement interval midpoint method for change estimation. In: McRoberts, Ronald E.; Reams, Gregory A.; Van Deusen, Paul C.; McWilliams, William H., eds. Proceedings of the eighth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; 2006 October 16-19; Monterey, CA. Gen. Tech. Report WO-79. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 231-236.
- Martin, Maria E. Blanco; Hoppus, Michael; Lister, Andrew; Westfall, James A. 2009. Is there a better metric than site index to indicate the productivity of forested lands?. In: McRoberts, Ronald E.; Reams, Gregory A.; Van Deusen, Paul C.; McWilliams, William H., eds. Proceedings of the eighth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; 2006 October 16-19; Monterey, CA. Gen. Tech. Report WO-79. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 355-362.
- Woodall, C.W.; Westfall, J.A. 2009. Relationships between the stocking levels of live trees and dead tree attributes in forests of the United States. Forest Ecology and Management. 258: 2602-2608.
- Woodall, Christopher W.; Oswalt, Christopher M.; Westfall, James A.; Perry, Charles H.; Nelson, Mark N. 2009. Tree migration detection through comparisons of historic and current forest inventories. In: McWilliams, Will; Moisen, Gretchen; Czaplewski, Ray, comps. Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Symposium 2008; October 21-23, 2008; Park City, UT. Proc. RMRS-P-56CD. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 9 p.
- Woodall, C.W.; Westfall, J.A. 2008. Controlling coarse woody debris inventory quality: taper and relative size methods. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 38: 631-636.
- Westfall, James A. 2008. Differences in Computed Individual-Tree Volumes Caused by Differences in Field Measurements . Northern Journal of Applied Forestry, Volume 25, Number 4, December 2008 , pp. 195-201(7)
- Woodall, C.W.; Westfall, J.A.; Lutes, D.C.; Oswalt, S.N. 2008. End-point diameter and total length coarse woody debris models for the United States. Forest Ecology and Management. 25: 3700-3706.
- Walker, Wayne S.; Kellndorfer, Josef M.; LaPoint, Elizabeth; Hoppus, Michael; Westfall, James. 2007. An empirical InSAR-optical fusion approach to mapping vegetation canopy height. Remote Sensing of Environment 109:482-499
- Woodall, Christopher W.; Westfall, James A. 2007. Improving coarse woody debris measurements: a taper-based technique. In: McRoberts, Ronald E.; Reams, Gregory A.; Van Deusen, Paul C.; McWilliams, William H., eds. Proceedings of the seventh annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; October 3-6, 2005; Portland, ME. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-77. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: 231-235.
- Westfall, J.A.; Woodall, C.W. 2007. Measurement repeatability of a large-scale inventory of forest fuels. Forest Ecology and Management. 253: 171-176.
- Westfall, James A.; Patterson, Paul L. 2007. Measurement variability error for estimates of volume change. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 37: 2201-2210.
- McWilliams, William H.; Cassell, Seth P.; Alerich, Carol L.; Butler, Brett J.; Hoppus, Michael L.; Horsley, Stephen B.; Lister, Andrew J.; Lister, Tonya W.; Morin, Randall S.; Perry, Charles H.; Westfall, James A.; Wharton, Eric H.; Woodall, Christopher W. 2007. Pennsylvania's Forest 2004. Resour. Bull. NRS-20. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 86 p.
- Westfall, James A.; Laustsen, Kenneth M. 2006. A merchantable and total height model for tree species in Maine. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry 23(4):241-249
- Westfall, James A. 2006. Modifying Taper-Derived Merchantable Height Estimates to Account for Tree Characteristics. In: Proceedings of the sixth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; 2004 September 21-24; Denver, CO. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-70. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. 126p.
- Westfall, James A. 2006. Predicting past and future diameter growth for
trees in the northeastern United States. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 36:1551-1562
- Pollard, James E.; Westfall, James A.; Patterson, Paul A.; Gartner, David L. 2005. FIA Quality Assurance Program: Evaluation of a Tree Matching Algorithm for Paired Forest Inventory Data. In: Proceedings of the fifth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; 2003 November 18-20; New Orleans, LA. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-69. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. 222p.
- McWilliams, William H.; Bowersox, Todd W.; Brose, Patrick H.; Devlin, Daniel A.; Finley, James C.; Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Horsley, Steve; King, Susan L.; LaPoint, Brian M.; Lister, Tonya W.; McCormick, Larry H.; Miller, Gary W.; Scott, Charles T.; Steele, Harry; Steiner, Kim C.; Stout, Susan L.; Westfall, James A.; White , Robert L. 2005. Measuring Tree Seedlings and Associated Understory Vegetation in Pennsylvania's Forests. In: McRoberts, Ronald E.; Reams, Gregory A.; Van Deusen, Paul C.; McWilliams, William H.; Cieszewski, Chris J., eds. Proceedings of the fourth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-252. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 21-26
- Westfall, James A.; Scott, Charles T. 2005. Northeastern FIA Tree Taper Study: Current Status and Future Work. In: Proceedings of the fifth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; 2003 November 18-20; New Orleans, LA. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-69. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. 222p.
- Westfall, James A.; Hoppus, Michael. 2005. Sensitivity of FIA Volume Estimates to Changes in Stratum Weights and Number of Strata. In: McRoberts, Ronald E.; Reams, Gregory A.; Van Deusen, Paul C.; McWilliams, William H.; Cieszewski, Chris J., eds. Proceedings of the fourth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-252. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 193-197
- McWilliams, William H.; Butler, Brett J.; Caldwell, Laurence E.; Griffith, Douglas M.; Hoppus, Michael L.; Laustsen, Kenneth M.; Lister, Andrew J.; Lister, Tonya W.; Metzler, Jacob W.; Morin, Randall S.; Sader, Steven A.; Stewart, Lucretia B.; Steinman, James R.; Westfall, James, A.; Williams, David A.; Whitman, Andrew; Woodall, Christopher W. 2005. The forests of Maine: 2003. Resour. Bull. NE-164. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 188 p.
- Lister, Andrew; Riemann, Rachel; Westfall, James; Hoppus, Mike. 2005. Variable Selection Strategies for Small-area Estimation Using FIA Plots and Remotely Sensed Data. In: McRoberts, Ronald E.; Reams, Gregory A.; Van Deusen, Paul C.; McWilliams, William H.; Cieszewski, Chris J., eds. Proceedings of the fourth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-252. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 105-109
- McWilliams, William H.; Alerich, Carol A.; Devlin, Daniel A.; Lister, Andrew J.; Lister, Tonya W.; Sterner, Stephen L.; Westfall, James A. 2004. Annual inventory report for Pennsylvania's forests: results from the first three years. Resour. Bull. NE-159. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 95 p.
- Arner, Stanford L.; Westfall, James A.; Scott, Charles T. 2004. Comparison of annual inventory designs using forest inventory and analysis data. Forest Science. 50(2): 188-203.
- McWilliams, William H.; Bowersox, Todd W.; Brose, Patrick H.; Devlin, Daniel A.; Finley, James C.; Horsley, Steve; Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Lister, Tonya W.; McCormick, Larry H.; Miller, Gary W.; Steiner, Kim C.; Stout, Susan L.; Westfall, James A.; White, Robert L. 2004. Indicators of regenerative capacity for eastern hardwood forests. In: Proceedings, Society of American Foresters 2003 national convention; 2003 October 25-29; Buffalo, NY. Bethesda, MD: Society of American Foresters: 136-140.
- Westfall, James A.; Burkhart, Harold E.; Allen, H. Lee. 2004. Young stand growth modeling for intensively-managed loblolly pine plantations in Southeastern U.S.. Forest Science. 50(6): 823-835.
- McWilliams, William H.; Bowersox, Todd W.; Brose, Patrick H.; Devlin, Daniel A.; Finley, James C.; Horsley, Steve; Gottschalk, Kurt W.; King, Susan L.; Lister, Tonya W.; McCormick, Larry H.; Miller, Gary W.; Scott, Charles T.; Steiner, Kim C.; Stout, Susan L.; Westfall, James A.; White, Robert L. 2003. Indicators of regenerative capacity for native broadleaf forests: a case study of ungulate overpopulation in the Eastern United States. In: Congress proceedings, Xii world forestry congress; 2003 September 21-28; Quebec City, Canada. [Place of publication unknown]: [Publisher unknown]: 342.
- McWilliams, William H.; Alerich, Carol A.; Devlin, Daniel A.; Lister, Tonya W.; Sterner, Stephen L.; Westfall, James A. 2002. Annual inventory report for Pennsylvania's forests: results from the first two years.. Resour. Bull. NE-156. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 71 p.
Last Modified:
02/15/2012