New methods for the analysis and characterization of forest stand structures

For a considerable time now so-called structure indices which quantify spat ial stand structure have been used as an integral parr of forest research. In the past three decades renowned statisticians have developed correlation functions - initially for problems nor related to forestry - which permit forest stand structures to be analysed and characterised thus giving access to more information. Two very different forest stands are used as examples to explain and compare the two concepts of stand structure analysis. Resul ts demonstrate that the new methods lead to a better understanding of spati al patterns in forest stands and are paving the way towards the exact artif icial generation of these structures by computer.