Estimating Tree Height-Diameter Models with the Bayesian Method

Six candidate height-diameter models were used to analyze the height-diameter relationships. The common methods for estimating the height-diameter models have taken the classical (frequentist) approach based on the frequency interpretation of probability, for example, the nonlinear least squares met...

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Main Authors: Xiongqing Zhang, Aiguo Duan, Jianguo Zhang, Congwei Xiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/683691
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author Xiongqing Zhang
Aiguo Duan
Jianguo Zhang
Congwei Xiang
author_facet Xiongqing Zhang
Aiguo Duan
Jianguo Zhang
Congwei Xiang
author_sort Xiongqing Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Six candidate height-diameter models were used to analyze the height-diameter relationships. The common methods for estimating the height-diameter models have taken the classical (frequentist) approach based on the frequency interpretation of probability, for example, the nonlinear least squares method (NLS) and the maximum likelihood method (ML). The Bayesian method has an exclusive advantage compared with classical method that the parameters to be estimated are regarded as random variables. In this study, the classical and Bayesian methods were used to estimate six height-diameter models, respectively. Both the classical method and Bayesian method showed that the Weibull model was the “best” model using data1. In addition, based on the Weibull model, data2 was used for comparing Bayesian method with informative priors with uninformative priors and classical method. The results showed that the improvement in prediction accuracy with Bayesian method led to narrower confidence bands of predicted value in comparison to that for the classical method, and the credible bands of parameters with informative priors were also narrower than uninformative priors and classical method. The estimated posterior distributions for parameters can be set as new priors in estimating the parameters using data2.
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language English
publishDate 2014-01-01
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spelling doaj-art-68fd9eac72dc4751807ab9f0e73b74a42025-08-20T02:35:25ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal2356-61401537-744X2014-01-01201410.1155/2014/683691683691Estimating Tree Height-Diameter Models with the Bayesian MethodXiongqing Zhang0Aiguo Duan1Jianguo Zhang2Congwei Xiang3State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of the State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of the State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of the State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of the State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, ChinaSix candidate height-diameter models were used to analyze the height-diameter relationships. The common methods for estimating the height-diameter models have taken the classical (frequentist) approach based on the frequency interpretation of probability, for example, the nonlinear least squares method (NLS) and the maximum likelihood method (ML). The Bayesian method has an exclusive advantage compared with classical method that the parameters to be estimated are regarded as random variables. In this study, the classical and Bayesian methods were used to estimate six height-diameter models, respectively. Both the classical method and Bayesian method showed that the Weibull model was the “best” model using data1. In addition, based on the Weibull model, data2 was used for comparing Bayesian method with informative priors with uninformative priors and classical method. The results showed that the improvement in prediction accuracy with Bayesian method led to narrower confidence bands of predicted value in comparison to that for the classical method, and the credible bands of parameters with informative priors were also narrower than uninformative priors and classical method. The estimated posterior distributions for parameters can be set as new priors in estimating the parameters using data2.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/683691
spellingShingle Xiongqing Zhang
Aiguo Duan
Jianguo Zhang
Congwei Xiang
Estimating Tree Height-Diameter Models with the Bayesian Method
The Scientific World Journal
title Estimating Tree Height-Diameter Models with the Bayesian Method
title_full Estimating Tree Height-Diameter Models with the Bayesian Method
title_fullStr Estimating Tree Height-Diameter Models with the Bayesian Method
title_full_unstemmed Estimating Tree Height-Diameter Models with the Bayesian Method
title_short Estimating Tree Height-Diameter Models with the Bayesian Method
title_sort estimating tree height diameter models with the bayesian method
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/683691
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