VISIBILITY IN A TROPICAL FOREST
Abstract
Horizontal visibility in a tropical deciduous forest in Eastern Panama was measured in October 1962 in the course of Project Swamp Fox II. The total of 360 observations consisted of 4 observations at each of 90 sites. The maximum distance at which a camouflaged object moving away from the observer could be identified in this type of forest was 100 feet; the average distance, approximately 50 feet. The maximum distance that a pre-positioned camouflaged object could be identified was 60 feet; the median distance was approximately 22 feet. A study of the spacing of tree trunk diameters disclosed that an observer standing in the center of randomly selected circles with a 15-foot radius would find that an average of 30 percent of the peripheries would be obstructed to view by tree trunks without foliage, and 66 to 88 percent of the peripheries of quadrats measured at 90 feet on a side would be obstructed to the viewer from central points. It was also found that some unobstructed sight lines of 100 to 300 feet could be obtained in this type of forest if the foliage were removed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0417870
Entities
People
- Robert L. Anstey
Organizations
- United States Army Soldier Systems Center