Thomas DeanDr. Thomas Dean

Professor

Quantitative Silviculture

Room 210, RNR Building
Baton Rouge, LA 70803

phone: (225) 578-4216
email: fwdean@lsu.edu

Education

  • University of Oklahoma, Chemical Engineering, no degree
  • Oklahoma State University, Agriculture (Forestry, Science option), B.S., 1977
  • University of Missouri, Forestry, M.S., 1981
  • Utah State University, Forest Ecology, Ph.D., 1986

Professional and administrative experience

1996-present: Chair of Lucius W. Gilbert Foundation oversight committee, a $3.5 million endowment within the School of Renewable Natural Resources

1996-2009: Director, Cooperative Research in Sustainable Silviculture and Soil Productivity. A cooperative research program involving forest industry, USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station, LA Tech University, and  Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry

1992-1996: Graduate Coordinator, School of Renewable Natural Resources

1991-Present: Professor Quantitative Silviculture, Louisiana State University A&M and LSU Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

2000-2009: Adjunct Professor, Department of Forestry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS

1987-1991: Assistant Research Scientist, Department of Forestry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida

1986-1987: Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Forest Resources, Utah State University, Logan, Utah

Honors, awards, and memberships in professional societies and trade associations

Xi Sigma Pi; Sigma Xi; Departmental Fellowship, Utah State University; Society of American Foresters; Gamma Sigma Delta Teaching Merit Honor Roll (1996, 1999, 2000)

Courses Taught

Silviculture, Field Studies in Silviculture, Silvicultural Prescriptions, Principles of Forest Growth and Production

Graduate Students

Degree Completed In Progress
Masters 6 1
Ph.D. 2  


Editorial Boards

2011-present: Associate Editor, Forest Science, Silviculture
2002-2010: Associate Editor, Silviculture (pine), Southern Journal of Applied Forestry
2002-present: Editorial board, Forest Ecology and Management

Grants Received

  • A hypothesized mechanism linking changes in tree hydraulics to the size-density trajectories of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) stands. National Research Initiative Managed Ecosystem Seed Grant. Principal investigator. CoPI: V. Stiller (Southeastern Louisiana University). $65,413. 2008-2010.
  • Documentation and analysis of tree root extent and behavior along and in levees and floodwalls in the New Orleans District. Duration: Funding Source: Subcontract through JESCO (USACE). Co-PI. Other investigators: J.L. Chambers (LSU Ag Ctr) (PI). $47,187. 2007.
  • Nutrient supply and demand: relationship to long-term soil productivity, silviculture, and forest floor management. Agenda 2020 Sustainable Forestry Research Program, USDA Forest Service. CoPI. Other investigators: D.A. Scott (FS) (PI), M.A. Sword-Sayer (FS), J.P Barnett (FS), R.A. Newbold (LA Tech University). $375,000 subcontract to LSU AgCenter $145,500. 2005-2008
  • Monitoring soil productivity and environmental quality in second rotation southern pine plantations: a research, industry, and university cooperative. USDA Forest Service Challenge Grant. Principal investigator (1997-2005), Coprincipal investigator (1994-1996) Other investigators M.C. Carter (PI, 1994-1996) $533,000 (summation of annual awards) 1994-2005.
  • Development of procedures for intensive stand-level inventories combining LiDAR and spectral remote sensing tools with traditional inventory approaches. Mississippi State University Remote Sensing Technology Center. Coprincipal Investigator. Other investigators: D.L. Evans, S.D. Roberts, R.C. Parker, and I.A. Munn (Mississippi State University); Q.V. Cao (LSU AgCenter). $288,699.54 subcontract to LSU AgCenter $60,503. 2002-2004.
  • Producing an interactive knowledge base for pine regeneration for the Louisiana Forestry Productivity Program. Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Principal Investigator. Co-principal investigators: M. Chamberlain. $370,303.00. 2001-9/30/2007.
  • Enhancing LiDAR-based estimates of forest stand structure through incorporation of low-altitude hyperspectral imagery. Remote Sensing Technology Center at Mississippi State University. Coprincipal Investigator, Other investigators: S.D. Roberts and D. Evans (Mississippi State University). $112,350 for two years; subcontract to LSU Ag Ctr $8,400. 2000.
  • Leaf area and volume estimates in loblolly pine forests derived from aerial imaging LIDAR. NASA. Coprincipal Investigator. $278,961 for two years; subcontract to LSU Ag Ctr $52,430.00. 1999-2001.
    Comparative Effects of thinning on residual stand structure and growth. USDA Forest Service Cooperative Agreement. 1997-2000. Principal Investigator. $23,000.00. 1997-2000.
  • Climate change effects on forest biomass and growth: establishing a baseline using size--density relations. USDA Forest Service Cooperative Agreement. 1992-1995. Principal Investigator. $12,500.00. 1992-1995.

Publications last 4 years and other relevant publications

Refereed Journals

  • Cao, Q. V., and T.J. Dean. 2011. “Modeling crown structure from LiDAR data with statistical distributions.” Forest Science 57: 359-364.
  • Keim, R.F., Dean, T.J., Chambers, J.L., Conner, W.H., 2010. Stand density relationships in baldcypress. Forest Science 56, 336-343(8).
  • Dean, T.J., Q.V.Cao, S.D. Roberts, and D.L Evans. 2009. Measuring heights to crown base and crown median with LiDAR in a mature, even-aged loblolly pine stand. Forest Ecology and Management. Forest Ecology and Management 257(1): 126-133.
  • Alomary, A.M, and T.J. Dean. 2009. Impacts of harvest and post harvest treatments on early height growth trends of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). Jordan Journal of Agricultural Sciences 5, no. 4: 482-496.
  • Cao, Q.V. and T.J. Dean. 2008. Using segmented regression to model the density–size relationship in direct-seeded slash pine stands. Forest Ecology and Management 255(3-4) 948-952.
  • Dicus, C.A. and T.J. Dean. 2008. Tree-soil interactions affect production of loblolly and slash pine. Forest Science 54(2): 134-139.

Other publications

  • Dean, T., Scott, D.A., Newbold, R.A., 2010. Comparing diameter growth of stands prior to canopy closure to diameter growth of stands after canopy closure. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Athens, GA, pp. 363-367.