Forest
measurement
Forest inventory, tree growth, biomass, carbon and ecosystem monitoring. Connecting a numerical result to the biological system it describes.
DOMAIN ACCURACYForest biometrics · Biostatistics · Research
Science with
sound judgment.
I’m Kyriaki Kitikidou, PhD, Professor of Forest Biometrics at Democritus University of Thrace.
My work focuses on forest biometrics, biostatistics and sampling: measuring trees and forests, modelling biological data and interpreting the evidence with care.
01 / OBSERVE02 / MEASURE03 / INTERPRET
a closer look.FOREST MEASUREMENT
BIOSTATISTICS & INFERENCE
25+Years of university
teaching experience
17Biodiversity indices examinedteaching experience
in a first-author publication 8Forest research projects
as a research-team member
01 / EXPERTISE
The detail changes
the conclusion.
My work brings together forest biometrics, sampling design, statistical modelling and scientific peer review. I examine how measurements, analytical choices and assumptions shape a scientific conclusion.
Forest
Statistical
rigor
Sampling design, regression, experimental design and model assessment. Examining whether the methods, the assumptions and the interpretation support the conclusions.
METHODS & INFERENCEClear, actionable
feedback
Written assessment grounded in scientific peer review and university teaching. Explaining the issue, why it matters and what needs to change.
SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION02 / SELECTED RESEARCH
Forest science.
Quantitative insight.
Selected work in forest science, alongside a biostatistical contribution to a clinical research collaboration. Each example makes my contribution explicit.
ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE
Forests as Living
Public Infrastructure
What evidence makes a policy claim defensible?
A critical review connecting Mediterranean wildfire risk, restoration and carbon accounting to field verification and explicit evidence requirements.
MY CONTRIBUTION
Joint conceptualization, investigation and writing with Elias Milios.
METHODS & PERSPECTIVE
Evidence synthesis · claims assessment · environmental context
Full title and citation
Milios, E. & Kitikidou, K. (2026). Forests as Living Public Infrastructure: Evidence Requirements for Mediterranean Wildfire Risk Governance, Restoration and Carbon Accounting. Sci, 8(8), 192. DOI: 10.3390/sci8080192.
REPRODUCIBLE METHODS
Reproducible 3D
Tree-Structure Mensuration
Can a recommendation be traced back to its assumptions?
A methodology connecting 3D reconstruction and field referencing to transparent TRAQ/ALARP decision rules, with scripts and example data supplied.
MY CONTRIBUTION
Joint methodology, validation, formal analysis and data curation with Elias Milios.
METHODS & PERSPECTIVE
Reproducibility · analytical reasoning · transparent decision rules
Full title and citation
Milios, E. & Kitikidou, K. (2026). A Reproducible Methodology for 3D Tree-Structure Mensuration and Risk-Oriented Decision Support: Integrating SfM–MVS, Field Referencing, and Rule-Based TRAQ/ALARP Logic. Forests, 17(4), 431. DOI: 10.3390/f17040431.
BIODIVERSITY & MEASUREMENT
Using Biodiversity
Indices Effectively
Does the choice of metric change the conclusion?
Research on 17 biodiversity indices and their interpretation with forest data, accompanied by an Excel workbook for calculating all 17 indices.
MY CONTRIBUTION
Software and data curation, including the Excel workbook; shared conceptualization, methodology, validation and original drafting.
METHODS & PERSPECTIVE
Metric selection · scientific spreadsheets · quantitative interpretation
Full title and citation
Kitikidou, K., Milios, E., Stampoulidis, A., Pipinis, E. & Radoglou, K. (2024). Using Biodiversity Indices Effectively: Considerations for Forest Management. Ecologies, 5(1), 42–51. DOI: 10.3390/ecologies5010003.
BIOSTATISTICAL COLLABORATION
Sarcoma-GPA
251patients in the
study cohort
study cohort
Biostatistics for a rare clinical challenge.
An international, multicentre study developing a prognostic index for sarcoma patients with brain metastases.
MY CONTRIBUTION
Study design, statistical analysis and interpretation of results, as credited in the publication.
METHODS & PERSPECTIVE
Survival analysis · prognostic modelling · model assessment
Full title and citation
Patrikidou, A., Chaigneau, L., Isambert, N., Kitikidou, K., et al. (2020). Development of a disease-specific graded prognostic assessment index for the management of sarcoma patients with brain metastases (Sarcoma-GPA). BMC Cancer, 20, 117. DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-6548-6.
03 / CRITICAL THINKING IN PRACTICE
Looks plausible.
Is it sound?
Scientific quality lives in the details: an inference, a formula, a chart. Explore three illustrative examples of critical reading and quantitative reasoning.
Illustrative examples with invented values; these are not findings from the publications above.
ILLUSTRATIVE EXCERPT / MODEL INTERPRETATION
“The regression achieved an R² of 0.96.
This proves that the model adequately represents the relationship in the data.”
01 / INFERENCE CHECKREVIEW NOTE
A strong fit statistic
is only the beginning.
R² alone does not establish model adequacy. Inspect residual patterns and assess the assumptions before accepting the conclusion.
SUGGESTED REVISION
Reference: NIST model-validation guidance “The model explains 96% of the observed variation; residual diagnostics are needed to assess its adequacy.”
ILLUSTRATIVE WORKSHEET / UNIT CONVERSION
| Carbon mass | 100 Mg C |
|---|---|
| Conversion factor | 12 / 44 |
| Reported CO₂ mass | 27.27 Mg CO₂ |
REVIEW NOTE
The right units.
The wrong direction.
Converting carbon mass to the corresponding CO₂ mass requires the molecular-weight ratio 44/12. The worksheet has reversed the factor.
CORRECTED CALCULATION
Reference: IPCC molecular-weight ratio 100 × 44 / 12 = 366.67 Mg CO₂
This is a mass conversion, not an annual sequestration rate.
ILLUSTRATIVE SLIDE / VISUAL ACCURACY
REVIEW NOTE
A correct percentage.
A misleading picture.
The bars start at 90, exaggerating a change from 100 to 120. Their visible heights imply a much larger difference than the stated 20%.
SUGGESTED REVISION
Reference: UK Government chart guidance Start these bars at zero. Label the unit (Mg C per hectare), the measurement dates and the data source.
04 / ACADEMIC FOUNDATION
A career built
on careful thinking.
I am a Full Professor of Forest Biometrics at Democritus University of Thrace. My core field is the measurement and statistical analysis of trees, forests and biological data. Research, teaching and methodological review are closely connected in my work.
My academic teaching experience dates to 2000. I teach biostatistics, forest biometrics, sampling and experimental design, and contribute to postgraduate teaching in statistical data analysis and forest inventory.
Alongside research and supervision, I review scientific manuscripts and research proposals. My scientific peer-review experience includes Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, Ecological Modelling and Journal of Environmental Management. I also evaluate research and educational proposals, including Erasmus/Erasmus+ and national research calls.
ACADEMIC POSITIONFull ProfessorDemocritus University of Thrace · since 2022
DOCTORATEPhD · 2002Forestry & Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
BOOKS & TEACHINGAuthorship & translationApplied statistics and forest mensuration · Explore the books ↗
LANGUAGESEnglish & FrenchAdvanced proficiency. English-language publications and scientific peer review.
Advanced use of PowerPoint and Google Docs, Sheets and Slides in teaching; Excel for statistical analysis and biodiversity calculations; SPSS for analysis and professional training.
Download my academic CV05 / BOOKS & TEACHING
Methods worth
passing on.
Authorship and translation that bring statistical and forest-measurement methods into university teaching.
GREEK TRANSLATION · 2015
Forest
Mensuration
Δασική Βιομετρία
My Greek translation of Forest Mensuration by Anthonie van Laar and Alparslan Akça. A teaching resource in my core field of forest measurement and estimation.
Explore on Kallipos
AUTHORED TEXTBOOK · 2005
Applied Statistics
Using SPSS
Published in Greek
My textbook on applied statistics using SPSS, connecting statistical methods with practical data analysis.
Εφαρμοσμένη στατιστική με χρήση του στατιστικού πακέτου SPSS
06 / RESEARCH-TEAM PARTICIPATION
Shared research.
Grounded in forests.
Research-team participation in projects on forest inventory, restoration, conservation and climate adaptation.
MY ROLE Research-team member
01 Oct 2025 – 30 Sep 2030
RECLOAK
Restoration and improved conservation of holm oak forests threatened by decline.
Project information12 May – 29 Dec 2025
Krasi monumental plane trees
Condition assessment and management recommendations for the monumental plane tree of Krasi and two neighbouring plane trees.
Public project decision01 Nov 2024 – 10 Dec 2025
PINEOPTIM
Management of Mediterranean pine forests to optimise carbon and water balances under climate change.
Project information27 Jan 2023 – 31 Dec 2024
FOROAKS
Dynamic inventory of CO₂ sequestration in deciduous oak forests and evergreen broadleaf woodlands, supporting improved national greenhouse-gas inventories for forestry.
Project information01 Aug 2022 – 31 May 2023
National Forest Inventory & Monitoring System
The SAP project: technical coordination of the establishment and initial operation of Greece’s forest and woodland inventory and monitoring system.
10 Oct 2018 – 27 Dec 2021
COFORMIT
Contribution of planted areas at the Western Macedonia Lignite Centre to environmental protection and climate-change mitigation.
Project information21 Dec 2015 – 31 Aug 2019
FORESMIT
Recovery of degraded coniferous forests for environmental sustainability restoration and climate-change mitigation.
Project information01 Dec 2014 – 31 Oct 2017
SUMFOREST
Tools and challenges in sustainable, multifunctional forestry, strengthening research coordination for strategic decision-making.
Project information
ACADEMIC CONTACT
Good science.
Clearer answers.
For correspondence about my research, publications or teaching, please contact me at my university email address.