Satellite-aided
Field Forestry Applications
Forest
Regeneration Surveys
Recognizing the field utility and
geospatial capability of current field GIS packages,
researchers at the University
of Minnesota’s Department of Forest Resources have
evaluated a combination of the Compaq iPAQ handheld computer
with a Magellan GPS15 unit, Arcpad 6 software and high-resolution
IKONOS imagery to conduct a forest regeneration survey.
This particular GIS package
equipped crews with the ability to: (1) layout and
traverse sample plot centers
before going in the field (see below for example)), (2)
easily navigate with GPS capability, (3) delineate
polygons
in the field
with a satellite imagery backdrop, (4) collect and enter
data, such as species, size and stocking information,
at each sample plot into customized data entry forms,
and (5) open the plot for updating any particular feature
of the plot by tapping on the plot center with the stylus.
The high-resolution satellite
imagery also gave crews the opportunity to identify
and locate potential problem
areas before going to the field. By transforming the
multispectral data of the satellite imagery using NDVI
and image processing software such as ERDAS Imagine,
differences between healthy and non-healthy forest regeneration
were accentuated. Once delineated, these problems were
verified in the field and their identification allowed
users to better focus their management efforts (see NDVI
example below).
Jim Gabriel, UPM-Kymmene, says their crews are just
beginning to take GIS and digital imagery into the field,
and they have yet to use high-resolution satellite imagery.
While field-based GIS systems are relatively new to the
crews, they have realized their potential compared to
traditional forest management tools.
“It has made us better foresters,” says
Gabriel. “These are tools that are changing the
way we approach field forestry. We make decisions based
on better data, in a more timely manner, with increased
accuracy, resulting in improved outcomes.”
Stand boundary
with traverse and sample plot centers
|
NDVI-derived
map of healthy and non-healthy vegetation.
(Delineated “holes” are
unhealthy (or absent) vegetation)
|
Corner
Location and Line Running >>
|
