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The adoption of mobile GIS solutions in forest surveys is rapidly increasing due to the technological evolution and the reduction, in size and cost, of the devices used for measuring forest parameters and collecting geo-referenced data. However, these software solutions frequently consist only in an optimization of paper-based data collection methods, not providing data processing and analysis functionalities directly on field. These last two activities are usually carried out a posteriori, in the office, using desktop or enterprise GIS platforms. This paper proposes an alternative approach oriented to processing the collected data directly during field surveys, providing new information useful for immediate decision making or data error analysis. Some of the software here described are project-specific, whereas others follow a “horizontal” approach, giving the user the possibility to define formalized and standardized data categories. Each software is described focussing on its functionalities and on the solutions adopted to reduce learning time and to increase surveyors productivity. Real case studies are also briefly presented.

Advanced mobile GIS applications to support forest monitoring and management. mobile GIS solutions are going to get used more and more in forest surveys - mainly due to their technological evolution, and the reduction in sizes and costs - for measuring forest parameters and collecting geo-referenced data. Very often the software provides only an optimization of data collecting, but do not support data processing and analysis, which are usually carried out back in the office, on desktop or enterprise GIS platforms. The present paper proposes an alternative approach, oriented to a real-time processing of collected data, providing new information useful for immediate decision to be taken in the field. Some of the software described are project specific, whereas others follow a more "horizontal" approach, giving the user the possibility to collect object categories in a formalized and standardized way even if not previously defined. Particular attention is paid to the user interface organization, to reduce learning time and to increase surveyors productivity even without any extensive GIS expertise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]