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The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA)-based BioSum (Bioregional Inventory Originated Simulation Under Management) is a free policy analysis framework and workflow management software solution. It addresses complex management questions concerning forest health and vulnerability for large, multimillion acre, multiowner landscapes using FIA plot data as the initial stand conditions to conduct statistically representative analyses and simulations. The system now includes extensive data consistency and integrity checks for analytical quality assurance, access to any measured or calculated stand attribute for defining effective management and the capacity to project stands forward while allowing multiple, sequential management interventions, with stand metrics calculated at each time step, all available to drive the choice of what is best for each stand. One example of a policy-relevant finding based on this empirical analytic framework is that fire hazard reduction is both more effective and can occur without subsidy in most southern Oregon and northern California forests, provided that some medium-sized trees are removed; another is that harvest residues recovered for energy contribute only modestly to treatment feasibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The construction and exploitation of skylines used in forest operations represent a complex activity, because the involved tasks must consider some great mathematical knowledge, as well as optimization skills. This is one of the many reasons for which the skylines usage in Romanian forests encountered a regress in the last period. Also, empirical approaches in the skylines design process may lead to poor technical solutions with repercussions both on work safety as well as on the installation maintenance. Thus, the present paper presents both the usage and tasks which can be solved using the first version of the software product "TRAF", a software solution to the above mentioned problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tree species composition of a forested landscape may respond to climate change through two primary successional mechanisms: (1) colonization of suitable habitats and (2) competitive dynamics of established species. In this study, we assessed the relative importance of competition and colonization in forest landscape response (as measured by the forest type composition change) to global climatic change. Specifically, we simulated shifts in forest composition within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota during the period 2000-2400 AD. We coupled a forest ecosystem process model, PnET-II, and a spatially dynamic forest landscape model, LANDIS-II, to simulate landscape change. The relative ability of 13 tree species to colonize suitable habitat was represented by the probability of establishment or recruitment. The relative competitive ability was represented by the aboveground net primary production. Both competitive and colonization abilities changed over time in response to climatic change. Our results showed that, given only moderate-frequent windthrow (rotation period = 500 years) and fire disturbances (rotation period = 300 years), competition is relatively more important for the short-term (<100 years) compositional response to climatic change. For longer-term forest landscape response (>100 years), colonization became relatively more important. However, if more frequent fire disturbances were simulated, then colonization is the dominant process from the beginning of the simulations. Our results suggest that the disturbance regime will affect the relative strengths of successional drivers, the understanding of which is critical for future prediction of forest landscape response to global climatic change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The integration of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology into mobile devices provides them with an awareness of their physical location. This geospatial context can be employed in a wide range of applications including locating nearby places of interest as well as guiding emergency services to incidents. In this research, a GPS-enabled Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) is used to create a computerised tree inventory for the management of arboriculture. Using the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), GPS information and arboreal image data are sent to a web-server. An office-based PC running customised Geographical Information Software (GIS) then automatically retrieves the GPS tagged image data for display and analysis purposes. The resulting application allows an expert user to view the condition of individual trees in greater detail than is possible using remotely sensed imagery. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this paper is to describe a bioeconomic forest simulator based on models for individual trees. At present, the forest simulator can be applied only to stand-level analyses, but in future it is planned to be a part of a software system that may be used for decision support for large forest areas. The focus is on a flexible platform facilitating future development, and the biological submodels, i.e. distance-independent individual-tree growth and mortality models and area-based regeneration and recruitment models, are based on permanent sample plots from the Norwegian National Forest Inventory. The economic submodels estimate timber prices and harvesting costs from individual trees. For each management unit (i.e. stand), the simulator produces treatment schedules with all feasible combinations of user-defined treatment and regeneration options (e.g. precommercial thinning, thinning, different kinds of regeneration cutting with different kinds of regeneration options and selective cutting). A net present value is calculated for all treatment schedules. From the treatment schedules various aspects of forest dynamics and economics can be analysed and visualized. A case study is presented to demonstrate some of the functionality and behaviour of the simulator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much contemporary ecology emphasises the importance of taking a spatial perspective in linking ecological patterns and processes. However, collecting and analysing spatial data is expensive. Here we compare spatially implicit and spatially explicit versions of a model of successional dynamics in a forest-shrubland mosaic in a mountain-top reserve in New Caledonia. The models are used to (i) understand the circumstances driving change in abundance of forest and shrubland, and (ii) compare the outcomes of spatially explicit and spatially implicit models of the same system. The spatially explicit model is grid-based and uses a spatially implemented ‘state-and-transition’ approach, with fire spread and seed dispersal the main spatial processes considered. The spatially implicit model is based on a transition matrix approach. Two alternative transition matrices were constructed, one based on field measurements and the other parameterised using output from the spatially explicit model. Although the averaged dynamics of the two models appear similar, the models make very different qualitative predictions about the landscape. Under the same initial parameter conditions two alternative landscape states emerge from the spatially explicit model; this is not the case for the spatially implicit model. Further, the spatial model produces outcomes much closer to those documented historically and inferred from the palæoecological record. The differences between the non-spatial and spatial models arise because, in this system, fine-scale interactions between landscape pattern and process are drivers of coarser scale dynamics, and such interactions are not included in the spatially implicit model. More generally, in order to understand coarse-scale spatial dynamics it may be important to consider local spatial patterns; spatially explicit models are those most likely to incorporate these. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Landowners need a simple-to-use, readily available tool to contribute to sustainable management of family forests. We developed an Internet-based decision-support system, 4S Tool (Forest Stand Software Support System), which is designed to encourage informed forest management and to bridge the gap between a new generation of family forest owners (e.g. exurbanites) and natural resources professionals. We describe the technical and educational components of the 4S Tool and present several considerations for application to other geographic regions. The tool requires users to provide information on the species group, typical tree size, and density of trees in their forest. Users also select a forest management technique to apply to their “virtual forest. ” The tool then estimates forest dynamics and wildlife habitat availability for up to 40years into the future. The output provides projected changes in commercial timber, as well as changes in the diversity of berries, ferns, herbs, flowers, birds, and mammals as a consequence of the selected management option. Projected changes are based on primary and secondary data sources and modeled via the Forest Vegetation Simulator. 4S Tool provides a means of enhancing landowner awareness of options associated with management of forest property and provides users with access to additional resources and natural resource professionals to aid in future forest planning efforts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study a GIS-based decision support system (DSS) was built for assessing the short-and long-term risk of wind damage in boreal forests. This was done by integrating a forest growth model SIMA and a mechanistic wind damage model HWIND into geographical information system software (ArcGIS 8. 2) as a toolbar (DLL) using ArcObjects in ArcGIS and Visual Basic 6. In this DSS complex problems are solved within program so that forest gaps, edge stands and edges are automatically tracked when the forest structure changes over time as a result of forest growth dynamics and management. This DSS can be used to assess the risk of wind damage to Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), Norway spruce (Picea abies) and birch (Betula spp. ) stands, regarding the number of stands and area at risk and length of vulnerable edges of these risk stands at certain critical wind speed classes (i.e. corresponding the maximum wind speed a tree/stand can resist). This DSS can helps forest managers to analyse and visualise (charts, maps) the possible effects of forest management, such as clear-cuts, on both the immediate and long-term risks of wind damage at both stand and regional level. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To solve today’s ecological problems, scientists need well documented, validated, and coherent data archives. Historically, however, ecologists have collected and stored data idiosyncratically, making data integration even among close collaborators difficult. Further, effective ecology data warehouses and subsequent data mining require that individual databases be accurately described with metadata against which the data themselves have been validated. Using database technology would make documenting data sets for archiving, integration, and data mining easier, but few ecologists have expertise to use database technology and they cannot afford to hire programmers. In this paper, we identify the benefits that would accrue from ecologists’ use of modern information technology and the obstacles that prevent that use. We describe our prototype, the Canopy DataBank, through which we aim to enable individual ecologists in the forest canopy research community to be their own database programmers. The key feature that makes this possible is domain-specific database components, which we call templates. We also show how additional tools that reuse these components, such as for visualization, could provide gains in productivity and motivate the use of new technology. Finally, we suggest ways in which communities might share database components and how components might be used to foster easier data integration to solve new ecological problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights several ecological consequences of a computer model of forest growth in the United States. The article reports on a computer simulation program, designed to be used in the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study, which provides output in a form compatible with the original vegetation survey of that study and allows a flexible interaction between the user and the simulator. It mentions that the program predicts a peak standing crop for the forest approximately 200 years following clearcutting, with a relatively stable, but fluctuating, species composition at subsequent periods.

This article reports that the Eastern Ontario Model Forest (EOMF) is starting an initiative in 2008 that will integrate technology with biophysical data to develop an Internet atlas, the Stewardship Planning Atlas. An overview of the tool, designed for the use of private landowners and forest management consultants, is presented. According to Mark Roswell, a geographer at EOMF, users can personalize maps on the atlas and develop customized maps. The project is receiving financing from GeoConnections Canada.

Reports that Canadian forestry teachers use forest modeling software to train potential forest managers. Use of Remsoft Inc.'s Woodstock software by professors Roger Roy and Glen Armstrong; Features and capabilities of the software; Description of Remsoft's education partners program.

Focuses on the Southern New Brunswick Wood Cooperative Ltd. which was founded in 1974. Aim of helping woodlot owners and promoting forest management; Function as a marketing board; Pursuit of Canadian Standards Association forestry certification; Use of the Woodstock forest modeling software by Remsoft Inc.

This article offers information on the i-Tree 2014 mobile software tool released by the U.S. Forest Service in January 2014.

This article reports that the Eastern Ontario Model Forest, EOMF, (la Forêt modèle de l'Est de l'Ontario, FMEO), is starting an initiative in 2008 that will integrate technology with biophysical data to develop an Internet atlas, the Stewardship Planning Atlas. An overview of the tool, designed for the use of private landowners and forest management consultants, is presented. According to Mark Roswell, a geographer at EOMF, users can personalize maps on the atlas and develop customized maps. The project is receiving financing from GeoConnections Canada.

The article discusses the ways Model Forests have influenced forestry practices and policies at all levels in Canada. The author suggests that one of the main goals of most Model Forest projects is the development of innovative technology and approaches related to sustainable forest management. Several of these innovations are presented including the Stand Density Management Diagrams Software that was developed by the Fundy Model Forest, a logging timber removal method developed by the Lake Abitibi Model Forest, and a best management practices manual developed by the Nova Forest Alliance.

Reports that researchers in British Columbia's McGregor Model Forest are developing spatially oriented forest estate models. Aim of bridging higher-level forest planning objectives with operational activities; Contact information.