220-277 Forest Inventory and GIS

220-271 Forest Mensuration and Surveying or 600-203 Environmental Measurement.

On completion of this subject, students should:

• understand the role of inventories in forest planning;

• learn to design, implement and manage timber, vegetation and/or wildlife inventories (multi-stage, multi-phase and variable probability); and

• learn the basic terminology, principles and characteristics of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) technology, the use of GIS for interpreting, measuring and mapping natural resources, and how to apply advanced sampling theories and project management tools in the design and conduct of inventories using either remote sensing and/or ground inventory methods.

The course covers:

• photographic and digital remote sensing;

• vector and raster GIS, thematic map overlay;

• modelling and its use in forest management and planning; and

• the technical and managerial requirements for introducing remote sensing and GIS technologies.

Methods and processes for generating, evaluating and selecting alternative plans for the management of the resources (timber and others) will be introduced.

One 3-hour written examination (50%) and two assignments equivalent to 3000 words (25% each).