The Importance of Accurate Mapping in Forestry Operations
Effective mapping is crucial for successful planning and optimal execution of forestry operations. Whether you are establishing a new forest, registering a forest in the ETS, buying a forest, deploying a silvicultural crew, or harvesting an existing forest, precise mapping can reduce costs, enhance safety, protect the environment, and increase profitability.
The Difference Quality Mapping Makes
Not all maps are created equal. Inadequate maps can lead to significant reworking of desktop forest harvest plans when in the field. At worst, they can result in the use of incorrect harvesting systems, inaccessible trees, safety hazards, and severe environmental impacts. Similar negative outcomes can occur during forest establishment and silvicultural operations due to poor mapping.
Imagine a map that transforms your forestry operations into a seamless, efficient, and environmentally compliant process. This map isn’t just a collection of lines and symbols; it’s a comprehensive tool designed to meet your specific needs.
Our Customized Mapping Solutions
We offer detailed, accurate, and up-to-date mapping solutions tailored to your needs:
- PDF Maps: Simple or georeferenced PDFs for use in the Avenza app.
- Wall Maps: PDFs ready for printing.
- Digital Formats: Compatible with GIS and tools like RoadEng, PC Logger, and CHPS.
- Web Maps and Services: Accessible via web browser.
- Mobile Device Field Maps: Linked to GeoMaster Mobile. ESRI Apps like Field Maps, Survey123, for data interrogation, capture and collection, in field and offline.
First, picture the 5m contours that provide detailed elevation data, perfect for harvest planning and cable harvesting profile analysis. These contours help you navigate the terrain with precision, ensuring your operations are both safe and efficient.
Next, the hillshades come into play, casting shadows that highlight ground features. This makes it easier to identify natural formations and plan your activities accordingly.
Terrain Detail – Contours
This image showcases enhanced topographical relief using higher resolution contour lines from LiDAR digital terrain models. The public 20m contours (in orange) exhibit lower detail and accuracy, while the Interpine-generated 5m contours provide significantly better detail and precision.
For machine operations, the slopes and erosion susceptibility layers data is invaluable. Whether in degrees or percent, this information helps you calculate machine limits, ensuring that your equipment operates within safe parameters. Environmentally this also ensure ensures tracking and operational impact is minimized.
Terrain Detail – Slope Maps
There won’t be any surprise bluffs with an effective slope map at hand. Slope maps provide granular details in topography.
Adding a touch of realism, the canopy height model gives a 3D effect to the trees, allowing you to visualize the forest structure in greater detail. This is particularly useful for planning and assessing the impact of your activities.
Tree Level Detail – Forest Canopy Maps
Using canopy height models derived from LiDAR datasets instead of just aerial photos allows for the automation of net stock area updates and re-mapping. This enables the extraction of individual tree crowns and accurate measurement of tree heights, and vegetation typing.
To avoid costly mistakes, freshly remapped stand boundaries and net stocked areas ensure that you don’t pay for silviculture work done on non-existent areas or overestimate harvest volumes. This accuracy is crucial for budgeting and resource allocation.
3D Detail – Interactive Web Maps
Step away from the limitation of 2D static maps and access rich interactive 3D mapping to better understand land use and operational decisions impact on the landscape.
Freshly remapped roads and streams and rivers are also included, ensuring that your operations comply with environmental regulations and riparian management practices. From identifying culverts, slash controls, wetlands, high value freshwater resources, this helps you avoid legal issues and maintain a good relationship with regulatory bodies.
Catchment Stream Detail – Hydrological Analysis
Derived from hydrological analysis of LiDAR datasets provide stream channels that accurately depict the true locations of rivers (shown in dark blue). The light blue lines represent our national Topo50 streamline dataset, and don’t make the mistake of relying on this alone as it would lead to costly mistakes in planning processes for forest engineering.
Safety is paramount, and freshly mapped power lines help your operations stay well clear of these hazards. This reduces the risk of accidents and ensures the safety of your team.
Additionally, recent land ownership boundaries are mapped to prevent any disputes. This ensures that you don’t accidentally plant over the boundary or harvest someone else’s trees, maintaining good relations with neighboring landowners.
In addition to these features, your map can include various other data layers like productivity layers, topographic features, land use classifications, risk assessment and many more, providing a comprehensive tool tailored to your needs.
Webmap Dashboards – Combining Information and Maps
Engage with critical data and maps to enhance informed decision-making. Interactive dashboards enable dynamic filtering of data to tailor map views, thereby accelerating access to the comprehensive data matrix required for effective decision-making.
This customized map is not just a product; it’s a strategic asset that enhances your forestry operations and decision making.
GIS Spatial Analysis – Land Risk Assessment
This map is a 3D view of the areas mapped as HIGH (Red) and MEDIUM (Orange) risk. A Risk Analysis is used to predict possible areas prone to soil migration. Detailed Elevation models, Slope, Soil type, Soil depth, Soil Drainage, Vegetation Type and Aspect (direction the downhill slope faces) were integrated into the spatial analysis.
Unlock the Potential of Your Project with GIS Data
Maximize efficiency and reduce costs by leveraging our extensive GIS data libraries, which may already include your area. Our resources include:
- Public LiDAR: Access high-quality, publicly available LiDAR data.
- Private LiDAR Library: Benefit from our exclusive collection of private LiDAR data.
- Public Aerial and Satellite Imagery: Utilize publicly available imagery for comprehensive analysis.
- Exclusive Tasking of High-Resolution Satellite Imagery: high-resolution satellite imagery, available only through Interpine.
- Drone Imagery: Enhance your data with drone imagery, whether it’s from your own drones or ours.
- Drone LiDAR: Obtain precise and detailed data with drone-based LiDAR technology.
By exploring and integrating these diverse data sources, you can make informed decisions, streamline planning processes, and achieve better outcomes for your projects.