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The Geographical Information System (GIS) is becoming an indispensable tool for all forest and land managers. Today’s GIS systems can be tailored to meet the needs of any land management enterprise allowing even small landowners to benefit from accurate mapping, better decision-making and a more reliable record-keeping system.
In its simplest form, GIS can be used to produce basic maps for field work and project decision-making based on rectified aerial photography or the trusty topomap images. But more complex analysis is just a ‘click’ away. Digital terrain models can be easily built to show contours, slope classes, aspect, drainage and then overlaid with soil types, vegetation types, waterways, fence lines, roads, tracks, irrigation lines, and all manner of features. Coordinates, lengths, areas, and proximity of features can all be readily calculated.
Tomorrow’s Forests has substantial GIS resources and expertise. Our mapping and GIS services can be used for forest and vegetation surveys, ecological landscape assessments, forest and indigenous ecosystem management, farm mapping and rural planning. We use ESRI’s ArcView software and associated extensions but have the facility to import data in other formats. Mapping and GIS capabilities include:
- GIS and aerial mapping for landscape and property management and research (2 and 3 dimensions).
- Image analysis of satellite images or aerial photos, especially classification into vegetation types.
- Survey design including random and/or systematic placement of vegetation survey transects and sampling sites.
- Integration of GPS data collection and GIS representation.
- GIS data entry, analysis, interpretation, and storage.
- Digital Terrain Model design and analysis for contours, slope, aspect, and hydrology.
- Soil saturation and slope stability mapping.
- Spatial analysis of the distribution of or interaction between mapped attributes.
- Visibility and viewsheds.
- Land use planning and assessment.
- Production and updating of maps to near-photographic quality.
