| Computer Software for the Small Woodland Owner | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Computer Software for the Small Woodland Owner Most of the forestry software available today was originally created at research institutions. Many of these programs were designed to describe the results of research studies on tree growth and shape. Many programs have roots that extend before computers were even contemplated for home use and were never envisioned to be used by the general public. It became apparent, however, that user-friendly versions of these programs would be another way to share the results of research with the broader public, so versions were made that were meant to be used by more than just researchers. As computers proliferated in the 1980s and '90s, private companies got on board to create their own programs that are still based on the original research, but packaged in a more polished format expected by the public. Today, a plethora of computer programs are available that can be used to do anything from estimating the volume and value of timber to creating long-term management plans. If you are interested in managing your lands either for profit or pleasure, forestry programs are available that can help you. For example, do you want to know how much timber volume is on your lands or how much it is worth? A cruise compiler can be used to estimate this and other values from field data. Do you want to track forest resources other than timber? Inventory packages can help you do that. Would you like to know what value you could get from a partial cut of one or more stands or from a series of cuts over many years? Packages with growth models can simulate tree growth and harvest plans and provide cash flow estimates. Forestry software will give you answers, but are the answers the correct ones for your lands? Using forestry software is more often than not an educational effort. Trees grow differently in different regions and all forestry programs are calibrated to some degree to specific regions and management styles. However, most programs have options for calibrating the answers they give to more local conditions. So, this points to the first question to ask of forestry software: How well is it suited to my lands and management style? And can those features not so well suited be changed? To answer this question requires understanding enough about program operation and calibration to know when the systems are calibrated as best they can be for your lands. Topics to understand typically include field surveying techniques, growth and taper models, market prices and management costs. This can often feel overwhelming at first but it will also be very stimulating. Forestry software vendors are aware of the complexity of forest science and they will all point out support options when you inquire about their software. Be aware that there are also many other sources of support. A variety of workshops and classes that cover the entire range of forestry science are available from a variety of sources. Any one of them will more than likely be directly related to a feature in your software. User groups are similar to workshops, but are focused on a specific vendor's products. User groups are where you can raise specific questions on operating and calibrating a certain product. Forestry consultants (many of them advertisers) often use the same software that you may purchase and can provide professional forestry advice, as well as operational advice. Also, don't forget about other users who are almost always glad to make contact with others who are using the same software to share their experiences. Types of Forestry Software While not an exhaustive list, and no endorsement of or discrimination against any product is implied, the sidebars outline several user-friendly programs that may be of interest to the smaller forest landowner. In the broadest of descriptions, forestry software falls into two categories: inventory and planning software. Inventory includes data collection, cruise compilation, timber inventory, log accounting and mapping software. It is really any software that is used to track the amount of forest resources present at any given point in time. Planning software includes harvest scheduling and simulation tools or any software that is used to create or simulate a forest management plan. Inventory software records what is there today and planning software estimates what will be there tomorrow. Most of the available software falls into one of these two categories, and many packages combine them. When evaluating a forestry software purchase, here are a few less obvious, but important questions to ask:
Forestry software can be complex; there's no way around this one. Nature is complex, so the models in forestry software need to be complex as well. Although much of the available software requires a good knowledge of forestry, one of the best solutions is to work with a forestry consultant to obtain the systems they are using. By using this method, you will get ongoing support, new data and an expert using the same system who is familiar with your unique needs. Definitions of Common Forestry Software Features Data Collection: Data collection involves the recording of forest resources on a handheld computer. The handheld computer is usually used in connection with a desktop cruise compilation system that processes the collected data and produces formatted reports. Cruise Compilation: Cruise compilation is the processing of field data to produce estimates of stand volume and value. Field data can be collected in many different ways, called "cruise designs" with each requiring different methods of calculating values. Cruise compilation software usually supports a limited set of cruise designs. Some typical designs are percent, fixed radius plots, variable radius plots and transects. Inventory: A forest inventory is a database of forest resources at a certain point in time. A forest inventory changes as management activities like harvesting and planting are carried out. Inventories must be updated, usually every year, with the latest management activities. An inventory should also be updated yearly to reflect tree growth when no management has occurred. Some inventory systems include growth models that can update tree heights and diameters to reflect yearly growth. Growth Projection: Growth projection includes estimating tree heights and diameters over a length of time. Growth models have been the focus of a lot of research so they typically originate from research institutions but are incorporated into many software programs. Growth models may be present in both inventory and planning software. Taper Models: Taper models describe the diameter of trees along the main tree stem. They are used to calculate the diameter of each log in a tree so that volumes can then be calculated. Harvest Scheduling: Harvest scheduling involves choosing which stands will be harvested over time. The goal is often to maximize income while minimizing costs and environmental impact. Mapping: Mapping is the process of creating a visual of your forestlands. Maps locate resources in real world locations so that area and distance calculations can be performed. Maps are often created in layers enabling multiple features to be overlaid for a composite view of the forest. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a computer program for creating and doing analysis with maps. Global Position Systems (GPS) is a system for locating points on earth from space using satellite beacons. GPS is often used to locate point resources or to trace out boundaries when creating maps using a GIS. No endorsement of or discrimination against any product is implied. SOFTWARE VENDORS
Inventory Software
Planning Software
Mapping Software
Rich Howard is president of Assisi Software in Portland, Ore. Assisi Software offers a variety of forestry software for sale. He can be reached at rhoward@assisisoft.com or 503-233-6417. |
Back to Author Index | Subject Index | Title Index
Back to Home Page