Lesson 6: GIS and Computer Modeling
Unit 3 - Types of Forest Research
Lesson 6: GIS and Computer Modeling
Geographical Information System (GIS)
A Geographical Information System (GIS) is a computer system that collects, stores, analyzes, and displays data according to geographic location. Information on landscapes is gathered from satellites and planes and then assembled into maps and databases.
An example of a Geographical Information System based technology currently being developed in Canada is the Wet Areas Map (WAM). In fact, a partnership between Alberta Agriculture and Forests and the University of New Brunswick has resulted in an ambitious plan to develop Wet Areas Maps for 17 million hectares of Alberta's forested landscape. Wet Areas Maps are of great value to the forest manager because they are 95% accurate in revealing hidden wet areas on the landscape.
The benefits of using Wet Areas Maps are as follows:
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Forest roads are a major source of environmental impact with water crossings being especially sensitive sites. Wet Areas Maps information can assist forest companies in planning the layout of their access roads. Although roads must be built to allow the machinery and trucks to access the forest, this exposes bare soil which makes it very subject to erosion by water. In addition, building bridges over streams can often lead to erosion of the stream banks. Too much sediment entering the stream can cause damage to fish habitat and compromise the quality of the water flowing from the forest. Wet Areas Maps can enable forestry companies to go between or around wet areas instead of over them.
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Wet Areas Map information can assist forestry companies in planning timber harvesting activities. Harvesting timber in wet areas should be avoided at all costs since heavy equipment can compact and rut the soil in wet areas of the forest. Ruts and trenches can then collect water and disrupt the natural flow of water and nutrients within the ecosystem.
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Wet Areas Maps allow forestry companies to focus on rare plant searches and protect possible unique habitats for protected species.
Computer Modeling
Research and technology play an important role in Canada's forest pest management strategy. For example, researchers at the Laurentian Forest Centre (part of the Canadian Forest Service) have developed a software tool called BioSIM. This can predict the timing of features or events in the life cycle of pests or their host plants based on the air temperature and precipitation levels within a given area. It enables forest managers to conduct pest control activities at the optimum time. For example, in 1999-2000, British Columbia engaged in extensive spraying against the gypsy moth. Timing of the spraying was to have happened as soon as leaves had developed to half their full size. However, BioSIM predictions indicated that caterpillars would not have begun feeding by that time. Without this critical information, spraying would have started too soon.
The Canadian Forest Service is uses modelling tools such as BioSIM to predict how different insect species will respond to climate change. Climate change is allowing many forest pest species in North America to expand their ranges into more northern regions. One of these forest pests is the mountain pine beetle, the most significant insect attacking the mature pine forests of western North America. In the past, cold winter temperatures have helped to limit the survival of the mountain pine beetle. However, recent mild winters and hot dry summers have enhanced development, dispersal, and survival of this insect pest.
The mountain pine beetle is currently at epidemic levels
in Alberta, where there's $11 billion of forest that's susceptible to
this. In 2019, the Alberta Government committed an additional $5 million
to a total of $30 million to fight the mountain
pine beetle in Alberta's forests.
To read about the affects of the mountain pine beetle on the town of Jasper, click here.
