Forest informatics
Encyclopedia
Forest informatics is the combined science of Forestry
and
Informatics
, with a special emphasis on collection, management,
and processing of data, information and knowledge, and the
incorporation of informatic concepts and theories specific to enrich
forest management
and forest science; it has a similar
relationship to library science
and information science
.
As is Information science
or archival science
, Forest
Informatics is an interdisciplinary science primarily concerned with
the collection, classification, manipulation, storage, retrieval and
dissemination of information
. Information
, in this context, includes
both human and machine readable documents. Examples of human readable
documents include map
s, field data sheets, operational schedules,
and long term asset management plan
s with narrative text. Machine
readable documents include files for
geographic information system
s (GIS), Global Positioning System
s (GPS), and
other applications like spreadsheet
s, and
relational database management systems.
As in management science, Forest Informatics uses
decision support system
s, mathematical modeling, statistics
, and
algorithms from engineering
, operations research
,
computer science
, and artificial intelligence
to support
decision-making activities. Common forestry problems include
harvest scheduling, model fitting, optimal sampling, remote sensing
,
crew assignment, image classification, treatment timing, and log
bucking problems, many of which can be formulated as optimization
problems (e.g. generalized assignment problem
,
traveling salesman problem, knapsack problem
, job shop scheduling
, and
vehicle routing problem
s). The practice includes information
processing and the engineering of information systems
,
decision support system
s, geographic information systems, and
global positioning systems. The research field includes studies the
structure, algorithms, behavior, and interactions of natural and
artificial systems that store, process, access and communicate
information about forested ecosystems.
Information and Computers in Forestry."
In the article, the author describes and discusses different
dimensions of management information (i.e. operation, expenditure,
location, and time) including the nature of management information and
decisions, management information in forestry, the management
information system itself, the application of computers, the structure of a
computer based system, comparisons between clerical and computer systems,
and the impact on the field manager. The author concludes that the use
of computers to process management data may be justified on grounds of
cost and improved information in organizations of a critical size.
At the time of that article, computers, databases, and geographic information systems
were still in their infancy and tools like the
Global Positioning System
s of today were yet invented. Management
database systems for business were more prevalent. Over the next 30 years,
computers became more powerful, smaller, and less
expensive. Relational database management systems had become
commonplace in business, interrogating the computer system had become
standardized with languages like SQL, and faster networks for data and
information integration have become highly integrated. In that time,
geographic information system
s that could run on desktop computers
and could be customized for various tasks were also developed, but as
separate systems.
Within the last 10 years, specialized fields of study at the
University level are offered at the several forestry schools where
students learn the principles of quantification, modeling, descriptive
and predictive analyses of natural resources attributes needed for
sound management of forested ecosystems.
Software specifically devoted to analyzing management decisions for
forested ecosystems have been developed, and used in several large
scale planning projects. For example, the
Ecosystem Management Decision Support (EMDS) system is an application framework
for
knowledge-based decision support of ecological analysis and
planning. Open source software solutions have also become more widely
accepted as well, as is seen in the expansion of ecological extensions
for statistical tools like R
. A recent example would be the book
written by Andrew Robinson and Jeff D. Hamann about using R
for forest
analytics .
In 2006, the United Nations
declared 2011 to be International Year of Forests
.
Forest Informatics, Inc. has developed a postgresql
template, a
set of software agent
s, and a collection of reports, maps, and
data feed
s. The application uses an intelligent agent
architecture to preemptively generate possible strategic, tactical,
and operational solutions for forest managers.
Artificial intelligence
Computer science
Information science
Information theory
Information technology
Biodiversity Informatics
Ecoinformatics
Evolutionary informatics
Geoinformatics
Mathematical logic
Graph theory
Computational geometry
Geographic Information Systems
Agroforestry
Community forestry
Conservation biology
Deforestation
Dendrology
Forest farming
Forest management
International Union of Forest Research Organizations
List of forestry universities and colleges
Logging
Non-timber forest products
Permaforestry
Silviculture
Sustainability
Sustainable forest management
Timber
Portals:
Environment portal
Ecology portal
Earth_sciences portal
Sustainable development portal
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
and
Informatics
Informatics (academic field)
Informatics is the science of information, the practice of information processing, and the engineering of information systems. Informatics studies the structure, algorithms, behavior, and interactions of natural and artificial systems that store, process, access and communicate information...
, with a special emphasis on collection, management,
and processing of data, information and knowledge, and the
incorporation of informatic concepts and theories specific to enrich
forest management
Forest management
200px|thumb|right|[[Sustainable development|Sustainable]] forest management carried out by [[Complejo Forestal y Maderero Panguipulli|Complejo Panguipulli]] has contributed to the preservation of the forested landscape around [[Neltume]], a sawmill town in Chile...
and forest science; it has a similar
relationship to library science
Library science
Library science is an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary field that applies the practices, perspectives, and tools of management, information technology, education, and other areas to libraries; the collection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information resources; and the...
and information science
Information science
-Introduction:Information science is an interdisciplinary science primarily concerned with the analysis, collection, classification, manipulation, storage, retrieval and dissemination of information...
.
As is Information science
Information science
-Introduction:Information science is an interdisciplinary science primarily concerned with the analysis, collection, classification, manipulation, storage, retrieval and dissemination of information...
or archival science
Archival science
Archival science is the theory and study of storing, cataloguing, and retrieving documents and items. Archival science evolved from mankind's need to classify the world around them...
, Forest
Informatics is an interdisciplinary science primarily concerned with
the collection, classification, manipulation, storage, retrieval and
dissemination of information
Information
Information in its most restricted technical sense is a message or collection of messages that consists of an ordered sequence of symbols, or it is the meaning that can be interpreted from such a message or collection of messages. Information can be recorded or transmitted. It can be recorded as...
. Information
Information
Information in its most restricted technical sense is a message or collection of messages that consists of an ordered sequence of symbols, or it is the meaning that can be interpreted from such a message or collection of messages. Information can be recorded or transmitted. It can be recorded as...
, in this context, includes
both human and machine readable documents. Examples of human readable
documents include map
Map
A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes....
s, field data sheets, operational schedules,
and long term asset management plan
Asset Management Plan
An Asset Management Plan is a tactical plan for managing an organisation's infrastructure and other assets to deliver an agreed standard of service...
s with narrative text. Machine
readable documents include files for
geographic information system
Geographic Information System
A geographic information system, geographical information science, or geospatial information studies is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographically referenced data...
s (GIS), Global Positioning System
Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
s (GPS), and
other applications like spreadsheet
Spreadsheet
A spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper accounting worksheet. It displays multiple cells usually in a two-dimensional matrix or grid consisting of rows and columns. Each cell contains alphanumeric text, numeric values or formulas...
s, and
relational database management systems.
As in management science, Forest Informatics uses
decision support system
Decision support system
A decision support system is a computer-based information system that supports business or organizational decision-making activities. DSSs serve the management, operations, and planning levels of an organization and help to make decisions, which may be rapidly changing and not easily specified in...
s, mathematical modeling, statistics
Statistics
Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. It deals with all aspects of this, including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments....
, and
algorithms from engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
, operations research
Operations research
Operations research is an interdisciplinary mathematical science that focuses on the effective use of technology by organizations...
,
computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
, and artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
to support
decision-making activities. Common forestry problems include
harvest scheduling, model fitting, optimal sampling, remote sensing
Remote sensing
Remote sensing is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon, without making physical contact with the object. In modern usage, the term generally refers to the use of aerial sensor technologies to detect and classify objects on Earth by means of propagated signals Remote sensing...
,
crew assignment, image classification, treatment timing, and log
bucking problems, many of which can be formulated as optimization
problems (e.g. generalized assignment problem
Generalized assignment problem
In applied mathematics, the maximum generalized assignment problem is a problem in combinatorial optimization. This problem is a generalization of the assignment problem in which both tasks and agents have a size...
,
traveling salesman problem, knapsack problem
Knapsack problem
The knapsack problem or rucksack problem is a problem in combinatorial optimization: Given a set of items, each with a weight and a value, determine the count of each item to include in a collection so that the total weight is less than or equal to a given limit and the total value is as large as...
, job shop scheduling
Job Shop Scheduling
Job shop scheduling is an optimization problem in computer science in which ideal jobs are assigned to resources at particular times. The most basic version is as follows:...
, and
vehicle routing problem
Vehicle routing problem
The vehicle routing problem is a combinatorial optimization and integer programming problem seeking to service a number of customers with a fleet of vehicles. Proposed by Dantzig and Ramser in 1959, VRP is an important problem in the fields of transportation, distribution and logistics...
s). The practice includes information
processing and the engineering of information systems
Information systems
Information Systems is an academic/professional discipline bridging the business field and the well-defined computer science field that is evolving toward a new scientific area of study...
,
decision support system
Decision support system
A decision support system is a computer-based information system that supports business or organizational decision-making activities. DSSs serve the management, operations, and planning levels of an organization and help to make decisions, which may be rapidly changing and not easily specified in...
s, geographic information systems, and
global positioning systems. The research field includes studies the
structure, algorithms, behavior, and interactions of natural and
artificial systems that store, process, access and communicate
information about forested ecosystems.
History
In 1970, J. G. Grevatt wrote an article titled, "ManagementInformation and Computers in Forestry."
In the article, the author describes and discusses different
dimensions of management information (i.e. operation, expenditure,
location, and time) including the nature of management information and
decisions, management information in forestry, the management
information system itself, the application of computers, the structure of a
computer based system, comparisons between clerical and computer systems,
and the impact on the field manager. The author concludes that the use
of computers to process management data may be justified on grounds of
cost and improved information in organizations of a critical size.
At the time of that article, computers, databases, and geographic information systems
were still in their infancy and tools like the
Global Positioning System
Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
s of today were yet invented. Management
database systems for business were more prevalent. Over the next 30 years,
computers became more powerful, smaller, and less
expensive. Relational database management systems had become
commonplace in business, interrogating the computer system had become
standardized with languages like SQL, and faster networks for data and
information integration have become highly integrated. In that time,
geographic information system
Geographic Information System
A geographic information system, geographical information science, or geospatial information studies is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographically referenced data...
s that could run on desktop computers
and could be customized for various tasks were also developed, but as
separate systems.
Within the last 10 years, specialized fields of study at the
University level are offered at the several forestry schools where
students learn the principles of quantification, modeling, descriptive
and predictive analyses of natural resources attributes needed for
sound management of forested ecosystems.
Software specifically devoted to analyzing management decisions for
forested ecosystems have been developed, and used in several large
scale planning projects. For example, the
Ecosystem Management Decision Support (EMDS) system is an application framework
Application framework
In computer programming, an application framework consists of a software framework used by software developers to implement the standard structure of an application for a specific development environment ....
for
knowledge-based decision support of ecological analysis and
planning. Open source software solutions have also become more widely
accepted as well, as is seen in the expansion of ecological extensions
for statistical tools like R
R (programming language)
R is a programming language and software environment for statistical computing and graphics. The R language is widely used among statisticians for developing statistical software, and R is widely used for statistical software development and data analysis....
. A recent example would be the book
written by Andrew Robinson and Jeff D. Hamann about using R
R (programming language)
R is a programming language and software environment for statistical computing and graphics. The R language is widely used among statisticians for developing statistical software, and R is widely used for statistical software development and data analysis....
for forest
analytics .
In 2006, the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
declared 2011 to be International Year of Forests
International Year of Forests
The year 2011 was declared the International Year of Forests by the United Nations to raise awareness and strengthen the sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations....
.
Forest Informatics, Inc. has developed a postgresql
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL, often simply Postgres, is an object-relational database management system available for many platforms including Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, MS Windows and Mac OS X. It is released under the PostgreSQL License, which is an MIT-style license, and is thus free and open source software...
template, a
set of software agent
Software agent
In computer science, a software agent is a piece of software that acts for a user or other program in a relationship of agency, which derives from the Latin agere : an agreement to act on one's behalf...
s, and a collection of reports, maps, and
data feed
Data feed
Data feed is a mechanism for users to receive updated data from data sources. It is commonly used by real-time applications in point-to-point settings as well as on the world-wide web. The latter is also called Web feed. News feed is a popular form of Web feed. RSS feed makes dissemination of blogs...
s. The application uses an intelligent agent
Intelligent agent
In artificial intelligence, an intelligent agent is an autonomous entity which observes through sensors and acts upon an environment using actuators and directs its activity towards achieving goals . Intelligent agents may also learn or use knowledge to achieve their goals...
architecture to preemptively generate possible strategic, tactical,
and operational solutions for forest managers.
Contributing Disciplines
MathArtificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
Computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
Information science
Information science
-Introduction:Information science is an interdisciplinary science primarily concerned with the analysis, collection, classification, manipulation, storage, retrieval and dissemination of information...
Information theory
Information theory
Information theory is a branch of applied mathematics and electrical engineering involving the quantification of information. Information theory was developed by Claude E. Shannon to find fundamental limits on signal processing operations such as compressing data and on reliably storing and...
Information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
Biodiversity Informatics
Biodiversity Informatics
Biodiversity Informatics is the application of informatics techniques to biodiversity information for improved management, presentation, discovery, exploration and analysis...
Ecoinformatics
Ecoinformatics
Ecoinformatics, or ecological informatics, is the science of information in Ecology and Environmental science. It integrates environmental and information sciences to define entities and natural processes with language common to both humans and computers...
Evolutionary informatics
Evolutionary informatics
Evolutionary informatics is a subfield of informatics addressing the practice of information processing in, and the engineering of information systems for, the study of biological evolution, as well as the study of information in evolutionary systems, natural and artificial.-Information processing...
Geoinformatics
Geoinformatics
Geoinformatics is the science and the technology which develops and uses information science infrastructure to address the problems of geography, geosciences and related branches of engineering.-Overview:...
Mathematical logic
Mathematical logic
Mathematical logic is a subfield of mathematics with close connections to foundations of mathematics, theoretical computer science and philosophical logic. The field includes both the mathematical study of logic and the applications of formal logic to other areas of mathematics...
Graph theory
Graph theory
In mathematics and computer science, graph theory is the study of graphs, mathematical structures used to model pairwise relations between objects from a certain collection. A "graph" in this context refers to a collection of vertices or 'nodes' and a collection of edges that connect pairs of...
Computational geometry
Computational geometry
Computational geometry is a branch of computer science devoted to the study of algorithms which can be stated in terms of geometry. Some purely geometrical problems arise out of the study of computational geometric algorithms, and such problems are also considered to be part of computational...
Geographic Information Systems
See also
ForestryForestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
Agroforestry
Agroforestry
Agroforestry is an integrated approach of using the interactive benefits from combining trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock.It combines agricultural and forestry technologies to create more diverse, productive, profitable, healthy and sustainable land-use systems.-Definitions:According to...
Community forestry
Community forestry
Community forestry is an evolving branch of forestry whereby the local community plays a significant role in forest management and land use decision making. It involves the participation and collaboration of various stakeholders including community, government and non-government organisations...
Conservation biology
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
Deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
Dendrology
Dendrology
Dendrology or xylology is the science and study of wooded plants . There is no sharp boundary between plant taxonomy and dendrology. However, woody plants not only belong to many different plant families, but these families may be made up of both woody and non-woody members. Some families include...
Forest farming
Forest farming
Forest farming is an agroforestry practice characterized by the four "I's"- Intentional, Integrated, Intensive and Interactive management of an existing forested ecosystem wherein forest health is of paramount concern. It is neither forestry nor farming in the traditional sense.Forest farming, or...
Forest management
Forest management
200px|thumb|right|[[Sustainable development|Sustainable]] forest management carried out by [[Complejo Forestal y Maderero Panguipulli|Complejo Panguipulli]] has contributed to the preservation of the forested landscape around [[Neltume]], a sawmill town in Chile...
International Union of Forest Research Organizations
International Union of Forest Research Organizations
The International Union of Forest Research Organizations is a non-profit, non-governmental international network of forest scientists, headquartered in Austria....
List of forestry universities and colleges
Logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
Non-timber forest products
Non-timber forest products
Non-timber forest products are considered as any commodity obtained from the forest that does not necessitate harvesting trees. It includes game animals, fur-bearers, nuts and seeds, berries,...
Permaforestry
Permaforestry
Permaforestry is an approach to the wildcrafting and harvesting of the forest biomass that uses cultivation to improve the natural harmonious systems...
Silviculture
Silviculture
Silviculture is the practice of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests to meet diverse needs and values. The name comes from the Latin silvi- + culture...
Sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
Sustainable forest management
Sustainable forest management
Sustainable forest management is the management of forests according to the principles of sustainable development. Sustainable forest management uses very broad social, economic and environmental goals...
Timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
Portals:
Environment portal
Ecology portal
Earth_sciences portal
Sustainable development portal