“If your only tool is a hammer, then every problem looks like a nail.”
(Abraham Maslow)
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FeaturedMachine Learning in Forestry
Machine Learning (ML) is one of the new buzz words in the field of Data Science. I see machine learning articles, tutorials, and blog posts on websites and LinkedIn almost daily. So what is it, and does it have realistic applications for the forest industry now, or is it just a bunch of analytical hype?… Read more
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FeaturedConvert a Garmin GPS Device Into a Sample Plot Collector
Foresters occasionally use inexpensive consumer grade GPS units for simple mapping tasks and navigation in the field. Many of these, such as the Garmin GPS Map series, retail for less than $300. I have owned several of these Garmin units myself , and have found them to be an invaluable tool for data collection. Background… Read more
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FeaturedThe Forest Data Dilemma
Thanks to companies like Amazon, Microsoft and Google, the modern company is familiar with terms such as “The Cloud” and “Big Data”. With new analytical tools and faster processing capabilities, companies are rethinking their business processes to take advantage of massive amounts of public and private data that are available? But what does this mean for… Read more
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FeaturedExporting Machine Location Logs from the TimberGuide Pro iOS App
TimberGuide Pro is an iOS application that allows users to manage timber assets and collect data forms against those assets. Assets are a generic term that includes any natural or man-made features that users need to record information about in the field, such as tracts, stands, treatment areas, pipelines, gates, hunting camps, bridges, culverts and… Read more
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FeaturedDistributed-Ledger Technology in the Forest Industry
A couple months ago, I sent a short two-question technology survey to a few forestry contacts. What I learned from this exercise was that foresters seldom agree on the most important issues within the industry, but we tend to agree that technology can help address those issues. (Note: It was no surprise that trucking and… Read more
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Collect Forest Data with ESRI Collector App
ESRI Collector App makes field data collection simple. And even better, the data integrates seamlessly with ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Desktop software. For those interested in collecting GIS data in the field, ESRI’s Collector app is a nice complement to the ArcGIS* platform, and the data collected is seamlessly shared within an ArcGIS Online organization.… Read more
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FeaturedInvestments in Forest Technology
One of my favorite forestry blogs, is the Forisk Blog by Forisk Consulting. I recently read a technology related article on their site called “Timberland Investments and the Strategic Role of Technology” by Dr. Brooks Mendell. If you haven’t read this article, then pause here and go check it out. This post will include some… Read more
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FeaturedLoad ticket tracking
A fundamental process in the logging industry is keeping track of loads delivered from the woods to the mill. This is a process where inefficiencies abound, as loggers, dealers, and procurement teams accumulate time and expense accounting for these loads. A wood dealer representative once told me that his company spends 10-20% of the work… Read more
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FeaturedSatellite Imagery – Affordable solutions for harvest mapping
One of the fastest growing geospatial technologies is commercial satellite imagery (source). The quality of commercial satellite imagery is getting better, and the acquisition cost is getting cheaper due to increased competition in this industry. Forestry operations that require accurate maps of harvest areas, stockpiles, or land-use change detection analysis, can benefit from the lower… Read more
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