In this post we will journey on an expedition to explore a forestry dataset using Data Science tools available in Python. Python is an Object-Oriented programming language commonly used in the Geospatial and Data Science fields. As an example scenario, we will work with two datasets that resemble common Stand […]
“Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion.” W. Edwards Deming In the increasingly competitive digital-age, there is a growing trend for companies to adopt data-driven processes and business cultures. In this post I will discuss what it means for companies to utilize data-driven processes, and how this might […]
Forest companies, large and small, need databases and software for managing their ongoing business operations. Early in my career, this meant large single-purpose software applications running on desktop computers, Enterprise software running on dedicated servers, and bulky field computers running MSDOS. Today, companies have more software options available for meeting […]
Satellite imagery is a complement to GIS data in the forest industry for geospatial mapping and analyses, but new uses will continue to emerge as satellite imagery becomes more available and affordable. As a result, companies should be familiar with additional uses beyond the traditional mapping functionality that most forest […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
Records exists in isolation! That was a thought I had recently when I was given the task of organizing twenty years worth of office documents and digital files. Honestly, I had no clue where to start, how to start, or what the end result would be. So, I ended up […]
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