Difference between revisions of "Forest informatics"

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'''Forest informatics''' is the combined science of forestry and
'''Forest informatics''' is a multidisciplinary field of science that "harnesses the power of computational and information technologies to organize and analyze biological data from research collections, experiments, remote sensing, modeling, database searches and instrumentation and deliver them to users throughout the world."<ref name="ShanmughavelBio">{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Qb0sAQAAMAAJ&q="forest+informatics"&dq="forest+informatics" |chapter=Biodiversity lnformatics: A Virtual Access to Global Resources |title=Forest Biodiversity, Volume 1 |author=Shanmughavel, P.; Kannaiyan, Sadasivam (ed.) |publisher=Associated Publishing Company |year=2008 |pages=40–46 |isbn=9788185211763 |accessdate=04 June 2014}}</ref> Computational and information management technologies used to support decision-making activities in the field of forest informatics include decision support systems, mathematical modeling software, statistical and algorithmic analysis tools, geographic information systems, global positioning systems, and shared databases.<ref name="VogtForests">{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=KiZXErMOdK4C&pg=PA255 |chapter=Chapter 7: Emerging Issues in Forests |title=Forests and Society: Sustainability and Life Cycles of Forests in Human Landscapes |author=Vogt, Kristina A.; Patel-Weynand, Toral; Muller, Gretchen K.; Vogt, Daniel J.; Honea, Jon M.; Edmonds, Robert L.; Sigurdardottir, Ragnhildur; Andreu, Michael G. |publisher=CABI |year=2007 |pages=228–283 |isbn=9781845931117 |accessdate=04 June 2014}}</ref>
[[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
==History==
Informatics is an interdisciplinary science primarily concerned with
In 1970, J. G. Grevatt wrote an article titled, "Management Information and Computers in Forestry."<ref>{{cite doi|10.1093/forestry/43.1.17}}</ref> In the article, the author describes and discusses different
the collection, classification, manipulation, storage, retrieval and
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.
dissemination of information. Information, in this context, includes
both human and machine readable documents. Examples of human readable
documents include maps, field data sheets, operational schedules,
and long term asset management plans with narrative text. Machine
readable documents include files for
geographic information systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and
other applications like spreadsheets, and  
relational database management systems.


As in management science, Forest Informatics uses
At the time of that article, computers, databases, and geographic information systems were still in their infancy and tools like the  Global Positioning Systems 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 systems that could run on desktop computers and could be customized for various tasks were also developed, but as separate systems.  
decision support systems, 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 problems).  The practice includes information
processing and the engineering of nformation systems,
decision support systems, 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 ==
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.


In 1970, J. G. Grevatt wrote an article titled, "Management
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<ref>http://www.springer.com/statistics/life+sciences,+medicine+%26+health/book/978-1-4419-7761-8</ref> .  
Information and Computers in Forestry."
<ref>{{cite doi|10.1093/forestry/43.1.17}}</ref>  
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
==Application==
were still in their infancy and tools like the
Global Positioning Systems 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 systems 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
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 problems).
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<ref>http://www.springer.com/statistics/life+sciences,+medicine+%26+health/book/978-1-4419-7761-8</ref> .  
 
 
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 agents, and a collection of reports, maps, and
data feeds. The application uses an intelligent agent
architecture to preemptively generate possible strategic, tactical,
and operational solutions for forest managers.
 
== Contributing Disciplines ==
 
Math
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


==Notes==
==Notes==


This article heavily reuses content from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_informatics the Wikipedia article].
This article reuses some elements from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_informatics the Wikipedia article].


== References ==
== References ==
<references/>
<references/>


<!---Place all category tags here-->
[[Category:Informatics]]
[[Category:Informatics]]

Revision as of 17:21, 4 June 2014

Forest informatics is a multidisciplinary field of science that "harnesses the power of computational and information technologies to organize and analyze biological data from research collections, experiments, remote sensing, modeling, database searches and instrumentation and deliver them to users throughout the world."[1] Computational and information management technologies used to support decision-making activities in the field of forest informatics include decision support systems, mathematical modeling software, statistical and algorithmic analysis tools, geographic information systems, global positioning systems, and shared databases.[2]

History

In 1970, J. G. Grevatt wrote an article titled, "Management Information and Computers in Forestry."[3] 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 Systems 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 systems 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[4] .

Application

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 problems).

Notes

This article reuses some elements from the Wikipedia article.

References

  1. ↑ Shanmughavel, P.; Kannaiyan, Sadasivam (ed.) (2008). "forest+informatics"&dq="forest+informatics" "Biodiversity lnformatics: A Virtual Access to Global Resources". Forest Biodiversity, Volume 1. Associated Publishing Company. pp. 40–46. ISBN 9788185211763. http://books.google.com/books?id=Qb0sAQAAMAAJ&q="forest+informatics"&dq="forest+informatics". Retrieved 04 June 2014. 
  2. ↑ Vogt, Kristina A.; Patel-Weynand, Toral; Muller, Gretchen K.; Vogt, Daniel J.; Honea, Jon M.; Edmonds, Robert L.; Sigurdardottir, Ragnhildur; Andreu, Michael G. (2007). "Chapter 7: Emerging Issues in Forests". Forests and Society: Sustainability and Life Cycles of Forests in Human Landscapes. CABI. pp. 228–283. ISBN 9781845931117. http://books.google.com/books?id=KiZXErMOdK4C&pg=PA255. Retrieved 04 June 2014. 
  3. ↑ doi:10.1093/forestry/43.1.17
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  4. ↑ http://www.springer.com/statistics/life+sciences,+medicine+%26+health/book/978-1-4419-7761-8
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