This document provides information about the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in forest management. It discusses how GIS tools can be used to capture, store, analyze and present geospatial data. GIS allows forest managers to model and map forests, predict future conditions under different management scenarios, plan harvests and fires, and incorporate other spatial data like infrastructure, boundaries and terrain. The document concludes that as environmental issues grow in complexity, GIS will continue playing a key role in botanical science and sustainable forest management by facilitating the analysis of highly variable spatial and temporal data.

1. BAHIR DAR UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
DEPARTEMENT OF BIOLOGY
POST GRADUATE PROGRAM
BOTANICAL SCIENCE STREAM
ADVANCED PLANT ECOLOGY PRESENTATION ONE
BY
ABEBAW TSEGAAND MEENGISTU ADANE

2. Geographical Information
System (GIS)

3. Contents
 Introduction to GIS
 GIS tools
 Principles of GIS
 Data capture
 Data preparation
 Data storage and maintenance
 Data analysis
 Data presentation
 GIS data sources
 The need for GIS
 Application of GIS
 What makes application of GIS different?
 How GIS is useful for forest study?
 GIS application in forest management
 Conclusion

4. Introduction to GIS
Geographic
 it implies that locations of the Data items are known or can be
calculated in terms of geographic coordinates /latitude, longitude
Information
 it implies that Data in a GIS are organized to yield useful knowledge,
often as colored maps and image, but also statistical graphs, tables etc
System
 it implies that a GIS is made up from several inter related and linked
components with different functions, Thus GIS have functional
capability for data capture, input, manipulation, transformation,
visualization, combinations, analysis, modeling and output.

5. CONT’D
 GIS is a computerized system that facilitates
the phases of data entry, data management,
data analysis and data presentation specifically
for dealing with Georeferenced data.
 Also GIS is a computer based information
system used to digitally represent and analyze
the geographic features present on the earth's
surface and the events that taking place on it.

6. GIS Tools
 Remote sensor devices
 Satellite imagery
 Land detecting devices
 Aerial photographer devices etc

7. A GIS is a computer-based system that provides the
following four sets of capabilities to handle georeferenced
data:
Data capture
Data management, including storage and
maintenance
Data manipulation (operation) and analysis
Data presentation

8. Data capture refers to the collection of any
information from any where at any time by
using GIS tools.
Vegetation cover, temperature, wind speed,
humidity, etc
For every type of information we have use
and apply different GIS tools at different
places
Data capture

9. Data capture

10. Data Preparation

11.  Refers to the acquired data from GIS
tools/satellite communication has been
put in digital forms, that is, it has been
converted in to computer readable
format.
 Then it is possible to going to analysis of
data.
Data Storage and Maintenance

12. Storage and Maintenance

13. Once the data has been collected
and organized in a computer
system, we can start analyzing it.
Different data's have different way
of analysis.
Data Analysis

14. Data Analysis

15. GIS Data Sources

16.  Data manipulation, analysis modeling
can be effective and efficiently carried
out with a GIS
 Rational decisions on space utilization
 Fast and quality information in decision
making
The need for GIS

18.  Geology, geomorphology & geodesy
 Hydrology
 Agriculture
 Forestry
 Landuse/landcover
 Meteorology
 Oceanography
 Disaster control etc

19. The natural environment is…
–extremely complex
–highly variable (space and time)
–complicated further by human action
Understanding of natural systems
–very basic
–multiple approaches to natural science
What makes applications of GIS different?

20. From this…
Ground water analysis at MONTANA DNRC

21. Informal City
Demolition in
Harare, Zimbabwe
in 2005
World View 2 launched September 18, 2015
Change Detection and Historical Documentation
World View 1 launched September 18,
2007

22. Monitoring Illicit Drug Production and Eradication
Herbicide or Pesticide application
Coca leaves

23. Desert
• Super-dry air
• High daytime temperatures
• Lots of wind
Obtaining Geospatial Information in Denied or Dangerous Areas:

24. Rain Forest

25. Tundra
• Long, cold, dark winters (6 to 10 months)
• Low Precipitation
• Snow provides isolation

26. • Warm, hot climates
• Major vegetation is grass
• Dry
• Seasonal fires
Savanna

27. X-ray Backscatter Remote Sensing Systems
To
locate
people
X-ray
sensor
mounted in
a van.
Illicit
drugs
Explosives:
Ammonium
nitrate

28. How GIS is useful for Forest study?
Forest management becoming increasingly complex
greater environmental stress
social involvement
pressures
GIS is likely to play an increasingly central role
GIS Developments
greater band width,
web based technology
wireless communication will provide much greater opportunities for
information access even in more remote areas

29. GIS ability to show the vegetation between the FOUR approaches

30. How GIS is useful for Forest study? Cont’d
GIS is a good tool for forest management
 It answers the following question
Location: What is at?
 a place name, post or zip code, or geographic references such as latitude and longitude
Condition: Where is it?
Location of some where distance from some where
Trends: What has changed since?
It helps to find out what has changed within study forest or land use an area over time
 Patterns: What spatial patterns exist?
 Determine geographic pattern of forest area
o Modeling: What if?
o Determine what happens, if a road network is added in a forest

31. GIS application in forest management
 Forest management planning involves making predictions about
what the future forest will look like relative to alternative
management activities.
 This ability is crucial to nearly all aspects of management
forecasting, particularly long term wood and wildlife supply.
 GIS stores both the geographic and numerical structure of the forest
It allows the manager to effectively add both the important temporal
and spatial dimensions to the management planning process. Within
the limits of the inventory and model, the manager can then map what
the forest will look like in 5,10, 25, or 100 years in the future.

32. GIS application in forest management cont’d
Map production
Forest managers require a wide variety of maps to assist with
their daily activities
 Plantation maps are most commonly used for location
purposes and may contain additional useful information such
as roads, rivers, compartment boundaries, planted species, and
compartment size.
Other features such as topographic features (contours),
infrastructure, water points, fire breaks, neighbors and
conservation areas may be also included in the map

33. GIS application in forest management cont’d
Fire management
The effect of fire on forest resources is another important
management concern. Management activities include fire
prevention, wildlife control, prescribed burning, and post fire
recovery actions.
The modelling capabilities of GIS have been quite effective
in this context.
Forest fire managers have used GIS for fuel mapping,
weather condition mapping, and fire danger rating

34. GIS application in forest management cont’d
Harvest planning
Good forest management practice requires detailed
planning of harvesting activities.
Harvest planning activities include the identification of
cut down directions, extraction routes, depots and
sensitive zones such as wetlands
Maps constitute a basic planning tool for these
activities

35. GIS application in forest management cont’d
Resource management
 Yet, a GIS can build on these activities by incorporating
models to guide, for example, timber harvesting, silviculture
and fire management activities, or predict fuel wood and
other resource supplies.
 Other priorities, such as providing for wildlife habitat,
ensuring recreation opportunities and minimizing visual
impacts of harvesting, are also growing in importance

36. Conclusions
 The physical world is complex and our
understanding simple
 Environmental data is highly variable
 Implications for GIS applications
 GIS has important role to play in botanical science
and management
 Handling and analyzing spatial data
 Handling problems with temporal data

37. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION?