High-Tech Forestry: Using the Landscape Management System On Your Tree FarmFamily Forest Field DaySaturday September 18,

2004Kevin Zobrist, UW College of Forest ResourcesDon Hanley, WSU ExtensionRural Technology Initiative

What is the Rural Technology Initiative

(RTI)?• A cooperative between WSU

extension and the UW College of Forest Resources

• Mission: “Empower the existing infrastructure to use better technology in rural areas for managing forests for increased product and environmental values in support of local communities”

What does RTI do?

•Software development•Trainings (LMS, GIS, GPS)

•Studies of rural community issues

For More Information

•On the web: www.ruraltech.org

•Sign up for our mailing list

•Pick up some brochures and Fact Sheets

The Landscape Management System

(LMS)• Integrates a suite of useful tools

– Growth Models: See how your forest will grow and change over time

– Treatment Models: Simulate forest management activities on your forests and see the results

– Visualization Models: A picture is worth 1,000 words!

•Easy-to-use interface

LMS Outputs

• Stand structure attributes– Trees per acre, avg. height and DBH– Basal area, SDI, RD, QMD, etc.

• Forest health attributes– Fire and insect risk variables (Eastside)– Wind risk variables (Westside)

• Environmental attributes– Stand structure class– Habitat suitability indexes

• Product outputs– Volume (standing and cut)– Economic/Financial analysis

An Example LMS Portfolio

What is this stand like today?

year standspecie

sDBH

qAveDB

H TPAAveH

t TBA SDICurtisR

DTVolPerAcr

e

2004 Example DF 8.39 8.08408.7

7 49.2157.0

5 308.6 54.2 16016.8

2004 Example RC 41.9 41.9 0.25 83 2.39 2.5 0.4 356.5

2004 Example TOTAL 8.45 8.1409.0

2 49.3159.4

4 312.4 54.8 16373.3

What does it look like?

What if we leave it alone for 30 years?

2004 2014

2024 2034

What if we thin it now?

2004 2014

2024 2034

What if we thin now and again in 20 years?

2004 2014

2024 2034

Comparing Management Pathways

No ActionAvg Ht: 100’

Avg DBH: 13.0”Volume: 51.4 Mbf/acHarvested: 0 Mbf/ac

Thin OnceAvg Ht: 107’

Avg DBH: 15.6”

Volume: 47.4 Mbf/ac

Harvested: 0.4 Mbf/ac

Thin TwiceAvg Ht: 113’

Avg DBH: 19.0”

Volume: 30.0 Mbf/ac

Harvested: 3.8 Mbf/ac

Economic Analysis

Economic Parameters

Economic Summary

What can YOU do with LMS?

• Simulate management alternatives over time• Generate pictures of your forest now and in

the future• See the results of different levels of thinning• Monitor forest health• Do a financial analysis of your forest• Assess wildlife habitat potential• Create and demonstrate management plans

– Stewardship plans– “Alternate Plans”

• Other ideas?

The LMS Inventory Wizard

• The key to LMS is good inventory data!

• The Inventory Wizard is a tool to help you:– Get the inventory

data you need and – Build your own LMS

portfolio

Getting Started

• LMS includes various growth models with geographic variants from around the country

• The Inventory Wizard will:– Help you select the

right growth model– Provide the

appropriate field inventory forms

Field Inventory Forms

• Print as many copies as you need• Can be printed on “Rite in the

Rain” paper

Stand data form(growth model specific) Plot data form

Thanks For Coming!

*Fall Education Seminar*Saturday November 13, Eatonville,

WA

Feel free to:• Ask questions

• Try LMS

Don’t forget to:• Sign in

• Pick up an LMS CD• Pick up brochures and fact sheets

www.ruraltech.org