2002 User Conference


Abstracts

The following are the abstracts and notes of presentations given during the 2002 conference.

Consultation Process: Push a button and get your map!

Francois Depey GIS Coordinator
Wet'suwet'en Territorial Stewardship Plan,
Office of the Wet'suwet'en

Resource tenure holders and provincial government agencies are required to consult the Office of the Wet'suwet'en (OW) regarding planned resource development activities within traditional Wet'suwet'en territory (22,000km²). One of the OW Lands and Resources Department's mandates is to assess the potential threat from proposed development to cultural heritage sites. The OW referral and consultation coordinator must respond to each referral within a limited time frame. The office does not have the resources (human or technical) to adequately respond to the abundant requests from government and industry within the brief time allotted. Consequently, it is very important for OW staff to be able to access comprehensive and current cultural heritage information for the territory. Consultation workers do not have technical knowledge of the office GIS or well developed cartographic skills. They are fortunate to have the opportunity to use a recently developed comprehensive cultural heritage database which combines all existing cultural heritage data for Wet'suwet'en territory. The challenge is that the referral and consultation coordinator needs maps with updated information reflecting the most recent version of this cultural heritage database. These maps must display the area of interest or concern, all existing cultural heritage sites and ecosystem values. These maps will be used to respond to the referral requests and as a framework to direct additional field inventory activities. In order for consultation workers to work efficiently, they have to be able to access comprehensive cultural heritage information quickly and very independently (without having to rely on GIS department staff): Push a button and get your map!

The Grasslands Conservation Council of British Columbia's BC's Grasslands Mapping Project

Ryan Holmes, GIS Analyst, Grasslands Conservation Council of British Columbia  

British Columbia's grasslands are unique and provide vital habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, including many threatened and endangered species. Grasslands are also extremely rare, representing less than 1 percent of the provincial land base. Increasing pressures on British Columbia's grasslands have resulted in a growing concern for their long-term sustainability. Yet, British Columbia does not currently have adequate information and a clear provincial picture on the abundance, distribution and status of its grasslands. The BC Grassland Mapping Project is an essential step to obtaining a provincial picture and accurately determining the status of British Columbia's grasslands. The Grasslands Conservation Council (GCC) of BC and its partners are bringing together existing information from around the province to build a grasslands Geographic Information System (GIS) and associated maps for the whole province. This project will produce a useful product and tools for government, non-government organizations and individuals involved in grasslands education, communications, research, monitoring, conservation and stewardship. Grasslands information will be essential to resource management, planning and decision-making processes around the province and will benefit the sustainability of grasslands and their wildlife.

GIS and the UNBC Research Forests

Aubrey Sicotte, GIS Technician,
John Prince Research Forest and Aleza Lake Research Forest

The two research forests that UNBC co-manages have been developing extensive GIS databases over the last number of years. A large part of these databases have been constructed in aid of Development/Management Plans, however there have been a number of studies completed by both students and professors at UNBC that have driven the creation of many parts of the research forests' databases. Acting as an interface for the public, there have been two websites set up that contain descriptive information about the research forests, as well as downloadable Arc/Info coverages for people to use.

Launching the new Canada-wide differential GPS (CDGPS) service: new tools for GPS-based geo-referencing

Amin Kassam, P.Eng., A.L.S.
CDGPS Project Manager, Base Mapping and Geomatic Services Branch

Presentation (PDF - 18.75MB)

The new Canada-wide differential GPS (CDGPS) service will be launched this summer. This is an important development for spatial data gatherers in the country. Under development over the past few years, this free service will enhance the availability of real-time DGPS corrections across Canada. All provinces, the government of Nunavut and the Federal government have partnered to bring quality geo-referencing capability for GPS users within the Canadian Spatial Reference System (CSRS). CDGPS will augment the Coast Guard's marine beacon DGPS service as well as the United States' Wide Area Augmentation Service (WAAS) by providing complete Canadian coverage and simple access to the CSRS.

DGPS is an important tool for reliable and accurate 1 - 10m positioning using GPS. The applications are wide and range from aerial mapping (e.g. navigating and resource mapping from a helicopter) and bathymetric surveying (e.g. dynamic positioning of survey launches on lake and fjords) to engineering (e.g. creating a plan view of a golf course to design a drainage system and locations for fairway reconstruction) and all forms of GIS data capture and mapping.

Governments have recognized the need for and the utility of DGPS serving the land and resource sectors. As such, efforts have been underway in both the United States and Canada to cost-effectively build the necessary infrastructure to support real-time DGPS. CDGPS is the Canadian response.

This paper describes the service objectives, system design, delivery mechanism, users' access, supporting infrastructure, and future plans.

Base Mapping in British Columbia: a status review from government

Amin Kassam, P.Eng., A.L.S.
CDGPS Project Manager, Base Mapping and Geomatic Services Branch

» Presentation (PDF - 6.07MB)

With the re-structuring of government in 2001, business practices have been re-visited and re-defined under the government's core review process. Base mapping has been one of those reviewed. As a result, Base Mapping and Geomatic Services (BMGS) Branch within the ministry of Sustainable Resource Management (MSRM) has been given the responsibility for developing and maintaining base maps and the authority to set standards associated with base maps and base map data.

Base mapping has been defined to include: the provisioning of the fundamental x,y and z coordinate system through the provincial geo-spatial reference; air photography; orthophotos; aerial traingulation; TRIM 1:20,000 mapping; TRIM watershed atlas (TWA); the Digital Road Atlas (DRA); supporting systems; and related products. Closely related to and reliant on base mapping are cadastral mapping and tenures information. Resources information also rely on but are outside of the base map definition.

Base mapping is fundamental to economic activities in the province. It is vital to resource and land management (forestry, recreation & tourism, fish and wildlife, environmental, mining, energy, land management, land development), critical to infrastructure infrastructure management (transportation, telecommunications, sewer and water, oil and gas, electricity), and just as important to community information and services (on line information services, emergency measures management, emergency response (911 & 211), hospitality and retail, tourism and travel)

This paper describes the fundamental base mapping foundation for the province, its constituent elements, BMGS' plans for fulfilling its responsibilities to clients, and some general views of how the government intends to foster data integration based on corporate base mapping.

e-Permitting: an overview of electronic approval online

Andy Lang, Eugen Toaxen
Pacific GeoTech

» Presentation (PDF - 13.42MB)

Pacific GeoTech implements technologically advanced web-based solutions for both government agencies and private sector. Our vision is to provide expertise in the development of e-Permitting, e-Commence GIS web-based mapping and enterprise solutions that maximize our clients' business goals. The primary objectives of e-Permitting framework presentation are:

At Pacific GeoTech we believe that people create our success. Our team members are committed to the concepts of leadership, teamwork, quality and integrity. We are dedicated to providing our clients with the latest advances in Information Technology.

Breaking the Time Barrier in 3D scene visualization of GIS data

David Balcaen, President
Viewscape 3D Graphics Ltd.

David Balcaen, founder and president of Viewscape3D Graphics Ltd., will give a presentation about the latest and greatest of his firm's GIS data visualization tools. From raw forestry, orthophotos and other data sets through to complete 3D model, demonstrating methods of cutting days of work to minutes. Additional information on security, health and welfare and military applications of GIS and rapid 3D model building. Ending with brief discussion on what David sees the future holds for 3D scene visualization, the first real competition to plain paper maps.

The ESRI geodatabase

Sean Simpson, Senior Application Specialist
ESRI Canada. Ltd.

» Presentation (PDF - 12.16MB)

This presentation is a high level look at the concepts surrounding the ESRI geodatabase. The geodatabase (short for geographic database) is a unique data format that is similar in structure to the coverage data model and also includes the functionality for multi-user editing. The presentation will address the two major concepts of the geodatabase as well as its inherent benefits.

The role of Web Services in GIS

Dwaine Froment, Account Manager
ESRI Canada Ltd.

The current buzz in the IT industry is Web Services, this concept has the potential to change how we interact with our customers, how we deliver applications within an organization. As we become more wired through the internet, the means by which software vendors deliver software has the potential to drastically change the way we access GIS Services.

From GIS to Online Fishing Maps

Sean Simmons, President
Goldstream Publishing Inc.

The Angler's Atlas uses GIS to produce fishing maps for anglers. This talk will present an overview of the production process and highlight some of the hurdles met along the way. The next step is to integrate a dynamic map server into the business model, and this talk will explore two options available (ArcIMS and MapServer).

Development of a Methodology to Extrapolate Tree Lists from Known Points to the Entire Lignum IFPA Inventory Using Remote Sensing, GIS and Database Techniques

Dr. Aqeel Kidwai and Steven Monai
Spatial Mapping Ltd.

» Presentation (PDF - 826.5KB)

This is a research based project whose stated goal was to "develop and test a procedure for extrapolating knowledge of tree lists from sample points to unknown points in the inventory", or in other words, to develop a Satellite Remote Sensing based inventory system that is calibrated to standard ground inventories.

The backbone of this project is the ground truth, compiled by Lignum into what are called “Distance Matrices”. Broadly speaking, a distance matrix provides the "distance" (in an abstract space) between each pair of Lignum's ground truth plots.

Remote sensing, GIS, and database techniques were used to analyze the relationship between satellite imagery (IKONOS) and Lignum's proprietary ground truth (distance matrices), with the goal of using that relationship to extrapolate tree lists from the known ground truth plots to the unknown (satellite images).

CAD/GIS Integration for the Oil and Gas Survey Industry

Pearson Farnsworth, GIS Manager,
Midwest Surveys Inc.

The oil and gas industry of western Canada continues to expand its position as a leader in resource exploration and development. As this occurs, the importance of the survey geomatics industry to create spatial information solutions increases as well. Midwest Surveys Inc. of Calgary, Alberta is one such geomatics company that collects, engineers and supports oil and gas facilities and infrastructure management for clients across Alberta and Saskatchewan. The traditional approach to managing spatial data and automated mapping has occurred in a CAD environment and will continue to do so but in a much different and more sophisticated environment using a multi-user GIS platform. Midwest Surveys is in the process of migrating its data management, mapping processes and product delivery services to a distributed GIS environment for internal and external business clients.

Building a Knowledge Ecology for British Columbia

Trina Innes, Natural Resources Information
Southern Intertior Forest Extension and Research Partnership

» Presentation (PDF - 6.11MB)

The Southern Interior Forest Extension and Research Partnership (SIFERP), is a unique, non-profit society with over 40 member organizations. We are dedicated to promoting - through extension and research - healthy and sustainable ecosystems throughout the interior of British Columbia, Canada.

In consultation with a wide variety of organizations and consulting support from private industry, SIFERP is facilitating the development of the Natural Resources Information Network (NRIN). The vision for NRIN is:

To be a provincially-recognized network of organizations that cooperate to provide a comprehensive online source of information on natural resources and their management in support of effective planning, research and management decision-making in British Columbia.

NRIN provides the people of British Columbia a comprehensive searchable database of provincial organizations, events, publications (documents and data sets) and bulletins relating to natural resources and their management. Via an oral presentation or poster submission, SIFERP would be pleased to explain why managing information is important and how the NRIN technology links many disparate information sources together for common search and discovery. A brief overview of metadata, metadata standards and SIFERP's extension services would also be provided.

GIS and Planning

Dan Milburn, Planner
City of Prince George

Numerous advances have been made over the past decade in GIS and community planning. This session will include an overview of some of the most recent advances, tools and techniques that are making community planning more accessible to the public and more efficient for practitioners.

The soon to be publicly released City of Prince George web based mapping system (PG Map) will be discussed with reference to public-private-partnerships, interactivity, and practical planning applications for this technology.

Local government GIS practitioners should not miss this talk, as the mysteries of Planning will be revealed!

Northwest Data Sharing Network: A Public/Private Data Co-Warehousing Partnership

Don Morgan, RPBio, Planning Systems Biologist
Ministry of Forests Research Branch, Prince Rupert Forest Region

» Presentation (PDF - 13.24MB)

Traditionally data analysis is done on a project by project basis, this approach creates problems for analysis replication and distribution of information. Commonly data sets are re-created at the same cost as the original. Many copies of data describing the same information can exist among data users resulting in costs associated with determining the “right” data. Differences in analysis can commonly be attributed to data differences, determining analysis inconsistencies introduces further project costs.

Data warehousing addresses these issues by providing a common repository and common standards for information. Costs for conducting data intensive projects are reduced having pre-assembled data of a know structure. Past projects can be easily replicated. Analysis techniques can be transferred easily between projects. Inventories can be tightly managed reducing costs associated with discovering the best available information.

Three planning processes are currently under way in north western BC that can immediately benefit from a co-warehousing partnership. The Morice/Lakes IFPA is an ongoing, industry led, sustainable forest management initiative that is heavily data dependent. An LRMP is starting up in the Morice Forest District, and is working in conjunction with the Morice/Lakes IFPA to co-deliver strategic land use decision making in a short time frame. In addition, the office of the Wet'suwet'en is engaged in a Territory Stewardship Plan that requires the same data management foundation. These three processes, with different end objectives, all require the same spatial and tabular data inputs making them perfect candidates for a co-warehousing partnership.

The Northwest Data Sharing Partnership is being formed to address co-warehousing in the Northwest. Currently implementation options are being evaluated and a governance model is being drafted. This presentation will cover short and long term business drivers for data partnerships, technical and governance implementation strategies and linkages to other provincial initiatives.

Bruce Mackenzie, Senior GIS Technical Analyst and Tom Fulton, Sr. Data Analyst
Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management

The Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management land and resource data warehouse is an integrated collection of data published from different sources that is structured for efficient client access in support of decision support and distribution. The Ministry is working on a strategy to provide greater access to resource management and land-related data from an integrated data warehouse architecture that will allow the public, industry and staff in other agencies to work together using common data to make sound decisions efficiently. This will present some interesting challenges in the areas of data and system security and user interface complexity.

GIS Applications in Water Resources Management for Environmental Assessments

Dave Warburton, Operations/Systems Manager
Triton Environmental Consultants Ltd.

Environmental assessment typically requires evaluation of a project area's topography plus its physical features such as the size, shape, and hydrologic characteristics of rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Topographic information is readily available from National Topographic System (NTS) maps and BC Terrain Resource Information Management (TRIM) maps. In many cases, river flows are recorded at one or more locations, and the bathymetry of a specific lake will have been recorded and documented, and the topography of a particular reservoir maybe recorded prior to impoundment.

However, often the topography of a reservoir was not recorded prior to impoundment, or was insufficiently documented, or was recorded in a format or scale not suitable for assessment work required for a proposed project. Should the proposed project result in changes to the reservoir water levels, detailed information below the historic levels may be required. In these situations the required topographic information of an area below the historic water level can be estimated by creating a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) from available aerial photography.

This presentation will discuss process we took to develop a (Digital Elevation Model) DEM from air photo interpretation and the technical use of ARC/NFO and ARCVIEW in processing the DEM data to answer various environmental related questions based on fluctuations in water levels.

Using Resource Selection Functions to Predict the Distribution of Woodland Caribou Habitat Across Northcentral British Columbia

Chris J. Johnson
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton,
Scott Emmons, University of Northern British Columbia, GIS

In British Columbia, demands for merchantable timber have led to a heightened awareness of the conflict between human encroachment and the habitat needs of woodland caribou. Conservation of caribou is a priority for provincial agencies and British Columbians, but few large-scale planning tools exist to direct future research and management efforts or to assess current guidelines and land-use designations. We developed statistically robust predictive habitat models for the Wolverine, Takla, and Yellowhead caribou herds during four seasons. We used fixed-effects logistic regression, one statistical form of a resource selection functions (RSF), to calculate coefficients for predictive habitat models. An RSF is any mathematical function that incorporates animal relocation data and descriptive biotic or abiotic variables to calculate the relative probability of an animal using a particular habitat. Depending on season and herd, we developed 10 to 14 RSF models that provided plausible explanations of habitat selection by caribou. The suite of independent variables considered for each model included vegetation type, interaction terms of stand age and site productivity by vegetation type, an index of slope and aspect, site curvature, and elevation. We used Akaikes information criterion (AIC) to select the most parsimonious RSF model from the set of plausible models. All herd by season RSF models with the smallest AIC scores demonstrated good predictive power relative to a cross-validated sample of caribou locations. Ecological interpretations of RSF coefficients were consistent with past analyses of habitat selection using the same data, but different statistical techniques.

We applied models developed for the Wolverine, Takla, and Yellowhead herds to telemetry data for the Narraway and Quintette herds. We used measures of predictive performance for the out-of-sample data to assess the appropriateness of extrapolating the selected RSF models to other herds and areas. Most comparisons suggested that seasonal models for the Takla and Wolverine herds applied well to the Quintette and Narraway herds. Application of models and maps should, however, be guided by knowledge of the candidate caribou population or study area to which the RSF is to be extrapolated.

Models and maps have a number of direct and indirect applications to the management of caribou populations found across the study area.

  1. Predictive maps are appropriate for identifying areas of contiguous habitat; that information can guide large-scale forest management as well as recovery efforts for identified populations;
  2. RSF coefficients and predictive maps can serve as a basis to generate hypothesis for future research and to direct population inventories across areas where relatively little is known of the distribution of caribou;
  3. RSF coefficients can serve as benchmarks to assess changes in the behaviour and distribution of caribou over time.
Contract Management Panel Discussion

Dick Mynen - GIS Manager, TDB Consultants Inc.
Bruce MacArthur, President, The McGregor Resource Analysis Group
Steve Lipscomb, Business Development Manager, INFORM
Dennis Thideman, President/General Manager - Orion Information Systems Inc.

This is an open discussion where participants will address issues of common concern around contract management with an emphasis on GIS work. Participants will answer questions from both the audience and the facilitator. This session will also help those who write or are involved in writing technical proposals.

Streamlining the Process of Getting Field Data from the Field to the Office

Mark Laudon, GIS Development Lead, Genus RMT Inc.

In the last few years, field data collection techniques have evolved from simple notepads and hand drawn maps to Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's) with GPS receivers. Personal digital assistants and hand-held computers that easily fit in a suit-jacket pocket are becoming almost as common as cell phones; perhaps they may have surpassed cell phones as the cool gadget to have. It's only natural that these portable computers would find a place in mobile GIS, computer-aided design (CAD) and Global Positioning System (GPS) applications, replacing traditional data loggers/collectors as well as more bulky and expensive notebook computers.

ESRI's ArcPad PDA application allows users to capture field information in a more efficient way than the traditional paper and pen method. The major advantage of using this technology is that it eliminates the need to re-enter the data into the corporate database back in the office. In the case of attribute data, a user would have to manually type in all of the field notes. In the case of the spatial data, a GIS specialist would have to manually digitize the data into the corporate database. This session will demonstrate the use of this new technology to capture forest ecology unit information in the field. Then, utilizing Genus RMT's Genus GIS Utilities (ArcGIST based), the data captured in the field will be seamlessly imported into the corporate database. Once in the corporate database, this session will demonstrate the use of GenusRMT's Genus application and utilities to print out an ecology map and report.

Wireless GIS/GPS: Concept and Reality

Linda Vlasveld, Sierra Systems Group Inc.

» Presentation (PDF - 5.41MB)

This discussion will examine Geo-spatial Industry trends and emerging technology using Internet map server products. Wireless, location-based geo-spatial technology is maturing, allowing anywhere, anytime mobile computing.

How does it work? What are the advantages? What are the implications? An existing GIS/GPS application (Field Update of Tree Inventory) will be used as an example.

Mapping health and illness: a powerful new tool

Lorna Medd
Northern Interior Health Unit

Epidemiology, or the study of the distribution of disease within populations, is closely connected to mapping, and is rendered far more understandable through mapping.  Over the past ten years there has been an explosion of GIS applications in health.

Some historic examples of mapping that saved many lives are reviewed. Current examples of GIS maps of the determinants of disease in Vancouver and in Prince George will be presented.

Classification of Alpine Areas in the Morice Forest District: Using Remote Sensing to Create Vectors to Supplement Provincial Datasets

Darren Janzen, University of Northern British Columbia

Existing provincial datasets lack detail about alpine areas. This project was undertaken to define different components of alpine areas and add them to existing provincial datasets. Using remote sensing processing techniques, the alpine area of the Morice Forest District was first identified, and then classified into nine different site types. The methodology developed for this study created a classification of alpine areas that achieved eighty-one percent accuracy with minimal training data.

The Ahousaht First Nations Information Management CD

Carol Ogborne, Head GIS Modelling and Analysis
Decision Support Services, Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management

The Ahousaht First Nations Information Management CD is a demonstration of a proof of concept of the First Nations Resource Information System development by the Land Use Coordination Office and the Ahousaht First Nation. The interactive CD allows one to view a diverse range of First Nation spatial data, video, photographs and text that has been integrated in a manner to support a variety of applications.

The prototype system was designed to facilitate the management and application of First Nation information to support a diverse range of business applications. By integrating First Nation elder information and the government agency information with a GIS-HTML environment the product can support the following applications: preservation of oral history, education, strategic land use planning, operational planning and referrals, Treaty Negotiations, economic diversification and archival documentation. First Nation elder information includes traditional use sites (TUS), archaeological sites, First Nations place names, current resource use areas, historical records, photographs, forestry information, land tenures, biological resources, tourism and commercial activities.

Aboriginal Mapping Network

Steven DeRoy, Coordinator
Ecotrust Canada, Vancouver

» Presentation (PDF - 30.25MB)

The Aboriginal Mapping Network (AMN) is a collection of resource pages for First Nation mappers who are looking for answers to common questions regarding mapping, information management and GIS. It is a network where First Nation mappers can learn about what other native mappers are doing, and share their own experiences throughout the aboriginal community. The AMN has a British Columbia focus, but is not limited to this geographic region. It is intended to be used by any group who is active in aboriginal mapping, from the introductory level, to the advanced. It is a source for both technical information on GIS mapping, to general information relevant to decision makers.

Through the leadership of the Gitxsan Nation, the Ahousaht Nation, the Kwakiutl, the Haisla Nations and Ecotrust Canada, the AMN has four main activity areas:

  1. A dynamic web page
  2. An annual international GIS Conference
  3. A publication series
  4. Informal roundtable workshops
Muskwa-Kechika Predicitive Ecosystem Mapping with Wildlife Habitat Interpretations

EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd.
Richard Sims, John Grods and Jeff Matheson

» Presentation (PDF - 21.46MB)

Results are presented from a recently-completed Predictive Ecosystem Mapping (PEM) project in the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area (MKMA). The MKMA is a remote wilderness area in northeastern BC and is one of the few remaining vast, intact and largely unroaded areas south of the 60th parallel. In order to properly direct potential resource development, particularly oil and gas, a landscape-level planning approach is currently being applied within MKMA pre-tenure planning (PTP) areas.

The "Muskwa PEM" was conducted at 1:50,000 scale for four PTP areas. The approach integrates satellite image classification, digital elevation modeling, derived localized Biogeoclimatic lines, and bioterrain mapping. Where appropriate, other spatial and non-spatial data are also incorporated into the GIS-based Muskwa PEM.

Wildlife habitat interpretations were completed for several wildlife species, including grizzly bear, moose and mountain goat. Interpretations included a species habitat model and wildlife habitat suitability ratings based on mapped ecosystems.

The Road to Sustainable Forest Management

Kerry Deschamps, Forest Planner, Canadian Forest Products
Jennifer McGill, GIS Services Manager, Timberline Forest Inventory Consultants Ltd.

» Presentation (PDF - 15.31MB)

Forest certification has emerged as a dominant factor in the forest industry in order to provide assurances to buyers of wood products that the management of forests meets certain standards considered being critical for sustainable forest management. As British Columbia forest companies have evolved and have become dependent on the global market place for the export of forest products, the issues of sustainable forest management and forest certification have become paramount.

This presentation will focus on the certification process undertaken by Canfor, the development and implementation of criteria and indicator monitoring, and the future direction of sustainable forest management.

Integrating Landscape Ecology with GIS

Dan Bernier, R.P.Bio., Ecologist
Timberline Forest Inventory Consultants, Ltd.

Landscape ecology has made significant advances over the past 10 years thanks in large part to advancements in GIS. Ecologists are now demanding spatially and aspatially accurate data to be generated, manipulated and stored in the GIS environment. In addition, most ecologists require hands-on access to this data on their desktop and are demanding more and more control over the spatial and aspatial data. This presentation will address the requirements of landscape ecologists, and the various challenges facing the GIS experts who support these ecologists. Landscape level project examples that will be discussed include:

The Integration of Visual Modeling and Alternative Harvesting and Silviculture Systems (AHSS)

Dustin Meierhofer, Silviculture/Engineering Department Manager
Warren Nimchuk, RPF, Assistant Inventory Manager
Timberline Forest Inventory Consultants Ltd.

Timber harvesting practices in British Columbia must reflect consideration of objectives for a wide range of values and features. Many such objectives are identified in forest management regulations and guidelines and include visual quality, biodiversity elements, terrain stability, riparian management areas and special resource management zones. In some areas, these objectives place significant constraints on the extent and type of silviculture systems and harvesting methods that may be used. These constraints, reflected in the management assumptions in timber supply analyses, often create downward pressure on timber supply.

The application of AHSS can be effective in addressing some of the more significant constraints within TSA's - specifically, partial cutting as an alternative to clearcutting within VQO constrained areas. Based on the results of AHSS projects within the interior and coastal areas of BC, available timber supply in constrained areas can be effectively increased while maintaining the integrity of non-timber resource values. The ability to execute and successfully complete a project of this nature relies heavily on GIS technology especially pre and post-harvest visual simulation images. The AHSS presentation will focus on its application, its implications to timber supply and the role GIS played in achieving project objectives.

Maximizing Patient Access to Health Services: "the power of linking socio-economic data with spatial data"

Nancy Liesch, Business Area Coordinator,
Decision Support Services, Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management

The site planning of Specimen Collection Station (Bleeding Station) facilities can be examined spatially using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to maximize patient access to facilities throughout the province. This presentation will outline the value of GIS for a wide range of health services planning, and provide a specific example of how these technologies have been used to assess patient access to existing and proposed Specimen Collection Stations.

Population characteristics (e.g. age), population size, distance / travel to the facility, and facility distribution are used to analyse proposed sites. In addition, the site selection criteria are also assessed by analysing how altering the approval criteria may improve, or diminish the surrounding population's ability to access the Specimen Collection Station facilities.

GIS has proved to be a valuable tool in this location-allocation modelling exercise. In particular, it has provided the tools to help ensure that site approvals are based on patient needs and accessibility. Further project refinements, expansions and additional facility characteristics are planned for this project.

IntelliWhere OnDemand

Paul Grant, Intergraph

IntelliWhere OnDemand PDA software to location-enable your mobile workforce IntelliWhere OnDemand puts your organization's mapping data where it's most useful - in the hands of your mobile workforce. As a low cost, off-the-shelf software product for personal digital assistants (PDAs), IntelliWhere OnDemand allows field workers to work in an occasionally-connected mode to view and update intelligent Forest maps from the corporate geographic information system (GIS).

Opening Remarks

Jim Spencer, Chief Operating Officer - Genus RMT Inc.

“Doing GIS Smarter and Cheaper...Data Sharing, Collaborative Databases, Business Process Improvement...Impacts and Challenges for the GIS community”. A look at trends towards multi partner arrangements such as IFPA's, Code Pilots, multi-sectoral integrated resource planning etc. and the growing use of shared databases and integrated business processes.

Phil Zacharatos, Regional Director - Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management

Orthophoto Mapserver using Mapxtrem

Karl Kliparchuk, M.Sc. - McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd.

» Presentation (PDF - 4.02MB)