Moving into the Digital Age: Tablet Technology & Trees

To reduce the time and cost associated with traditional paint-tree marking practices, forest managers in northern Arizona are testing different tree marking methods. In partnership with Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, Coconino National Forest, and Perkins Timber Harvesting, The Nature Conservancy tested new technology to mark tree stands and guide harvesting operations on the Bob Fry Fuel Reduction Project. The project, which was initiated in October 2015 and completed in May 2016, was located on 1,200 acres of Arizona State Lands in Coconino County ten miles southwest of Flagstaff. Trees were “digitally marked” using GPS-enabled computer tablets and new Geo-graphic Information Software on 114 acres (Figure 1). Harvesting on those acres was completed via mechanical thinning and guid-ed by in-cab tablets displaying the results of the “digital mark.” The remaining acres were treated using the Designation by Prescription (DxP) process where a written outline of treatment guidelines is provided to the harvester. In both cases, the harvester selects which trees to cut. Treatment objectives focused on creating a variety of clumps/groups and designated interspaces and openings. This past June, project participants conducted a field review to evaluate results and discuss lessons learned on behalf of both harvesters and silviculturalists.

Among several findings, here are a few key observations:

Delineations between tree groups and openings/interspaces were more readily distinguished in digitally-marked areas—DxP treatments appeared to leave more trees in areas designated for interspace/openings.
Over a sample of 8 days, productivity (trees harvested/time) was similar between DxP and digitally-marked units. Often, interspaces/openings were created first in digitally-marked areas, making it easier to then create groupings. We expect that productivity with digitally-marked treatments may improve given this process.
Should these alternative methods increase in use, the development of procedures for use and oversight is warranted to ensure consistency for land managers, operators, and stakeholder monitoring.
A more detailed presentation on tablet technology will be provided at an upcoming 4FRI Stakeholder meeting. For more information, please e-mail: Travis Woolley or Neil Chapman with The Nature Conservancy, or Henry Provencio with the U.S. Forest Service.

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May 1, 2018 April 7, 2021 webmaster-eri@nau.edu Restoration in Action

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Moving into the Digital Age: Tablet Technology & Trees

July 1, 2016 April 5, 2021 webmaster-eri@nau.edu Restoration in Action

Moving into the Digital Age: Tablet Technology & Trees To reduce the time and cost associated with traditional paint-tree marking practices, forest managers in northern Arizona are testing different tree marking methods. In partnership with Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, Coconino National Forest, and Perkins Timber Harvesting, The Nature Conservancy tested new technology […]

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April 1, 2016 April 7, 2021 webmaster-eri@nau.edu Restoration in Action

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