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Case study:
Forest management planning

Details of the case study

Learning outcomes:
Knowledge:
1.) Know key sources of spatial data for land-use planning and how they can be used
2.) Understand the principles of geographic information systems and how they can be used in forestry planning and resource projections
3.) Understand how to integrate data from field resource assessments into a GIS

Skills:
1.) Students should develop or improve their ability to use a GIS so that they can:

a. synthesise data from a variety of sources and in a variety of formats
b. analyse spatial data for the assessment of land resources
c. present management information in map format

2.) Learn how to use a global positioning system in a forest resource assessment

Source of OS data used: Digimap

Other data sources used: Field survey data, English Nature Ancient Woodland Inventory and SSSI boundary datasets
http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/gis/tech_ds.htm [opens in a new window]

OS datasets: Land-Line.Plus®

Software: MapInfo Professional 5.5, Microsoft Access 97, GPS Utility version 3.4 (freeware available from http://gpsu.co.uk/ [opens in a new window]

Viewers/plugins required: Web browsing software

Other requirements: Hand-held GPS with data cable.
The base-map will be created from Land-Line.Plus® tiles su5692, su5693, su5792 and su5793. All data sets will be provided.

Other materials: MapInfo: An Easy Guide http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/guides/maps/miguide1.htm [opens in a new window]

Support: Technical support will be provided through a twice daily 'surgery' with the course tutor which students are free to attend if they have encountered problems.

Quality Assurance: The students evaluate all modules in this degree as soon as they have been completed. Results of this evaluation are reported to the course executive body for action. This new module has been developed in response to student demand for up-to-date training in digital resource mapping. Our course content is reviewed annually by an external examiner. The Institute of Chartered Foresters (the professional body for forest management in the UK) review the course once every four years. Graduates of our course are currently exempt from the majority of the professional examinations required for membership of the ICF. This course was awarded 24/24 in a recent QAA review.

Last updated: May 30, 2003