Epsilon Open Archive

On commission of Haglöf Sweden AB, SLU has worked in cooperation with Mississippi State
University (MSU) on a knowledge-based project which studies integrated GPS/GIS systems
within the forestry sector. Visits to Haglof Inc., MSU, Jones County Junior College, as well as
contacts with Stennis Space Center, were included in the project work.

Haglöf Sweden AB has experience and a long history of development and production of
forest measurement tools. Advanced instruments based on electronics, laser, and ultra sound
make up a large proportion of their production. Some instruments which are produced by
Haglöf today have their roots from SLU’s attempts to develop more cost efficient inventory
methods Such examples are the electronic calliper “Digitech” and the hypsometer “Vertex”.
An affiliated company, Haglof Inc. is established in Madison, Mississippi.

A number of national inventories are at present performed by SLU, such as the Swedish
National Inventory of Forests (“RIS”, which includes the Swedish National Forest Inventory
(NFI) and the Swedish Forest Soil Inventory) and the National Inventory of Landscapes in
Sweden (NILS). A design for a statewide inventory of forests in Mississippi has been
developed at MSU. This inventory, as well as the Swedish NFI and NILS, are based on – or
will be based on – both field inventory and remote sensing techniques. Strong research
centres for both inventory methods and remote sensing techniques are found at MSU as well
as at SLU.

A system which integrates GPS and GIS for field inventory, “Real Time Inventory”, has been
developed by Haglof Inc. The system locates sample plots within an area, orients towards the
plots by means of GPS, and registers plot information using software (T-Cruise) which is
linked to the system. A procedure for guiding a surveyor to areas where the probability for
occurrence of objects of interest is higher than in other parts of the area – Guided Transect
Sampling – has been developed at SLU. The development of other methods combining GPS,
GIS field surveys and remote sensing can be anticipated.

The development towards more powerful field computers increases the possibility of using
advanced field techniques. One example is the ongoing research concerning 3D terrestrial
laser scanners for forest surveys. Due to the large quantity of information obtained, the
technique gives – so far – unexplored possibilities for analyses. Changing objectives within
forestry brings about changing settings for forest inventories. There is an ever-increasing
interest for objects and phenomena related to fields such as biodiversity and environmental
monitoring. This change can bring about an increased interest for advanced field inventory
techniques. For example, biodiversity issues may require information concerning the
understorey, which can be provided by the 3D terrestrial laser scanner, and chemical soil
measurements for environmental monitoring may require advanced field instruments.

Based on available knowledge and experience from MSU, the companies involved, and SLU,
there is a good foundation for continued contacts and cooperation. This concerns teaching and
research, as well as technical development