Special Commentary: The Future of Digital Remote Sensing for Production Forestry Organizations
Authors: Smith J.L.1; Clutter M.2; Keefer B.3; Ma Z.4
Source: Forest Science, Volume 49, Number 3, June 2003 , pp. 455-456(2)
Abstract:
It cannot honestly be stated that digital imagery is a standard instrument in the repertoire of the professional natural resource manager. However, we believe that the opportunity to change that situation is rapidly approaching because a nexus of technology and need has finally occurred. However, pragmatic issues remain. The key to the successful adoption of any new tool, including digital imagery, is not just having the need, but having the tool be useful, usable and available to the great mass of users, (i.e., those in the field in the case of our profession). No forester thinks twice about using an analog aerial photograph, and we need to create that same “ho-hum” status for digital imagery. FOR. SCI. 49(3):455–456.Keywords: Financial land management; business needs; efficient innovation; environmental management; forest; forest management; forest resources; forestry; forestry research; forestry science; natural resources; natural resource management
Document Type: Miscellaneous
Affiliations: 1: Forestry, Fire, and Ecosystem Management, Space Imaging LLC, 1822 Swiss Oaks St., Jacksonville, FL, 32259, jsmith@spaceimaging.com 2: Leon Hargreaves Professor of Forest Finance Daniel B. Warnell School of Forest Resources, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602-2152, mclutter@smokey.forestry.uga.edu 3: Southern Regional Planner Hancock Timber Resource Group, 15720 John J Delaney Drive, Suite 203, Charlotte, NC, 28277, bkeefer@hnrg.com 4: Senior Remote Sensing Specialist Weyerhaeuser Corporation, WWC-2E2, Federal Way, PO Box 9777 WA, 98063-9777, zhenkui.ma@weyerhaeuser.com
