Forest Visualization for Management and Planning in Wisconsin

Author： Stoltman Andrew M. Radeloff Volker C. Mladenoff David J.

Publisher： Society of American Foresters

ISSN： 0022-1201

Source： Journal of Forestry, Vol.102, Iss.4, 2004-06, pp. : 7-13

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Abstract

Participation by the public in the management process of public forested lands has led to innovation in the visual simulation of management options. So far, visualization technology has largely been used by researchers and consultants, not by natural resource managers themselves. A three-dimensional forest visualization system, developed for use by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, incorporates a library of photographs of trees, snags, and even logging debris in an effort to depict forest management activities realistically. Managers need only limited training to quickly generate visualizations depicting a specific stand or an entire landscape in its current and potential future states under a variety of silvicultural treatments. We describe the components of the system so that it can be recreated for other regions.