|
In management circles GIS and GPS are commonly
used acronyms, digital technology and satellite
navigation is becoming widespread, but what does
it all mean and more importantly how does it
help manage the farm, woodland or Estate?
The digital revolution marches on, television,
radio, pictures and now maps. In simple terms
the cartographer’s drafting skills and coloured
inks have been replaced by computer software,
accessible to all via a standard PC and
deceptively simple on the outside, but masking
some spectacularly powerful technology for those
who invest the time to push it to the limits.
With the traditional Ordnance Survey base maps
increasingly available via CD Rom or Internet
download and the ability to draw crisp accurate
overlays it is little wonder that the likes of
SEERAD and The Forestry Commission are
increasingly raising the standards for maps to
accompany applications for grant aid. No longer
will a creased photocopy of the Estate plan,
highlighted with a few coloured crayons be
acceptable. A clean colour print with all
features clearly shown to an accuracy of less
than 100th of hectare is now the norm.
Nevertheless, a sense of realism is appropriate,
the ability to measure field areas to 4 decimal
places on the computer does not make it any
easier to transfer this detail to an upland
hillside.
At this point a word of warning, there is a
common belief that computer technology will make
the job quicker and easier, in theory yes, in
practice it is not that simple. Digital mapping
projects can be quite time consuming to set up
and the ability to produce works of art becomes
addictive, a little tweak here, an adjustment
there, a clash of colours to resolve; the
opportunity to make adjustments on screen and
try numerous “what ifs” before committing to
print make it far more tempting to strive for
perfection, compared with previous methodology
which often meant binning the paper and starting
afresh when things went wrong.
So having invested time to set up projects on
computer – where’s the pay back? This is where
GIS (Geographical Information Systems) comes to
the fore. In simple terms GIS is a digital map
linked to a database, providing a very flexible
and powerful management tool. Highlighting
features on the map, such as a field or fence
line, can open linked documents; a grazing
agreement, a data table showing area, crops and
management history etc, or even a picture.
Further sophistication involves “live linking”
whereby changes on the plan instantly update all
linked records in
|
|
the database. Conversely, updated records in a
table can be used to change the appearance of
maps such as a woodland species plan with a
colour assigned to each tree type within the
compartment records.
The ultimate application of this technology is
3-D visualisation, very useful for landscape
design and producing high quality presentations
to convince consultees of the merits of a new
proposal. The paper plan and photograph is
replaced by a 3 dimensional image of the
landscape. Wind turbines and power lines can be
inserted into view and their respective size or
position adjusted until an optimum solution is
found. Woodlands can be felled, replanted and
grown in virtual reality to predict their future
impact on a hillside before management plans are
finalised. If only it were that simple in
reality!
The final acronym GPS (Global Positioning
Systems) really does provide a very efficient
and labour saving application of digital mapping
technology. Correctly set up a handheld GPS unit
can make an accurate record of features on the
ground or a route taken i.e. along a fence line
or footpath. On return to the office the data
can be downloaded and plotted straight to the
map, a huge time saving from theodolite and
chain surveys followed by intricate charting
with compass and protractor. The reverse
application allowing the transfer of way points
from map via handheld unit to the ground has
endless useful permutations.
With rapidly advancing digital technology the
applications are constrained only by the limits
of one’s imagination.
Richard Till MIC (For)
Associate Director
|
|
