Abstract

Visual Aesthetics and Forest Harvest Design: An Automated Approach
Track: Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
Author(s): Brent Chamberlain, Michael Meitner

Visual resource management aims to reduce the impact of harvests and improve their scenic design while trying to minimize the effect on timber availability. We present a GIS-based method for designing and modifying harvest plans to be more visually sensitive. Using a combination of Esri software, including ModelBuilder, and custom code, we have successfully created a program that automates the initial harvest design process for aesthetic purposes. This program was tested across an array of different landscape terrain types, including mountains, hills and valleys, to demonstrate the programs capacity to deal with complex three-dimensional situations. Results suggest a capacity for increased levels of aesthetic design while also increasing timber availability. This decision support tool allows planners to create "what if" scenarios to ascertain the effects of varying timber extraction levels and visible alteration percentages.

Brent Chamberlain
University of British Columbia
Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry, UBC
2054 - 2424 Main Mall
Vancouver , BC V6T 1Z4
Canada
Phone: 604.822.6708
E-mail: chambs10@interchange.ubc.ca

Michael Meitner
University of British Columbia
Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry, UBC
2054 - 2424 Main Mall
Vancouver , BC V6T 1Z4
Canada
Phone: 6048220029
E-mail: mike.meitner@ubc.ca