2004 C.I.P.A. Winners
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Ministère des Ressources naturelles, de la Faune et des Parcs Direction de la conservation des forêts-MRNFPRevolutionizing the transmission of aerial surveys
The Direction de la conservation des forêts-MRNFP, the Forest Conservation Division, ensures effective protection of forests against fire, insects and disease, and coordinates the planning and involvement in civil security. Challenge The focus of this project was to optimize the protection of Québec forests and promote the distribution of information by developing a solution that could be used onboard an aircraft to digitize the coordinates of natural disturbances such as insects, disease or fire, through aerial observation and geo-referencing. Traditionally, aerial observers used laminated maps joined together to form representations of strips of land. These maps were then mounted on rollers installed at the ends of a wooden box. Onboard an airplane, an aerial observer would gradually unroll the maps to track disturbances, while following the plane’s course over the flight line. Upon returning, the technician would digitize the course and enter relevant information. Objectives The objectives of the RARS (Relevés aériens à référence spatiale) aerial survey geo-referencing system were to:
Solution The project initially involved using customized software to import digital maps from various suppliers, and scaling the maps to fit aerial surveys. Through an agreement with the Department’s Forest Inventory Division, the project team used distribution products from Système d’information éco-forestier to import and process mapping data. After classification, the maps were then overlaid to create geo-referenced -æ positioned in space according to their geographic coordinates æ customized, context images. Data about the region was then imported and processed. Two toolbars, operating as independent modules, were also developed for the application. Panasonic’s portable Toughbook 18 computer was selected as the hardware for the system. Its user-friendly, touch-screen technology was adapted to provide easily accessible functionality. Using the laptop computer’s aerial inventory tool bar, an observer can select the type of disturbances to be studied from a set of predetermined symbols. Then, maps for the territory over which the aircraft will be flying are loaded in batches onto the system. Instantly, flight lines are automatically generated onto the selected area of the map on the screen. Using the geographic locations in the image displayed, the observer can easily locate disturbances on the ground and track them on the system’s touch screen using a stylus pen. While the plane continues along flight lines, a Global Positioning System (GPS) pinpoints the plane’s location in real time and represents it with a symbol displayed on the screen. The map image changes as the plane moves. A geo-referenced context image also rotates to correspond to the plane’s anticipated course. The territory over which it is about to pass in the following seconds appears in the upper part of the screen. Since the plane’s position on the map can be pinpointed more quickly, the observer has more time in which to enter observations. This system revolutionizes data entry, without affecting the work habits of the observer. Surveys can be transferred directly to the data server after landing, or by modem or a cellular connection while still in the air. This permits stakeholders and decision makers to act quickly in an emergency. Thanks to RARS, the data collection and transfer stages that originally took 24 to 48 hours, now take less than one hour, using cellular communications. Furthermore, the map preparation and survey digitization that used to require approximately 300 hours per season, has been reduced to less than 100 hours. Innovative Use of Technology The system incorporates a number of technologies that were specifically adapted for the Forest Conservation Division’s requirement. For example, two software suppliers improved their products’ functionality for this project. ESRI developed a tool bar for ARCVIEW 8.x to import and process data on the region, while Corvallis Microtechnology customized its PC-MAPPER 5.x software to enable the preparation of aerial inventories and digitization of natural disturbances. On an airplane, clarity is often a problem. For the application to work effectively, state-of-the-art technology that was not yet available on the market was needed. To that end, an innovative new screen was tested in the Summer of 2003 for the initial aerial surveys. The high-performance, bright touch screen was selected for its ‘readability’ even in sunlight. Finally, the use of cellular communication to transmit aerial surveys is an innovation that allows them to be distributed faster than ever. "We embarked on this project with a small budget and huge aspirations. What we developed turned out to provide the same kind of powerful capabilities as those typically found in industry sectors like defence, where cost is not an issue," remarks Jacques Tremblay, Director, Forest Conservation Division. "The RARS system has enabled us to improve the accuracy of our data entry and increase our productivity tremendously." A 2004 CIPA Winner! For its exceptional and innovative application of Information Technology to solve real-world business problems and bring greater benefit to all its stakeholders, The Québec Ministry of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Parks - Forest Conservation Division, was awarded a 2004 Canadian Information Productivity Award of Excellence in the Efficiency & Operational Improvements category.
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