Apps, Maps & Drones:

Technology for the Forest

Landowner and Manager

Johnny Thompson

About Me

Faith

Family

Freedom

About LMSS

• Forest Technology Company

• Sales, Training, Support

• GIS Consulting, Repairs, Rentals

• 2 Locations – Starkville and GA

• Forest Technology Simplified !Forest Technology Simplified !Forest Technology Simplified !Forest Technology Simplified !

What do we do?GPS GIS

Forest

Measurement

Forest Inventory

Logging Solutions

Timber Pilot -GPS for Harvesting

4Loads -Log Ticketing and Reporting

Mill Solutions

Stockpile/Log Deck/LogScale

UAV Technology

Who do we help?• Consulting Foresters

• Timber Buyers

• Loggers and Mill Managers

• Industrial Timber Companies

• TIMOS and REITS

• Land Owners and Managers

• Environmental Consultants

• Wildlife and Fisheries

• Government Agencies/Universities– Forestry

– Wildlife

– Environmental

Where are they?

Our Partners

Worldwide

Heuristic

Solutions

Agenda

•Apps

•Maps

•Drones

APPS• Forestry Apps

• Mapping Apps

• Logging Apps

• Hardware Considerations

USFS Forestry Kit

Mapping Apps

• Measure Map

• iGIS – upload shapefiles

• Land Glide – parcel data

– $9.99/month, must be connected

• Avenza Geopdf – free

– Export from ArcGIS

• ArcGIS Collector App – Included

• Terrain Navigator with parcel data - $99

• Trimble Terraflex - $250/yr

Logging Apps

Trimble 4Loads

A simple yet powerful application used to

record, track, and report load, haul, and

mill information

• Hosted Front End

• iOS or Android in

Field

• Cloud Integration

• Hosted Backend

4 Loads Workflow

Step #1 - Domains

Administrators define:• Logger name/ID

• Contract

• Species

• Available products

• Available grades (if any)

• Destinations

• Hauling Companies

• Hauler

4 Loads Workflow

Step #2 - Rates

4 Loads WorkflowStep #3 – Enter Load Data

• Ticket ID

• Load Date – Automatic

• Position – from GPS or

map

• Contract ID

• Crew - optional;

• Destination

• Species – optional

• Product - optional

4 Loads WorkflowStep #4 – Enter Deliver Data

In the Woods

• Haul Company

• Driver

After Delivery

• Delivery Date

• Mill Ticket ID

• Net Weight

4 Loads WorkflowStep #5 – Sync Load Data

4 Loads WorkflowStep #6 – Download Reports

4 Loads WorkflowStep #6 – Download CSV

Loggers that are using the system estimate that their weekly

ticket reconciliation/payment process has been shortened

from 12 hours before using 4Loads to only 20 minutes with

4Loads!!

Hardware Considerations

• Ruggedness/Durability

– Moisture, Cold, Heat

• Battery Life

• Distractions

• GPS Accuracy under Canopy

GPS under Canopy

• SNR = Signal to Noise Ratio

• Multipath Errors

How much does GPS error matter?

Stand

Stand

Acres

15 ft

Interior

Buffer Ac Ac Diff

Error

% Diff

$ Diff at

$1500/Ac

1 1.8 1.4 0.4 22.22 $600

2 40 38.2 1.8 4.50 $2,700

3 262 257.5 4.5 1.72 $6,750

4 1779.3 1767.1 12.2 0.69 $18,300

3 Grades of GPS

Consumer (>3 m) Mapping(1-3 m) Professional (Sub-meter)

Static Test Results – All Stations

Static Test Results – All Stations

GPS Avg Error (m) Rank

T-41G 2.44 1

Geo 7XH 2.56 2

Trimble PG200 2.57 3

Flint 2.79 4

Forge 3.08 5

Nautiz X8 3.59 6

Yuma 2 3.63 7

Holux 4.72 8

Archer 2 5.28 9

iPhone5 7.44 10

Dynamic Test Results All Stations

Dynamic Test Results - All Stations

GPS % Points < 2 m % Points < 3 m % Points < 4 m

Geo 7XH 81.19 96.04 100.00

Flint 68.12 89.26 95.30

Trimble PG200 54.91 75.64 93.45

Forge 54.61 73.68 81.91

Archer 48.14 63.05 80.34

Nautiz X8 45.07 73.36 89.80

Yuma 2 42.07 55.99 70.23

T-41G 41.78 58.88 71.71

Holux 36.33 56.67 69.33

iPhone 5 3.03 12.12 25.76

GPS Mapping Conclusion

• If accuracy acres matters…

– Lots of good GPS units under canopy

– iPhone is consistently bad under canopy

• Windows, Windows Mobile, iOS, and Android

•Tracks GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS & BeiDou

• Global sub-meter accuracy via cellular or satellite corrections like RTX or VRS

• ip65 rugged

• $2495

Trimble PG200 GNSS Receiver

MAPS• ESRI – ArcGIS Platform

– All products fit together in a Webmap

– Webmaps used inside of apps

• Online and offline

• Ex) Collector App and inside Excel

– Stream in unlimited data from cloud

• Terrain Navigator Pro

Terrain Navigator Pro• Great Mapping program, but not a GIS

• Includes Topos, Multiple Aerial Photos, & Parcel Data

for 90%+ of US Counties

• Digitize polygons

• Import and Export Shapefiles

• Clip Photos/Topos for use in Solo Forest

• Excellent map printing capabilities

• Mobile app for iOS and Android

• Enterprise version for larger organizations that

allows real time team tracking and data sharing

Desktop Costs

• Initial Cost = $399 1st state, $199 others

– Includes topos + photos + mobile and web

application

• Maintenance Cost = $124/yr

– Updated photos + mobile and web application

• Parcel Data Cost = $100/state/year

• TNP Demo

Drones• Types of Drones

• Uses

– Inspection

– Mapping

• Regulations

• Issues

Types of Drones

• Fixed Wing

– Simpler structure

– Faster

– Longer flights

– More expensive

– Aerial mapping

– Landing more

difficult

Types of Drones

• Rotary Wing

– Easy to fly

– Vertical takeoff and

landing

– Inspections

– Cheaper

– More flexible with

payloads and sensors

Types of Drones

• Hybrid – FireFly6

– Vertical takeoff and

landing

– Fixed Wing

– Longer flights

– Mapping

– Manual and

Autonomous

– Cost Effective

Forestry Inspection

• Forest Health

Forestry Inspection

• Logging – BMP Compliance and Missed Drags

Forestry Inspection

• SMZ Compliance

Forestry Inspection

• Regen

Forestry Inspection

• Drainage/Beaver Damage

Forestry Inspection

• Pre-Timber Cruise

Forestry Inspection

• Controlled Burn/Wildfire

Mission Planning Apps

Forestry Mapping

• iOS or Android-

based

• Very basic

controls

• Control Alt

• Manually

configure AOI

Fly the Mission

• Launch UAV (ops check)

• Fully autonomous

• Monitor status on PC or tablet

• UAV returns to home location

• Regain control at any time

Forestry Mapping

Process the Mission in Pix 4D

Forestry Mapping

• Load Photos

and Flight

Logs

2D Mosaic for GISForestry Mapping

3D Model

Forestry Mapping

Logdeck Volumes

Forestry Mapping

Stockpile Volumes

Forestry Mapping

Current FAA Regulations

• Fly below 400 feet

• See it at all times

• Don't fly within 5 miles of an airport

• Don't fly near people or stadiums

• Don't be careless or reckless with your

unmanned aircraft – you could be fined for

endangering people or other aircraft

New Part 107 Rules for

Commercial Flights

• Remote Pilot Certificate

– Study (UAV Ground School) and Test

• Minimum age of 16

• Visual observer is optional, but pilot

must maintain Visual Line of Sight

• Fly below 400 ft and in daylight only

Conclusions

• Apps – amazing applications, but match your

hardware with your application

• Maps - TNP with Ownership – simple, cost-

effective

• Drones – anyone can inspect. Get certified!

www.landmarkspatialsolutions.com

Questions??