GIS Section

The Forestry Inventory Geographic Information System (GIS) Section captures, stores, analyzes and distributes spatial forest data to its clients to record, support and improve the management of Nova Scotia's forests for its citizens.

The information vehicle for achieving this is the Spatially Related Forest Resources (SRFR) information system. The SRFR contains a wide range of thematic layers including comprehensive forest stand descriptions, ownership information, wildlife habitat information, wetlands information, natural and protected areas as well as data collected from the integrated resources planning (IRM) process. The data is available on a stand by stand basis, which can be rolled up into county, regional and Provincial summaries. The database is used for resource and environmental assessment, wildlife habitat analysis, forest protection planning, and forest management monitoring.

Aerial photography is the primary data source complemented by satellite imagery as a secondary source to maintain the database. Aerial photo re-interpretation is carried out on a ten year rotation cycle. The satellite imagery is used primarily for "change" detection. Other anticipated uses for the imagery include land use changes, e.g. urban encroachment, forest health monitoring, and possibly compliance.

Global positioning system (GPS) use complements the satellite imagery by providing digital coverage of activities not easily discernible from satellite imagery, including shelterwood cuts, thinnings, and other relatively low impact activities.

You can view an example of a Forest Cover Type Map produced by the GIS Section here.