Project Information AT A GLANCE
Project Title: NEWFOR: NEW technologies for a better mountain FORest timber mobilization
Project Objective: The project aims at improving forest timber evaluation and mobilisation in alpine areas. The project considers the whole wood supply chain, from forests to wood yards, with a particular emphasis on new remote sensing technologies and geographical information systems.
© Stand Montafon
“In each country, people have begun to generate tools and conduct experiments to address similar risks, but often in isolation” observes the French researcher. “There is no discussion between them, although they share common problems – and opportunities.” In response, a key aim of NEWFOR is the creation of adaptable, robust support tools. Aligned with universally agreed benchmarks, outputs are discouraged from becoming functionally limited to specific, narrow contexts by the diversity of participants. “Generating models which prove generally effective, yet contain the requisite flexibility is a real test” says Monnet. “Now these parties are connected, however, their activities provide a stimulus to collaborate on shared solutions.” This inter-reliance also acts to provide an intensive,
trans-European testing-ground
for their pioneering deliverables. As its moniker implies, NEWFOR is
positioned at the technological vanguard to fashion these nascent assets. “Remote sensing technologies such as LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) have become very popular over the past decade” says Monnet, who has gained expertise in this field at his home institution, the National Research Institute of Science and Technology for
www.projectsmagazine.eu.com
Environment and Agriculture (IRSTEA). Using laser pulses emitted from an aircraft, which are measured after they reflect back from the ground, these data reconnaissance operations can build up a detailed picture of what lies beneath impenetrable, verdant canopies of growth. Initially operated by NASA, this prolific
technology has also evolved to such an extent that its sensors can simultaneously discern
characteristics of the trees
themselves, with the measurements synthesised to create a data-rich map. “The resultant images are like aerial photos, but provide far more quantitative information” illustrates Monnet, “including the contours of the terrain and the vertical structure of the forest, which makes the estimation of growing stock possible.” Critically, he argues, airborne surveillance
can provide the missing link between high level policy and its enactment, with major consequences for sustainability. “In France, the government previously decided that, according to national statistics, growing stock was increasing – so they accordingly raised harvesting targets” he recalls. “However, it can be hard to pinpoint where the excess lies, hence from where it can be culled. Without this awareness, operatives
Project Duration and Timing: 3 years, September 2011 to 2014
Project Funding: The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the framework of the Alpine Space Program, which is the EU transnational cooperation programme for the Alps. Total budget of the project is 2,419,400 EUR, including an ERDF grant of 1,809,484, EUR.
Main Contact:
Frédéric Berger Frédéric Berger has been a researcher in Irstea since 1991. He holds a PhD in forestry. His area of expertise is the management of production and protection forest in mountains areas. He is the leader of the mountain forest research team at Irstea in Grenoble.
Contact: Tel: +33 (0) 4 76 76 28 00 Email:
Frederic.berger@
irstea.fr Web:
www.newfor.net
125
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132