Grant: Applied Research Tools and Instruments Grants

Remote sensing technologies have made great progress in the recent years, and hold great potential to aid in the planning, execution, and monitoring of forestry, wildlife management, fire mitigation, and other applications in natural resources. This project proposes the creation of a remote sensing lab, housed in the College of New Caledonia (CNC), Prince George, to be managed mainly by the Research Forest and the Applied Research and Innovation Department. This lab will serve as a hub of innovation and service provider to all practitioners, government agencies and first nations in Northern BC, while serving as a source for teaching and training of regular, and continuous education students alike. The considered equipment includes: 1. Drones (LiDAR & thermal) 2. LiDAR (laser) sensor for drone 3. Terrestrial LiDAR scanners 4. Sub-meter GNSS station 5. Multispectral sensor (different light bands) 6. High performance laptop 7. Software for LiDAR, multispectral and satellite image analysis These tools have the ability to generate precise terrain and canopy maps, while quantifying in detail forest covers (heights, diameters, crown cover) and any other volumes or areas with great accuracy. Similarly, multispectral sensors can be of great utility in assessing plant stress and other physiological indicators of critical importance for a better understanding and response to adaptations and impacts triggered by climate change and/or human intervention. Some of the potential applications include: 1. Enhanced forest inventory 2. Fire hazard mitigation 3. Assessment of harvest waste 4. Wildfire detection 5. Wildlife conservation 6. Safety audits 7. Soil conservation 8. Forest health 9. Planning of commercial thinning and other silvicultural treatments 10. Regeneration assessment and change detection (fire, harvest, partial cuts, erosion, pests, etc.) The widely positive response from industry and government speaks of a real need for leadership in these areas. This is evidenced by the letters of support attached in this application. Having a state-of-the-art remote sensing lab will significantly benefit the students of CNC’s Natural Resources and Forest Technology program (NRFT) by giving them direct access to cutting edge technologies that will greatly enhance their employability and help attract new talent.