The future of digital remote sensing for production forestry organizations

Abstract

It cannot honestly be stated that digital imagery is a standard instrument in the repertoire of the professional natural resource manager. However, we believe that the opportunity to change that situation is rapidly approaching because a nexus of technology and need has finally occurred. However, pragmatic issues remain. The key to the successful adoption of any new tool, including digital imagery, is not just having the need, but having the tool be useful, usable and available to the great mass of users, (i.e., those in the field in the case of our profession). No forester thinks twice about using an analog aerial photograph, and we need to create that same "ho-hum" status for digital imagery.