Timber harvest technology pinpoints environmental hot spots

Technology developed by Agtrix enters its trial period with Forests NSW to more accurately pinpoint harvest areas and exclusion zones within the State’s timber areas.

Forests NSW timber supply manager Steve Rayson said the technology would assist in identifying native flora and fauna zones, as well as hazards such as drainage lines. A proximity alarm would notify harvester operators approaching boundaries. .

“Our system will ultimately assist Forests NSW to monitor the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests located in harvest areas.”

Using integrated Global Positioning Systems (GPS), mobile Internet and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Forests NSW will be able to provide harvesting contractors with detailed maps that record all harvest boundaries as well as the location and movement of harvesters, trucks and in-field bins.

“The technology will help harvesting contractors meet their environmental requirements,” Mr Rayson said.

“With access to more detailed maps and information, timber managers will also be able to better monitor their crews and coordinate the movement of machinery.

“This technology will also reduce the time spent by forestry officers physically marking out potentially hazardous harvesting areas.

“The applications for this technology are numerous. We are also looking at extending the system to track firefighting equipment in harvest areas.”

Mr Rayson said harvesting activity recorded with the new technology would be available to Forests NSW and harvesting contractors through a secure web site.

Agtrix Managing Director Robert Crossley said “We’ve been successfully working with the Australian and South African sugar industries for many years, and about 85 per cent of Australia’s sugar industry now uses Agtrix software to manage GIS data of farms and crops.  Agtrix welcomes the opportunity to demonstrate how these solutions can be applied across other agricultural industries,”