{"id":858251,"date":"2020-05-19T12:24:34","date_gmt":"2020-05-19T19:24:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=858251"},"modified":"2021-08-02T22:40:37","modified_gmt":"2021-08-03T05:40:37","slug":"transform-field-operations-for-environmental-compliance-in-forestry","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-online\/field-mobility\/transform-field-operations-for-environmental-compliance-in-forestry","title":{"rendered":"Transform Field Operations for Environmental Compliance in Forestry"},"author":8602,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[23261,22771],"tags":[659481,344152,269852,29561],"industry":[],"product":[36591,36551],"class_list":["post-858251","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-field-mobility","category-natural-resources","tag-environmental-compliance","tag-field-operations","tag-forestry","tag-natural-resources","product-apps","product-arcgis-online"],"acf":{"short_description":"Modernize environmental compliance activities, like wildlife monitoring and reporting, with the ArcGIS Platform.","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Forests are unique places – often peaceful and qui<\/span>et<\/span>\u00a0in nature but teaming with life. They support a delicate ecosystem that provides raw materials and recreational opportunities for humans, but also serve as a habitat for diverse<\/span>\u00a0species and<\/span>\u00a0wildlife. For forestry organizations, the management of\u00a0<\/span>productive timberlands with a high standard of environmental stewardship\u00a0<\/span>is key to\u00a0<\/span>maintaining<\/span>\u00a0this balance.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A core function of any active forestry company is the\u00a0monitoring of\u00a0<\/span>sensitive wildlife<\/span>\u00a0species in the areas in which they operate.\u00a0<\/span>These<\/span>\u00a0activities\u00a0<\/span>often include<\/span>\u00a0sending out armies of wildlife biologists with pen and paper to complete surveys<\/span>\u00a0and record observations.\u00a0<\/span>Collected information is then used to plan future activities and, in some cases, submitted to regulatory agencies to remain in compliance with regulations.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For organizations that work in heavily regulated areas or manage large swaths of land, a myriad of challenges makes monitoring wildlife<\/span>\u00a0using traditional methods difficult to scale. Using the power of location, t<\/span>he ArcGIS platform\u00a0<\/span>offers a streamlined workflow that allows<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>wildlife surveys<\/span>\u00a0and observations<\/span>\u00a0to be completed in a much more efficient\u00a0<\/span>manner.\u00a0<\/span>The platform also provides near real-time status updates of wildlife monitoring activities, enabling faster and better-informed decision making on forest activities in sensitive areas.\u00a0<\/span>This blog will cover how you can use out-of-the-box tools to enhance productivity and efficiently manage endangered species activities<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Workforce Coordination and Management<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n

Prior to any planting, treatment, or harvesting activity,\u00a0<\/span>an organization must<\/span>\u00a0gain an\u00a0<\/span>accurate\u00a0<\/span>understanding of the\u00a0<\/span>potential impacts\u00a0<\/span>the activity may pose\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>surrounding environment<\/span>\u00a0so any detrimental\u00a0<\/span>effects<\/span>\u00a0can be minimized.<\/span>\u00a0This<\/span>\u00a0often<\/span>\u00a0involves performing a\u00a0<\/span>comprehensive<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>wildlife assessment<\/span>\u00a0in the area of interest<\/span>\u00a0to identify locations where threatened or endangered species are present<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>In\u00a0<\/span>many<\/span>\u00a0cases, there\u00a0<\/span>are\u00a0<\/span>established sites where a threatened or endangered species has been\u00a0<\/span>previously\u00a0<\/span>observed. It is important to visit these sites at an ongoing basis to determine if\u00a0<\/span><\/span>planned activities pose a potential impact<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A large area of forestland may contain hundreds or thousands of these sites that need to be visited. Coordinating a mobile field workforce in remote areas to complete this work presents numerous challenges:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n