Building an Innovative Forestry Technology Cluster

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Selkirk College proposes the creation of an Innovative Forestry Technology Cluster in BC's southeast Interior region to support the development and application of efficient, innovative technologies that are set to revolutionize forest land management in BC and beyond. Objectives of the research program are: to enhance our local forestry cluster by facilitating the adoption of innovative technologies; to support the transition to a technologically-advanced, globally-competitive cluster through workforce training; and create an industry-college relationship that enables educational delivery that is responsive to rapidly changing workforce needs. Our research program of six projects focuses on four emerging technologies: (1) Unmanned Aerial Systems applications for collecting spatial information in remote forested terrain, (2) Light distance and ranging (LiDAR) utilization for high resolution landcover and terrain imaging, (3) 2D/3D visualization with GIS and virtual and augmented reality devices, and (4) Advanced computing including cloud services, data analytics, sensory systems and process models. The capacity to increase efficiency and improve sustainable practices is fundamental to the cluster's ability to adapt to a changing environment and ongoing uncertainty in global markets. This investment will provide opportunities to optimize processes, decrease costs, enhance efficiency, and increase productivity and competitiveness. The need for enhanced training and skills development within the cluster is also critical. The current pace of technological development means that the workforce requires a range of technology skills, including the capability to use rapidly-evolving hand-held electronic devices alongside traditional approaches. Equipping our students and those employed within the cluster with the necessary skills to master these new technologies is a critical aspect of innovation, technology adoption, and competitiveness.