Building an Innovative Forestry Technology Cluster

塞尔柯克学院建议在不列颠哥伦比亚省东南部内陆地区建立一个创新林业技术集群，以支持开发和应用高效、创新的技术，这些技术将彻底改变不列颠哥伦比亚省及其他地区的林地管理。该研究计划的目标是：通过促进创新技术的采用来增强我们当地的林业集群;通过劳动力培训支持向技术先进，具有全球竞争力的集群过渡;并建立一个行业-大学关系，使教育交付能够响应快速变化的劳动力需求。我们的六个项目的研究计划集中在四个新兴技术：（1）无人机系统应用，用于收集偏远森林地形中的空间信息，（2）光距离和测距（LiDAR），用于高分辨率土地覆盖和地形成像，（3）利用GIS和虚拟和增强现实设备进行2D/3D可视化，以及（4）高级计算，包括云服务，数据分析，感觉系统和过程模型。提高效率和改进可持续做法的能力对于集群适应不断变化的环境和全球市场持续不确定性的能力至关重要。这项投资将为优化流程、降低成本、提高效率、提高生产力和竞争力提供机会。还必须加强专题组内的培训和技能发展。目前的技术发展速度意味着劳动力需要一系列技术技能，包括使用快速发展的手持电子设备以及传统方法的能力。让我们的学生和集群内的员工掌握这些新技术的必要技能，是创新、技术采用和竞争力的一个关键方面。

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.