ABSTRACT
Forest Health Monitoring (FHM) is a national, interagency programme to determine the ecological status and trends of forest condition. The scale of data collection, the variety of data sources and users, and the scope of assessments present a unique challenge; this case study describes how FHM information is managed. The goals of FHM are to produce statistical reports nine months after field data collection, and to produce periodic interpretive reports after accessing a variety of auxiliary databases. In support of these goals, field data collection and quality assurance procedures are automated using portable data recorders, laptop computers and modem links to a central data-processing and distribution centre. The computer system also allows nearly real-time communication with the field crews. Specialists within the FHM programme analyse FHM and auxiliary data, and supply data summaries and standard algorithms to the assessment team.
