Timmons Group Completes ArcGis Forestry Management Application.asp


	News & Events

	News Releases

	In The Press

	Events

	Articles & Publications

	News Release Archives

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Timmons Group Completes ArcGIS Server Forestry Management Application

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:

Wendy Roark
Timmons Group
804-200-6354
wendy.roark@timmons.com

Richmond VA--Timmons Group, a leading provider of geospatial services, recently deployed Phase I of the Virginia Department of Forestry’s (VDOF) Integrated Forest Resource Information System (IFRIS©) application. This makes it possible for VDOF field staff to perform complex Web-based editing of geodatabases that store geometry of forest management activity areas and existing forest stand type and condition attributes. As users modify the mapped features, IFRIS© preserves geospatial history through automatic archive of “parent” features and their attributes. This enables VDOF to re-create not only the forest management activity history, but also the change in forest types and conditions through time.

“IFRIS enables field staff to make better assessments of how landowners should manage their resources with respect to short and long-term goals and facilitates spatial analyses of mapped features across various spatial units, such as watersheds, stewardship priority areas, economic impact zones and others”, says Mindia Brown, VDOF.

IFRIS is based on ESRI ArcSDE and Microsoft SQL Server, which stores data covering more than 147,000 forested acres. The information is centrally managed and delivered to users in the organization with ESRI’s ArcGIS Server and ArcIMS. The system is hosted at the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) facilities on the Geospatial Enterprise Platform (GEP). IFRIS© is in its first phase of development. Future IFRIS© development will incorporate field-based mapping and data collection using personal data assistants (PDAs) with integrated GPS. This technology will make it easier for field staff to capture data describing the location and nature of wildfire incidents, water quality harvest inspections, forest health observations and other critical data. The long term goals of the project were envisioned early in the process and incorporated into the overall design. The goal is to leverage web services and Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) constructs to unify all spatial and non-spatial operations creating substantial Return on Investment (ROI) for VDOF and the Commonwealth.

About Timmons Group

Through innovation, unparalleled service and commitment to its clients, Timmons Group provides engineering, surveying, planning, construction management, landscape architecture, environmental and technology services to public and private clients. In the 50 years since its formation, the firm has expanded from a single four person office in Richmond, Virginia, to a diversified staff of over 300 professionals with multiple offices throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. By focusing on clients’ needs through superior customer service, Timmons Group solidifies its position as the firm of choice for existing and new clients in all its market sectors.

For more information about Timmons Group Technology Services and GIS, contact Lowell Ballard at lowell.ballard@timmons.com.