Forest metrics for 20 x 20 m cells
…The three men had worked in geomatics in Afghanistan and they knew those skills would be applicable here. They just weren’t sure they could build a viable business…
Ten years later, Leading Edge Geomatics is a New Brunswick company providing aerial survey and geomatics services across North America. Based in Lincoln, Leading Edge has a fleet of four aircraft and seven digital sensors and offers customized solutions to clients across different industries including energy, forestry, and mining…What makes the company stand out from others in the industry, Hogan says, is their specialty in the forestry sector…
On the forestry side, they work with J.D. Irving and other forestry companies in the Maritimes.
The Forestry section on the Leading Edge Geomatics website provides descriptive graphics and text.
From a brochure:
Leading Edge Geomatics currently produces over 25 different forest inventory metrics. LEG’s EFI [Enhanced Forest Inventory] is developed through a combination of spectral and LiDAR data, which are combined with a series of field plots. Using state of the art equipment and methodologies, LEG’s EFI measures each tree in the forest with forest metrics delivered on every 400m2 (20m x 20m cell) across the landbase.
EFI Forest Metrics
• Height
• Base to Live Crown
• Basal Area
• Quadratic Mean Diameter
• Density
• Volume
• Piece Size
• Diameter Distributions
• Cover Type
Forest metrics can be predicted
to client specificationsLiDAR Surface
Products
• Intensity Image
• Digital Elevation Model
• Digital Surface Model
• Canopy Height Model
• Hillshade
• Slope
• Aspect
Some operational benefits cited include
Enhanced…
Road planning and design
• Accurate detection and analysis of challenging terrain, slope and water courses
Silvicultural planning
• Enhanced knowledge of forest growth, allows optimal time of entry and an increased ability to identify micro stand variation
Harvest planning
• Precise block and road layout, and identification of sensitive ecological areas
Wet Areas Mapping
• A more detailed analysis of surface water, streams and water bodies
Wildlife Management
• Detailed forest metrics identify forest structures and variability for more accurate assessment of wildlife habitat and population
Landbase Management
• Improved ability over time to detect changes in forest growth and harvest removal
The Huddle article highlights the substantial new investment in LEG by Novacap:
The company’s specialties and potential for growth recently caught the attention of Novacap, a private equity firm based in Montreal and Toronto that has over $2.26-billion of assets under management. The firm announced this month that it made a “strategic investment” in Leading Edge. The details of the investment are not being revealed publically, but founders Hogan, Kidman and Lowry, will continue to operate the business.While they don’t reveal the size of the investment, Hogan does say it gives them enough capital to double the size of the company.
It’s exciting stuff developed and based in-Atlantic Canada. I hope LEG can soon add Enhanced Landscape Level Planning for Biodiversity Conservation and Enhanced Forest Carbon Storage Assessment as proven benefits of using their technology.