{ What is NED-2? NED-2 is part of a collection of software products - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

NEDLite and NED-2 Software for data collection in forest inventories Steven Kallesser, CF, Gracie & Harrigan Consulting Foresters, Inc. NJ Division Allegheny SAF training: High Tech in the Woods April 6, 2016 {

What is NED-2?  NED-2 is part of a collection of software products being developed by USDA Forest Service.  Designed for stand-alone Windows-based personal computers, NED-2 integrates a variety of forest management tools into a single environment.  These tools include databases, growth and yield models, wildlife models, geographic information systems (GIS), visualization tools, and others.  Produces stand and stock tables, reports on timber resources, etc.

NED-2 stand & stock tables

NED-2: basal area, trees per acre by species

NED-2: avg. DBH by spp.

NED-2: relative density by species(!)

NED-2: volume tables

NED-2: features not shown  Stand Visualization Features (do they still work in newer versions of Windows?)  Growth projections  Growth projections given thinning options  Wildlife habitat suitability analysis  Forest carbon estimates and projections  Other!

What is NEDLite?  NEDLite is part of a collection of software products being developed by USDA Forest Service.  NEDLite was originally written for Palm OS (and later for Windows CE/Windows Handheld) to collect data on handheld computers for eventual import into NED-2.  No frills! Enter text and click boxes. NEDLite is only to capture what you put into it. NED-2 does the calculations and analysis.

NEDLite: What is O-U-G-T?

NEDLite: Entering a new stand. (You don’t have to fill every field)

NEDLite: Ready to start entering overstory data!

NEDLite: What overstory information can we put in?

NEDLite: Northern red oak 22” DBH AGS

NEDLite: Entering product information for that red oak…

NEDLite: Entering ground layer observations (lowbush blueberry 60% ground cover)

NEDLite: highbush blueberry 15% ground cover

NEDLite: Blackgum saplings >15’ tall 10% ground cover

NEDLite: red maple seedlings < 3’ tall 5% ground cover

Getting the data from NEDLite into NED-2  Transfer text files where NEDLite put your data from your device into your computer  Create a filter to make sure that your NEDLite data is properly translated into a NED-2 file (you will only need to create that filter once…)  That filter is what tells NED- 2 that “ ro ” means “Northern red oak ( Quercus rubra )”  Use “Import Text Files” tool from NED software (a.k.a. “txt2mdb”)

Import Text Data

Import Text Data: Fixing errors

Import Text Data: Fixing errors

What is coming next?  If this training is about high technology, then why are we talking about software running on Palm OS or Windows CE/Windows Handheld???  NED- 3 is now in beta testing. (Helpful hint: don’t be an early adopter unless you really love computer programming. Wait for the final version… seriously.)  Rumor has is that importing NEDLite data into NED- 3 will be simplified…  ***BUT*** there will be no NEDLite update for Android or iOS!!!  Perhaps USDA Forest Service does not want to duplicate efforts/compete with Forest Metrix’s products or SilviaTerra’s Plot Hound apps…  Another alternative is to use a free form app and configure it to save data in the same format as NEDLite

What about…  …after Zebra stops putting Windows Mobile on its devices?  That probably won’t happen for several years.  There are free apps for Android and iOS that (when properly configured) will create the same data files that NEDLite produces.  Then you would follow the instructions for importing those data files into NED-2 (or NED- 3 once finalized).  Or you could go with a commercial app that exports data into NED-2 format.

For example…

For example…

For example…

In conclusion…  NED-2 is an excellent program for assisting in the decision-making process for forest management.  NED-3 will be even better, and is promised to be significantly faster (it would be hard to be slower than NED- 2…)  You should consider a Zebra handheld with Windows CE/Handheld if you want to use NEDLite (understanding that “so - so” support for NEDLite will end at some point)  If having software support is important to you, you may want to consider a Zebra handheld with Android or iOS and going with commercial app with good support

Thank you! The homepage for NED software can be found at http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/tools/ned/ Or if you want to talk to someone in NJ who really knows about NED software, contact Bill Zipse at DEP State Forestry Services.