Spatial Analyses
Areas Satisfying Part 1 Requirements (Analyses 1 - 4)
After eliminating landuses that prohibit logging activities, the resulting areas are visible. Oceans, logged areas, barren lands, wetlands, lakes, urban areas, unknown areas, alpine, estuaries, agricultural lands, ice fields, and recreational areas were all eliminated. Only areas classified as mature and immature forests are allowed. A values file was created and assigned to the base map to create this map (Cartographic model 1).
Regional protected areas are not to be logged. Those areas are then avoided and the resulting areas that show are areas that cannot be logged. Areas that can be logged will be used for the overlay in the final map (Cartographic Model 2).
Slope is an important factor because loggers cannot log where areas are too steep. A slope value assumption of 45% grade was made here. Therefore, any slopes with a value of 45% grade or greater will be eliminated here. A digital elevation model was used to derive this map composition and reclassed to specified parameters (Cartographic Model 3).
Endangered animals are considered in this analysis. Because of constant pressure from environmental groups, logging companies dare not go near areas which contain endangered animals. Therefore, those areas will also have to be eliminated. A vector layer was rasterized so that it can be reclassed to specified parameters. Then the final map was achieved through overlaying it on top of a Vancouver Island map (Cartographic model 4).
Further Analyses Satisfying Part 2 Requirements (Analyses 5 - 7)
The economic feasibility of actually logging the areas is considered here. Areas of highest dollar per hectare are of interest. The base map originally had classified areas from low, to medium, to high but since high return is of interest only, the other areas will be eliminated (Cartographic Model 5).
In these potential plots, there are fish spawning streams. Logging roads produce a lot of sediment by erosion from logging trucks. These sediments will eventually flow into adjacent streams that contain fish habitats. Filter strips or buffers will have to be implemented so that the sediment concentration will not be as significant. A 10% grade for logging roads will be assumed here and the corresponding buffer width value from the U.S. Forest Service is approximately 76m. A buffer function was used to implement this area (Cartographic Model 6).
In this final analysis, forest capability is considered. Because clear cutting is the removal of all trees at once, the ability of the forest to regrow and regenerate is important. Therefore the area with the highest forest capability is desired (Cartographic Model 7).
At the end of both parts, the final area that shows the most desirable logging plots is created using a multiple criteria evaluation function. See Final Map of this Project.