BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A logging company has been given a license to develop to cut down trees in the Oakwood area ( see figure 1 below). However the license has placed restrictions on where the company can cut down trees. The company will use a GIS system to devise the best place to start logging. The company also wants to calculate the total income they will generate from the logging process. They know they can get $100 income after costs for every 100 meters squared of Pine forest they strip and $200 from every 100 meters squared of Oak forest.

Figure 1: Map of the Oakwood area

DEFINING THE ANALYSIS

The purpose of this exercise will be to select sites where the company may start logging. We will use the GIS to select these sites according to the selection rules given below. We will perform the selection using the digital data resources given on the next page.

LICENSE RESTRICTIONS

1. No trees may be cut down within 10km of the shrine.
2. No trees may be cut down within 1km of the sea, the lake or any river. To help prevent land erosion.
3. The logging sites must be within 5km of existing roads for easy access by heavy logging equipment since conservation laws will not allow any new roads to be built in this area.

On top of these restrictions the company also has its own selection rules.

COMPANY SITE SELECTION RULES

1. The logging sites must be below the snow line (1000m) as heavy logging equipment can't operate in snowbound areas
2. Heavy logging equipment cannot operate in any area with a slope greater than 5 degrees.

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