Skip to main content

FRAMES logo
Resource Catalog

Document

Type: Journal Article
Author(s): Robert F. Keefe; Ann M. Wempe; Ryer M. Becker; Eloise G. Zimbelman; Emily S. Nagler; Sophie L. Gilbert; Christopher C. Caudill
Publication Date: 2019

In this paper, we provide an overview of positioning systems for moving resources in forest and fire management and review the related literature. Emphasis is placed on the accuracy and range of different localization and location-sharing methods, particularly in forested environments and in the absence of conventional cellular or internet connectivity. We then conduct a second review of literature and concepts related to several emerging, broad themes in data science, including the terms location-based services (LBS), geofences, wearable technology, activity recognition, mesh networking, the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data. Our objective in this second review is to inform how these broader concepts, with implications for networking and analytics, may help to advance natural resource management and science in the future. Based on methods, themes, and concepts that arose in our systematic reviews, we then augmented the paper with additional literature from wildlife and fisheries management, as well as concepts from video object detection, relative positioning, and inventory-tracking that are also used as forms of localization. Based on our reviews of positioning technologies and emerging data science themes, we present a hierarchical model for collecting and sharing data in forest and fire management, and more broadly in the field of natural resources. The model reflects tradeoffs in range and bandwidth when recording, processing, and communicating large quantities of data in time and space to support resource management, science, and public safety in remote areas. In the hierarchical approach, wearable devices and other sensors typically transmit data at short distances using Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), or ANT wireless, and smartphones and tablets serve as intermediate data collection and processing hubs for information that can be subsequently transmitted using radio networking systems or satellite communication. Data with greater spatial and temporal complexity is typically processed incrementally at lower tiers, then fused and summarized at higher levels of incident command or resource management. Lastly, we outline several priority areas for future research to advance big data analytics in natural resources.

Online Links
Citation: Keefe, Robert F.; Wempe, Ann M.; Becker, Ryer M.; Zimbelman, Eloise G.; Nagler, Emily S.; Gilbert, Sophie L.; Caudill, Christopher C. 2019. Positioning methods and the use of location and activity data in forests. Forests 10(5):458.

Cataloging Information

Topics:
Regions:
Alaska    California    Eastern    Great Basin    Hawaii    Northern Rockies    Northwest    Rocky Mountain    Southern    Southwest    National
Keywords:
  • big data
  • fire management
  • fisheries
  • forest management
  • forestry
  • GNSS - Global Navigation Satellite System
  • GPS - global positioning system
  • literature review
  • passive integrated transponder
  • radio frequency
  • radio telemetry
  • technology
  • wildland fire
  • wildlife
Record Last Modified:
Record Maintained By: FRAMES Staff (https://www.frames.gov/contact)
FRAMES Record Number: 57931