Inventory technology: ‘ebb tides’, ‘flash floods’ and ‘whirlpools’

Abstract

The development and implementation of inventory techniques are cyclic. For a long while, our inventory procedures in the USDA Forest Service have been rather stable. Now, given new information requirements and an onslaught of new technology, our needs, capabilities, and methodologies are rapidly changing. This paper reviews past (‘ebb tides’) and emerging techniques (‘flash floods’). It also lists some of the problems (‘whirlpools’) we will encounter in implementing the changes. While the paper addresses resource inventories within the USDA Forest Service, the potential and problems are applicable to the inventory of any ecosystem including the forested wetlands. Lastly, some thoughts for follow-up global actions are presented.