Canadian Forest Service Publications
Integrating advanced technologies for optimization of aerial herbicide applications. 2010. Thompson, D.G.; Chartrand, D.T.; Staznik, B.; Leach, J.; Hodgins, P. New Forests 40:45-66.
Year: 2010
Issued by: Great Lakes Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 31256
Language: English
Availability: PDF (request by e-mail)
Abstract
Aerial application of herbicides continues to be a dominant method of vegetation control in Canadian forest management. In this paper, we describe a suite of relatively modern technologies and emphasize their potential for integrated use in optimization of aerial herbicide treatments. The potential is illustrated using several case studies involving fixed-wing applications of glyphosate-based herbicide in the boreal forest region of Ontario, Canada. Results indicate that integration of geographic information systems, differential global positioning, electronic-guidance, on-site meteorological monitoring and remote sensing can be used to effectively plan, enhance application control and provide detailed post-treatment assessment and archival data for herbicide spray programs. SprayAdvisor, a GIS-based decision support system with the capacity to directly integrate all of these elements is briefly described.