Forest management systems (5 cr)

Objective

You show that you are familiar with the concepts and methods of forest information systems.
You are able to use the main models, procedures, computer programmes and techniques of your profession in the management of forest resources data.
You are able to participate in team work in goal-oriented way.

Content

How is operation analysis applied in forest information systems?
How do forestry organisations manage their forest resource data?
How to work in a goal-oriented way as a member of a group?

Course material

The following literature is used in the course:

Principles of Forest Planning Calculations, Tapio 2020, ISBN 978-952-338-093-6
Other study materials will be published during the course in the Learn environment.

Study forms and methods

Teaching is conducted entirely in-person at the Mikkeli campus according to the schedule. Remote participation is not possible. In-person teaching is not generally recorded, nor is it replaced by remote lectures when in-person teaching is provided according to the schedule. Studies are structured around group meetings according to the schedule and independent/group learning tasks. The course consists of approximately 60 hours of lecture-based teaching, as well as individual and small group tasks completed during class and on your own time. Additionally, there are assignments done both individually and in small groups.

Teacher guidance is available during in-person classes.
Assessable tasks are completed independently and/or as pair work.
The course utilizes various feedback methods, such as written and oral feedback. Peer feedback may also be used.

RDI and work-related cooperation

Representatives from working life will visit the course.
Simulations will be conducted in planning environments used in the workplace.
The course’s learning tasks may be based on assignments from working life.

Timing of exams and assignments

Each section of the course concludes with a learning task. A final exam will be held on campus during the last in-person class.

The course includes weekly assignments. During the course, a group project must be completed and ready by the course end date.

The course ends on the date specified in the implementation details, by which time the student must have submitted the required assignments, completed any exams, and met other requirements for a passing grade.

Student workload

1 ECTS credit corresponds to approximately 27 hours of student work. However, the workload depends on the student’s study skills and prior knowledge.
In a 5 ECTS course, the student’s workload is approximately 135 hours, of which about 60 hours are scheduled lectures and group work under the teacher’s supervision, and about 75 hours are independent learning tasks.

Course part description

The course introduces the history, present, and future development of calculation systems used in forest planning.
Operational analyses (e.g., selection of the operational chain) and the theory of linear optimization (what is worthwhile and what is not) are studied through assignments. The forest information system used in the course is ForestKIT eTapio or Foresta.
In the assignment, the student will also familiarize themselves with the operation of a forest information system of an organization.
Additionally, the course highlights current themes related to forest planning and forest information systems.

Further information

It is recommended that students participating in the course have completed forest planning and logging planning.

Evaluation scale

1-5

Assessment methods and criteria

The student’s performance is assessed with reference to the learning objectives and assessment criteria of the course.

State the scale: 1–5.