Outline: Master's thesis
Is there an answer to mapping old growth?
An examination of two projects conducted with remote sensing and GIS
Robert A. Norheim
Chapter One: Introduction
The first mapping effort
The environmentalists' first response
The Regional Guide
The Supplemental EIS
The spotted owl is listed
The controversy quickens and expands
The mapping projects
Research question
Cultural and Institutional Context of GIS
Investigating the context of the old growth mapping projects
Origins and statutory authority
Organization
The Forest Service after World War Two
New legislation and forest planning
National Forest planning in the Pacific Northwest
Congress mandates old growth mapping
Changing attitudes within the agency
Origins
The Wilderness Act
Focus on the National Forest planning process
Outsiders' views of The Wilderness Society
Interaction between the two projects
The projects are released
USFS/Pacific Meridian Resources' definition
The Wilderness Society's definition
Motivation
Geographic scope
Data sources and dates
Procedures
Project overview
Image classification
Polygon creation
Error checking
Motivation
Geographic scope
Data sources and dates
Procedures for mapping the Olympic National Forest
Analysis of Olympic National Forest
Procedures for mapping the other "phase three" forests
Procedures for mapping "phase two" forests
Internal documentation
Scope of this analysis
Summary
Pacific Meridian Resources
The Wilderness Society
Elevation zones
Stand size and edge effects
Limitations of remote sensing
Definitions employed
Other research
Pacific Meridian Resources
The Wilderness Society
Application of the ecological definition of old growth
Further use