Program Structure
The program requires that 4 courses be taken, each taking 2 weeks of study time. In total, program will take about 60 hours to complete. It spans 8 weeks of learning, with 1 one-week break between courses.
The Landscape Level Forest Modeling program is offered in the Fall session each year (October – December). Students may register and complete all courses in one session or spread out the course (in order of prerequisite requirements) over a 2-year time frame.
The program has four courses, each course will require students to work with forest data, interpret results from forest models and develop professional rationales developed from forest modeling results. These courses will use existing, current forest management plans as examples and draw from relevant literature sources.
Courses
- Introduction to Forest Modeling
- Landscape Level Forest Modeling Data
- Landscape Level Mathematical Modeling
- Landscape Level Forest Modeling in B.C.
Courses must be taken in sequential order as they build on one another, but may be taken individually, in different sessions within a two-year time frame, to receive the micro-certificate.
There will be a synchronous online “Coffee Hour”. These sessions are optional but strongly encouraged as an opportunity for students to meet the instructor, check in on their progress, get their questions answered, and network with one another. Industry professional guest speakers will also be invited to speak to the student cohort. The “Coffee Hour” sessions are also recorded and posted afterwards.
Coffee Hour sessions for LLFM 2024 Fall – Thursdays at 1:00 pm
Completion Requirements
To successfully complete the program, students are required to:
- Complete all assignments and learning activities for each course and the overall program.
- Achieve a minimum score of 50% or higher on each assignment within a course.
Failure to meet these requirements will result in non-qualification for course and program completion.
Timeline to Completion
Landscape Level Forest Modeling participants have the flexibility to set their own timeline for completion, within a maximum of two years.
Course Descriptions
Introduction to Forest Modeling
This course provides a brief introduction to mathematical modeling in forest resources analysis and using current forest management plans as example. Students will:
- Understand the role of forest modeling in landscape-level planning and where different plans are situated within the current planning hierarchy.
- Differentiate between forestry and forest management and learn the role of mathematical models.
- Begin to evaluate different decision-making processes and criteria used in landscape-level forestmodeling plans.
Landscape Level Forest Modeling Data
The second course in this micro-certificate focuses on the data requirements for landscape-level forest modeling data and encourages students to explore the data and critique potential limitations and assumptions. Student will:
- Understand the plethora of measures available for evaluating present values of a forest stand and discuss how spatial data connects to landscape-level forest modeling data
- Evaluate different landscape classification systems, including those commonly used in forest management plans.
- Understand how forests are projected forward through time and the data, limitations and assumptions employed and connected into forest models, including transitions, volumes, and growth and yields.
Landscape Level Mathematical Modeling
- Translate simple problems into linear equations
- Graph two-variable linear problems and identify feasible regions and optimal solutions including finding the optimal solutions mathematically.
- Compare different programming types.
- Understand how forest modeling employs heuristics.
- Compare differences between commonly used forest models employed in Canada
Landscape Level Forest Modeling in B.C.
- Compare different metrics of sustainably in landscape-level mathematical modeling, how they are modeled, and identify limitations.
- Identify how different legal constraints can be employed in forest models.
- Evaluate different scenario analysis methods and compare different conclusions from the forest modeling process.
