This document provides information on using GIS software to perform various forestry functions. It discusses how GIS can be used for boundary surveys, area calculations, dividing polygons into blocks, labeling maps, creating complete maps, determining sample plots, and creating slope maps. The key steps involved in each process are outlined, such as adding data, displaying and exporting data, editing attributes, and performing analysis. GIS is shown to be a useful tool for forestry management tasks like inventory, demarcation, and mapping of forest areas and resources.

1. GIS
Prepared By :- Bikram Singh Thakuri
Institute of Forestry , Hetauda Campus , TU
Batch (2071- 2075)

2. Introduction :-
GIS is computer software and stand for Geographical
Information system.
Geographical = Earth features
Information = Data capture and interpretation
System = Software

3. Generally used GIS software are Arc Gis and Qgis
Following are major function of GIS
• Data capture
o geographic data: digitized, converted from existing data, image, GPS
o attribute data: loaded from existing data files
• Data storage and manipulation
o file management and editing
• Data analysis
o database query, spatial analysis and modeling
• Data display
o Maps and reports

4. Application of GIS
In the following General Forestry function , GIS is
necessary
1. Boundary survey and area calculation
2. Polygon area division into block and their area
calculation
3. Labeling
4. Making a complete map of any area and Export
the map in JPEG format
5. For finding Sample point(GPS point) of any area
for inventory
6. Slope map and slope area

5. Boundary survey and area
calculation
Followings steps are involved in this :-
• Taking GPS point of desired forest area just at
boundary of area
• Then these GPS points in the form of X and Y co-
ordinate save in excel format :- either manual or
software(gps utility,DNR gps etc) And save the
excel in a folder without Arc gis doesn‘t found

7. Data add
• Add the excel data into Arc Gis also connect the
computer folder in Arc map

8. Data display
Display the added data by right click in the data as in
figure

9. Followings points are remind during data display:-
• We have to edit coordinate system and click edit
then goes into following folder
Projected
coordinate
system
UTM WGS 1984
Northern
hemisphere
44N/45N
zone
Then click ok and also set as favorites for that coordinate system
Note:- 44N for western to Nawalparasi and 45N for Eastern to Nawalparasi midpoi

10. Data export
• Data export means data save in the acceptable form of Arc
map(making shape file)
• After display the data new layer is obtained which is subjected to
export and old one can do remove

11. Cont….
• Save the shape file into the desired connected
folder click in Browse ,look in, also named for easy
and click ok

12. • Then new exported point layer is obtained and old
layers might be removed
• We show the boundary point into polygon for area
calculation , for this we search at right side for
conversion from point to line and line to polygon

13. .
• And input the exported point data in input features
,click in close line, may save the output feature in
desired connected folder and named the file(there
is no duplication in naming of file)
• Saving process is same as export process

14. • Line(feature) to polygon search and same as
above

15. Polygon area calculation
• Right click on polygon layer and click on attribute
table

16. Cont….
• Click on table options add field write area in
Name and in type select Double/Text and ok

17. Cont…..
• Area column is inserted and then right click on area
column calculate geometry and in property
there should be area and in units whichever we
essence(generally in Hectares) ,ok

18. Cont….
• When area determined in form such as
3.3334543,for rounding:- Right click on Area
,properties, Numeric and finally in rounding the area
in desired number and click ok and apply

19. Polygon area Division
into blocks
• After making polygon , area can divided into block
according to condition of forestry, slope , users
group demand , topography , features present
inside the forestry
• For block division of forest area , At first discuss with
CFUGs
• By help of Google earth , we can easily demarcate
the block area
• In case of Scientific forest management , equal 8
blocks are essential
• Followings steps involved:-

20. 1.Selection of polygon
area
• In Arc map , there is editor tool:- click start editing
,select the area of polygon

21. 2. Cut the polygon
• Simply cut the polygon randomly for practices by cut polygon
tools into several blocks as necessary
• Start cut the polygon at corner of polygon by help of symbol
seen.

22. After division of polygon in blocks , saves the edits and stop the editing click on
Editor tools

23. 3.Block area calculation
• It is same as the polygon area calculation
• Right click on the layer obtained last and click on
attribute table and other process is same as click on
table options and go on.

24. Labeling
• Means symbolize the map in many respect , for
example block name view in map, area , coloring
of the block etc
• For naming the block click on attribute table -> Add
field -> write Block_name(in type there must be text)
->click ok
• Then without cut the attribute table click on editor
tools -> start editing -> click on block name column
and write the block name -> finally save edits and
stop the editing

26. • For coloring the block , right click on layer->
properties -> click on symbology -> in field value
you can set any but generally block name -> click
on Add al values -> you may change the color of
block by click on the each color of block

27. • For showing the symbols click on labels of properties
• Click on label feature in this layer
• In label field select the feature whatever you want
to label on map suppose block name -> then
apply the feature and ok

28. • For multiple labels click on define classes of feature
and label each class differently of Method click on
add value -> name the feature again you want to
label

29. Making complete map
Following things are necessary for completion of map
1. Map
2. Scale bar
3. North arrow
4. Grid(show the map in projection)
5. Legend(meaning of symbol in map)
6. Name of the map

30. • At first click on layout view to fix the map as below
the arrow

31. • For scale bar click on insert -> Scale bar -> select
scale as your choice
• Then place the scale just below the map left

32. • For North arrow click on insert -> North arrow
• Grid is most important component of map and for
this Right click on Layers -> click on properties

33. • Click on Grid property -> New grid -> Next -> in
Appearance you have click one option generally
Labels only -> Next -> Click on finish -> Apply -> Ok

34. • Legend is also important and click on insert ->
legend -> select legend items -> Next -> Next ->
Next -> Finally finish
• Place the legend under the map

35. • For Text inside the layout click on Text tool and
place box as you comfort to place and write any
things
• The size , font can be managed

36. Map Export
• Means save map as image which can easily support in MS word
• Click on File -> Export map -> save the map
• Also you can increase resolution

37. Sample plot determination
• For sample plot GPS point , Add polygon(area)
• On search type Create fishnet -> click on -> in output features and
named and ok
• In Template extent(option) put same as layer of polygon added

38. There is empty in Cell width , height , Number of row
and columns which have to fill up

39. Width and height
calculation
• For cell width and height(both are equal) , we use following
formula :-
• 𝑑 =
𝐴
𝑛+1
Where , A= total area, n = total no of samples plots
• For n, We use following following formula
• 𝑛 =
𝐴×𝐼
𝑎×100%
where A= total area , I= Intensity, a= sample plot
size
• For inventory , 𝑎 = 500𝑚2 for tree
• For No of rows and columns measure
• For no. of rows , measure the height(vertical distance) of map
and divide it by Cell width , then more than obtained values is
used
• Similarly for columns measured horizontal distance and divide
by cell width , then more than obtained value is used

40. Example
• If total area of any polygon be 500000𝑚2
then we have
to calculate Cell width
• For this at first we determine no. of sample plot (𝑛 )
𝑛 =
𝐴×𝐼
𝑎×100%
, here 𝐴 = 500000𝑚2
𝑎 = 500𝑚2
𝑛 =
500000 × 1%
500 × 100%
𝑛 = 10
Then 𝑑 =
𝐴
𝑛+1
𝑑 =
500000
10 + 1
𝑑 = 213.200 = 213m
That is Cell Width= cell height= 213m

41. Then Click ok

42. Clip the sample point inside polygon
• After create fishnet following feature is obtained

43. • Then go to Geoprocessing toolbars -> Clip

44. • In Input features put last obtained layer
• In Clip feature put polygon layer

45. • Then Unclip the remaining layer except polygon
layer and newly obtained layer

46. Conversion of point to XY
coordinate in excel
• This is most important part for inventory as it gives XY
coordinate of sample points by this point we can
able to find the obtained sample point in field
• For this right click on last obtained layer-> open
attribute table -> click on table option -> Add field -
> write X in Name and Long integer in Type -> ok
• New column is added , right click on the column -
>Calculate geometry -> in property there must be X
coordinate point as For Calculation of x coordinate
• And For Y same as X but instead of X there will be Y

48. • After XY coordinate obtained in Attribute table , We convert these
point into excel to put the point into GPS for Navigation
• For this in search write table to excel -> search -> click on table to
excel
• In Input Table put the clip layer last obtained and in out excel you
can save anywhere as your choice , Click ok , Excel is finally
obtained

49. Slope map
• Slope map is map which gives slope of any forest
area from ground level and classify the forest in
different classes of slope
• It gives variation of elevation in forest and help in
demarcation of critical zone in forest area
• For slope map , contour map of the district where
forest area is located , is essential

50. Process
• Add the contour map of District

51. • Overlay the polygon of the forest area and zoom
the layer by right click on polygon , the polygon is
seen

52. Clip the Polygon
• Click on the Geoprocessing -> Clip
• In input feature inputs the district contour map and in clip feature put polygon which is
overlay
• Then, in the polygon there is change in color as compared to outside the polygon

53. • The Unclip the district contour map layer

54. Step 1 :- Create tin
• In search write create tin and clip in Create tin and
the create tin is obtained as

55. • In output feature save location is located and named
• In coordinate system set WGS_1984_UTM_Zone_44/45S and in
input feature put Clip feature

56. • In the below column we have to change the setting as
• In Height field set COV by double click in just below row of it
• In SF type we set Soft line by double click in just below row of it
and OK , it takes time

57. Step 2:- Tin to Raster
• Then search Tin to raster and click Tin to raster
• In input feature put Tin obtained and output is location of export
data and ok -> remove tin

58. Step:- 3 Slope
• Search slope and click on slope(3D analyst)
• In input feature input raster data and output as usual
• In output measurement there should be Degree and click Ok and
remove raster

59. Step:- 4 Reclassify
• Search reclassify and click
• In input put slope and click on Classify -> in method put
defined interval -> put the defined interval as 10 and ok

60. • And set the interval in layer reclassify layer just
below

61. Step:5 Raster to polygon
• Search raster to polygon and click
• In input feature click on reclassify data and ok
Feature obtained

62. Step:- 6 Clip feature
• Then go to clip and in input feature put obtained polygon
from raster
• In clip feature put Forest area polygon and Unclick slope and
reclass

63. Step:- 7 Calculation of
area and perimeter
• Calculate the Area and perimeter by attribute
table same as previous
• In attribute table also make ascending od
Gridcode(class)

64. Step 8 :- Symbology on polygons
• Go to properties of Clip feature last obtained -> symbology ->In value field
put gridcode-> click on Categories and unclick mark -> change color and
apply and ok