Irving Woodlands - Technology at Work in the Forest

Today’s forest harvesting operations are much different than they were 25 years ago. Operators work in climate-controlled, ergonomically designed cabs which are safer and much more technologically advanced. Technology in the forest: surrounded by sophisticated technology and multiple controls, forest operators are more like present-day pilots. Thanks to onboard GPS technology, operators always know where they are and where important forest features, such as buffers and sensitive areas, need to be avoided.
Sustainable forest management means continuous improvement, staying current with the best practices, and science and technology. We’re committed to forest management that is responsible and is balanced - environmentally, socially, and economically, for our employees, our customers, and our neighbours.
Today’s forester uses Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to update our forest management activities with greater frequency and accuracy than ever before. GPS technology on harvesting equipment is also used to track actual harvest levels.
J.D. Irving, Limited was the first forestry company in Canada to build and maintain a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and GPS technology in the early 1980s!
New Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology is providing even more detailed terrain mapping, forest inventory, and operational planning improvements.
Depth-to-Water-Table mapping developed by Dr. Paul Arp at the University of New Brunswick improves our forest road location, determines potential unmapped streams, reduces operational site impacts, and is being used to help predict site productivity.
J.D. Irving, Limited continues to work with the Canadian Forest Service, several universities, and leading IT companies to develop and leverage spatial technology to improve forest management.