Real-Time Monitoring with a Tablet App Improves Implementation of Treatments to Enhance Forest Structural Diversity

Implementing treatments to create structural complexity and spatial heterogeneity within forest stands can be difficult and time consuming. We asked if real-time implementation monitoring with an Android OS tablet application can facilitate successful implementation of such treatments. We compared two tree-marking methods—free selection (FS) and individuals, clumps and openings (ICO)—which were used to implement the same silvicultural prescription. ICO marking guidelines differed from FS in one way: inclusion of targets describing the number of tree clumps of different sizes to be left, with real-time monitoring of progress towards these targets using the tablet app. ICO trials were more successful at producing desired conditions. FS trials resulted in stand densities below the target and lacked large and very large tree clumps. Implementation efficiency (trees marked per person-hour) was similar between the two systems. Real-time implementation monitoring of quantitative targets can increase the likelihood of treatment success.