Digital mapping alternatives: GIS for the busy forester

Geographic Information System (GIS) technology is rapidly becoming one of the most useful and widespread tools in our profession. As capability of these systems increase, so does their complexity. While full-featured GIS systems require a substantial time investment for learning and keeping current, various low-cost and easy-to-use alternatives are now available. These systems offer forestry professionals an opportunity to take advantage of the capabilities that geospatial technologies can offer. This article reviews some of these "small-scale" GIS systems and presents recommendations for several types of forestry applications.