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IT WING AT A GLANCE
Introduction
Forestry involves vast database on human resource development, land based information, project related activities, products and services, research and extension and public utilities. The use of Information Technology has come to play a vital role in planning, management and monitoring in forestry sector. The IT wing of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department makes the best use of computer hardware and software to assist forestry activities. In order to speed up the administrative function through data collection, storage and dissemination activities, Tamil Nadu Forest Department has been computerized upto the level of Ranges, which are the basic unit of administrative set up. IT utility has been taken up to the level of basic unit of administrative set up of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department.
GIS is an excellent tool for the proper assessment, planning and management of forest resources. The IT wing of TNFD is in the forefront as far as use of Geographical Information Science is concerned. The personnel in the Tamil Nadu Forest Department get hands-on-training in computer operation, techniques of Geographical Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) through the State-of-Art computer centres in Tamil Nadu Forest Academy, Coimbatore and Tamil Nadu Forestry Training College, Vaigai Dam. With the collaboration of Forest Survey of India, Dehradun and National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad, satellite and other relevant data are obtained, analysed and results arrived at which are largely utilized for the management of forests.
Branches Of the IT wing
1. Management Information System (MIS)
Management Information System is one of the branches of the Information Technology Wing and is maintained by the MIS centre at the Head office at Chennai. It has four main functions:
Computerization and maintenance
Office of PCCF in Chennai and other offices under control up to Range level have been computerized since 2001. Local Area Networking facility has been established at the Head office. Servers are utilized for MIS / GIS related software. Besides, a software with two main modules FMAS and GIS has been installed and are being run.
Website Dev and Maintenance
A comprehensive website with elaborate details and illustrative examples has been hosted exclusively for Tamil Nadu Forest Department. Initially, the website was developed and launched in url: www.forests.tn.nic.in through National Informatics Centre by the year 2005. In order to make TNFD website more interactive and useful to people, the TNFD website was redesigned with additional features like Quick loading of home page, Compatibility with major internet browsers / mobile devices having android / iOS, Secured Admin Portal with Content Management System.
The website showcases various aspects of the department’s functioning, Policies, Laws i.e. Acts & Rules pertaining to TN Forest Department, Eco-tourism, Research & Education, etc. with relevant illustrations and FAQs.
URL address: www.forests.tn.gov.in
E-mail address: tnforest@tn.nic.in
Links are provided to other pertinent websites and recently a link was provided in our website www.forests.tn.gov.in to facilitate the process of Online Registration and Application for the recruitment of Forester, Forest Guard / Forest Guard with Driving License / Forest Watcher through TNFUSRC. Online application on issuance of permits for Tree Felling and Tree Transit has been started under Ease Of Doing Business (EODB) to ensure transparency in this aspect as well as time-bound action by all concerned.
Software development and maintenance
Tamil Nadu Forest Department has found its way ahead in utilization of Information Technology. Management Information System software with 5 modules has been developed as follows:
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Module Name |
Description |
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Stores and Infrastructure Management System |
The objectives of the Stores and Infrastructure Management System being a part of the integrated administrative system to automate stores and Infrastructure Management. This system has sub-modules for purchase and distribution of
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Plantation Management System |
This system is used to capture particulars of Social Forestry plantations raised, No. of survival, plantation maintenance cost and date of enumeration, height, girth and year of felling. It has sub-modules for
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Natural Forest Management System |
This system used to capture the details of natural forest plantations including database of forest vegetation types, forest cover, RF / RL details, Watershed details, natural calamities, etc. It has sub-modules for
|
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Forest Working Plan Management System |
Working plans are prepared for management of natural forest areas for a period of ten years. Normally, a forest Division is the unit for preparation of Working Plan. The status of all the Working Plans and its prescriptions in respect of all the divisions will be monitored under this system. It has sub-modules for
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Forest Vigilance Information System |
This module is significant in the conservation of forests, especially with reference to the encroachment and fire protection issues. Monitoring of petitions related to protection issues from receipt of Tapal to completion after enquiry on the petition. It has sub-modules for
|
Ease of Doing Business (EODB)
Online system for Tree felling and Tree transit was developed and made 'Go Live' in the existing TNFD website www.forests.tn.gov.in on 27.05.2019. It's functions are as follows:
Tree felling
Tree transit
Video Conferencing
A Multi-point / Concurrent Video conferencing system facility was established both at head office and circles on 04.05.2015. This facility has been established at 24 locations in the State during 2015-16 and the same has already commenced working to connect with Head office and vice versa. During 2018-19, this facility has been extended to 20 more locations in the State bring almost all divisions under its ambit.
2. Geomatic center
GEOMATICS CENTRE - A GIST OF SALIENT ACTIVITIES
The Geomatics Centre at the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Chennai was established under Tamil Nadu Afforestation Project during the year 2000. The Centre is equipped with modern State of the Art facilities.
The primary objective of Geomatics Centre is to strengthen field-based applications of RS & GIS by making use of the latest information and communication technology and so contributing in planning, monitoring and evaluation of projects. It thus provides an excellent decision support system to the planners and policy makers of the State Forest Department.
The foremost activity undertaken by the Geomatics Centre is preparation of digital database of Administrative units, which is the basis for any decision making. The database is updated then and there on getting authenticated data from the divisions. A special drive in this regard was initiated in September 2018.
Activities undertaken at the Geomatics Centre
Forest administration database
One of the major projects undertaken by the Geomatics Centre is preparation of digital database (eg: Boundary of District, Range, Beat, RF and RL etc.). Tamil Nadu is covered in 221 numbers of 1:50000 scale SOI topographic map, which is the basic data for database creation.
Boundaries of Reserved Forest Blocks, which were available in SOI topographic maps, were digitized following boundaries given in topographic maps. Boundaries of Reserved Forest blocks and Reserved Lands, which were not available in topographic maps and other administrative units like Division / Range / Section / Beat were digitized based on the data provided by District Forest Officers/Wildlife Wardens/Deputy Directors on tracing film (with reference to 1:50000 scale SOI topographic map) or GPS coordinates. The database is updated then and there after getting authenticated data from the Division / Circle.
During 2019, the Honourable Chief Minister announced under Rule 110 on the floor of the Legislative Assembly a project "DGPS survey of notified forests of Tamil Nadu" under which boundaries of Reserved Forests and Reserved Lands will be surveyed with the latest technology of DGPS / TS depending on the circumstances to create more accurate database.
Digital library of Forest land records
The recorded forest area of the Tamil Nadu State is 22.877 km2. Being custodian of 17.59% of the States’ land resource, Tamil Nadu Forest Department is the biggest land owner of the state. Many Reserved Forests were notified more than a century ago and the documents like Gazettes, Government Notifications, FMB sketches are in fragile condition at various offices of the department. These documents are the ‘Assets Records’ of the Department. It is needless to point out that maintenance and upkeep of records pertaining to these forest lands is of the utmost importance. All these Forest land records viz. notifications available with Forest Department as well as maps authenticated by Forest Settlement Officers (FSOs) are therefore being collected, scanned and maintained in Digital Reserved Forests ‘Land Record’ Archives. In cases where documents are not available with the Forest Department, State Archives is being approached for copies of such documents.
Mapping Forest types of Tamil Nadu
Mapping of Forest types in the State was carried out at the Geomatics Centre in collaboration with and through technical assistance of Forest Survey of India. It provides spatial distribution of various forest types and sub types in the State.
Monitoring afforestation activities & Vegetation change analysis
A database of forest area treated under Tamil Nadu Afforestation Project has been created and vegetation change analysis carried out to select treatment areas to assess the impact of afforestation activities. A fresh project is underway since 2017 to assess vegetation cover in 5 Corporation areas.
Forest fire burnt area assessment
One major activity at the Geomatics Centre is Forest fire monitoring using space technology and GIS. Fire burnt area was assessed annually from the year 2001 onwards using multispectral satellite images to assess forest fire damage and its spatial spread. SNPP having higher detection power due to better resolution number of fires detected since 2016 has been higher. A detailed multivariable analysis work was taken up in 2017 & 2018 to assess vulnerability of forests to fire and 106 beats were found to be highly or very highly sensitive / vulnerable to fire.
Maps of
Daily fire alert using VIIRS, MODIS data
Near real time MODIS and VIIRS data are good for determining the location active fires. Forest fire alerts received from FSI are sent to the concern DFOs/WLWs/DDs for immediate action in the field. A database of these fire locations is maintained at the Geomatics Centre, which will be useful to identify fire sensitive beats, mitigation planning and management strategies.
In 2019, all the DFOs/WLWs/DDs, CCFs/CFs of circles were registered with FSI's fire alert system for quick dissemination of fire alerts. MOU has been signed between Tamil Nadu Forest Department and NRSC, Hyderabad to collaborate on various aspects especially fire alerts and fresh data of staff (phone numbers and jurisdiction) has been shared with NRSC for the purpose.
Eco Sensitive Zone mapping for Protected Areas
Delineation of Eco-Sensitive Zone for each Protected Area, based on the data provided by Wildlife Wing, was prepared at Geomatics Centre.
Preparation of working plan maps
Geomatics Centre assists in preparation of various maps for working plan preparation. Working plan maps like Management map, Reference map, Administrative map, working circle maps with required scales and sample plot locations as per working plan code-2014 are prepared with reference to GIS database.
Latest work undertaken at Geomatics Centre
