AT TilE NORTIIF.RN FOREST RESEARCII CENTRE

This paper describes the Mappin~ and Resources Analysis System (MARS) opcratr by the Northern Forest Research Centre (NoFRC) of the Canadian Forestry Service in Edmonton, Alberta. MARS includes the Systemhouse Limited RAMS system, with additi.onnl software to convert polygon map information to a grid cell data base and to interact to a gird cell data base and to interact with a mapping program called GIMHS, The project was funded through the federal ENFOR program to: 1) demonstrate how forest inventories bay be converted to biomass estimates; and 2) have these inventories displayed to facilitate forest management, MARS 1s capable of integrating map and satellite infor­ mation for the updating of maps with regard to changes cuased by forest fire, clear cutting, insect and disease damage, and chemical or other disturbances.