SmallForest mobile app: availability, functionality and use

Abstract

The SmallForest mobile app was developed for both Android and iPhone operating systems which allows universal use for information exchange within one generalized database. Depending on the account level, users have a specific set of routines, tools and applications for defined activities, namely those that correspond to their account level such as ‘ACTIVE’, ‘OBSERVER’, ‘USER’ or ‘ESTIMATOR’ (excluding the basic version which has limited access to the exchange of attribute and graphical information). The information exchange sys− tem between users of the SmallForest app is provided for the users with account levels ‘OBSERVER’, ‘USER’ and ‘ESTIMATOR’. The information transmission is performed through an intermediate server which provides temporary storage of messages until they are received by the user. As a rule, the provision of the appropriate account level and authorization is carried out by the mobile app administrator after consultation with the authorized persons of the state forestry enterprise. It is prohibited to obtain authorization for a specific access level arbitrarily. It is also possible to view information about authorized users and their access levels. The mobile app is based on a universal database where data exchange and processing is per− formed in accordance with specified and regulated rules and forms. Standardized forms for data input or exchange do not allow the input of unformatted or improperly written information. In addition, the mobile app allows the use of specific routines to input attribute and graphical information, or make changes to existing one. The SmallForest mobile application enables the user to process standardized attribute and vector data, and to perform additional calculations as well. The possibilities of editing the source data related to the forest plot depend on the user access level. This access level is provided by the application manager in agreement with the management of a relevant state forestry enterprise. The users, who are authorized to carry out economic activities, can use modules that neither affect nor change data on the assessment char− acteristics of the forest plot. Thus, the modules help calculate the volumes of individual logs, ranges, and also tree trunk parts. Application of the modules increases the accuracy of the cal− culation of the volume of wood and guarantees compliance with the current ISO standards. The mobile application is often used by forestry workers in Ukraine. The number of users is increas− ing every year. In total, there have been more than 10,000 mobile application downloaded since February 2020. Moreover, the application is used by more than 3,500 authorized employees of the forestry industry in Ukraine nowadays.