THE MARCUS WALLENBERG FOUNDATION
1997-01-28
Path breaking system for forest assesment is awarded the Marcus
Wallenberg Prize of 2 million Swedish kronor
Professor Erkki Tomppo, Helsinki
is awarded the fourteenth Marcus Wallenberg Prize for his
pathbreaking achievement within the field of forest assessment. In a
multi-source forest inventory system, his methodology integrates
data collected from remote sensing, ground sampling and other
sources to improve the quality of forest information. His scientific
accomplishments provide new directions for forest assessment and
ecological monitoring and an important tool for evaluating progress
in the sustainable management of world forests.
Traditionally, forest inventory darta has been collected primarily
by means of field surveys. The costs has been high, and the spatial
resolution of the data obtained has been severely limited. Maps and
aerial or satellite pictures have been used to supplement the
information gathered in the field. These latter sources, when used
individually, have serious limitations in their ability to provide
information that useful in practical forestry applications.
The pioneering aspect of Tomppo's research is his unique method of
integrating available information sources into one system that is
reliable and also allows accurate estimates for smaller areas than
the traditional field inventories. Tomppo's system considerably
enhances the total information value of data sources used and also
allows for ecological data to be effectively assessed. In the
context of national forest assessment it is now possible to obtain
inventory data at the community and owner levels as well - which has
previously not been possible without extensive field work.
The new integrated system of inventory-taking is being tested on a
large scale in Finnish forest assessment with highly promising
results. Continuous development of the system, as experience is
gained, is expected to further improve its accuracy. In addition to
its use in Finland, the system has been tested on a large scale in
New Zealand, Chile, China and Germany. Sweden also is testing the
method, the progress of which is being closely minitored by the EU
and others.
Dr. Erkki Tomppo was born in 1947. His studies in mathematics at the
University of Helsinki were followed by studies at that university's
faculty of forestry. He obtained his Ph.D. in 1987 in statistics.
For many years he has engaged in research in land mensuration and
inventory of land assets. He is currently a lecturer on remote
sensing at the University of Helsinki. Since 1992, he has also held
the position of Professor of Forest Assessment at the Finnish Forest
Research Institute.
The Marcus Wallenberg Prize
The Marcus Wallenberg Prize, an international award, was established
in 1980 by Stora Kopparbergs Bergslags Aktiebolag of Sweden to
honour Dr. Wallenberg, who served as a member of the Company's Board
of Directors and was its chairman for many years. The Prize was
instituted to recognize, encourage and stimulate research of a
pioneering nature that significantly increases knowledge and
technical progress in areas of concern to forest industries.
The amount of the Prize is two million Swedish kronor.
The award will be presented to Professor Erkki Tomppo by H.M. King
Carl XVI Gustaf at a ceremony to be held in Stockholm in the fall
this year. This is the fourteenth occasion the Prize has been
awarded.
For additional information, please contact: Sven-Erik Malmeblad,
Secretary of the Marcus Wallenberg Prize Selection Committee, Tel.
+46-23-24057 after 17.00 on January 28.
__________________________________________________________________________
Address Telephone Telefax
S-791 80 FALUN +46 23 78 21 66 +46 23 71 15 81
SWEDEN
(Visiting address: Åsgatan 22)
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Forwarded to the list by Jarmo Saarikko, Finnish Forest Research Institute
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