About ForestGALES

 

ForestGALES takes into account the effect of species, cultivation, drainage and silviculture.

Using information about the site (such as soil and cultivation type), the trees (such as species and height) and wind climate, ForestGALES first calculates the wind speed at which trees will be damaged either by uprooting or stem breakage.

The probability of damaging winds occurring is then calculated using information on the wind climate throughout Britain as classified in the DAMS scoring system. DAMS values can be:

• Calculated for a specific location directly or
• Looked up from the DAMS scores for the whole of Great Britain which is distributed with ForestGALES.

Throughout its development, ForestGALES was designed in consultation with representatives of both private and state forestry organisations and is designed to be easy to use and includes extensive on-line help.

ForestGALES: a knowledge transfer case study ^(PDF-182K)

ForestGALES User Manual for version 2.1 ^(PDF-1007K)

ForestGALES is highlighted in the DTI publication:
Knowledge Transfer and Public Sector Research ^(PDF-826K)

System requirements

Microsoft^® Windows^® operating systems
Pentium 133 MHz processor or better
20 Mbytes free hard disk space
32 Mbytes RAM (minimum)
CD-ROM drive
Super VGA (800x600) or higher resolution monitor

A version of ForestGALES is now available for wide-screen monitors - contact forestgales.support@forestry.gsi.gov.uk for a free upgrade.