194 THE CANADIAN SURVEYOR May, 1960 
In a related field, the use of photographic interpretation is widespread among 
geologists both for the location of mineral deposits and for scientific studies. 
Finally there is a host of smaller and varied uses exemplified by archaeological 
investigations, the census of game animals such as moose, caribou, and seals, and the 
mapping of vegetation for scientific purposes. 
In the following pages further details are given, following the divisions of subject 
matter agreed upon by Commission VII at its 1956 meetings in Stockholm. Not every 
project could be mentioned even if every one were known to the writer, but an effort 
has been made to include a representative cross-section of the interpretation projects 
carried out in Canada during the years 1956-60. 
FonEsr INTERPRETATION 
DoMINION ForesTry BrancH. The Dominion Forestry Branch has continued its 
program of building up basic data for stand volume tables, measuring some 300 
fifth-acre plots annually for this purpose. This organization has studied the effects of 
seasonal foliage variation, photographic equipment, materials and processing for the 
purpose of discovering the photographic characteristic most suitable for forest inter- 
pretation. Survey techniques are also under investigation with the aim of working 
out the best balance between interpretation and field measurements. This program 
is rounded out by an intensive study of plotting instruments, stereoscopes, and other 
instrumental aids to forest interpretation. 
Interpretation is carried out to meet governmental requirements, and 13,000 square 
miles is an average year’s work. 
In addition, through the Canada Forestry Act, the Dominion Forestry Branch has 
assisted most of the provinces in completing their inventories of forest lands by supply- 
ing financial assistance and in some cases technical assistance also. 
Nova Scotia DEPARTMENT OF LaNDs & Forests. During the period under review 
the Department of Lands & Forests of Nova Scotia completed a forest inventory of 
the Province, an area of 21,400 square miles, under a co-operative arrangement with 
the Dominion government. 
This inventory was based on interpretation of 1:15,840 summer panchromatic photo- 
graphs and field sampling. 
In this province continual use is made of photographic interpretation in routine 
administration for estimating timber volumes, road location, cut-over surveys, damage 
surveys, fire protection plans, and logging plans. 
New Brunswick DEPARTMENT OF LAnDs & Mines. The final report on the New 
Brunswick forest inventory, another project in which the Dominion government co- 
operated, was published in 1958. Like the Nova Scotia inventory, it was based on a 
combination of photographic interpretation and field measurements, using a two stage 
sampling procedure. Again the photographs were panchromatic at 1:15,840 taken in 
October. The total area involved was 28,000 square miles. 
Photographic interpretation is used by the Department of Lands and Mines for 
road location, land valuation, fire protection plans, and many other administrative tasks 
in addition to inventory. 
ONTARIO DEPARTMENT OF LaAnps & Forests. The Province of Ontario, having 
completed its inventory of 300,000 square miles of forest lands from aerial photographic 
interpretation prior to the period which this report covers, is now, with the assistance 
of the Dominion Forestry Branch, engaged in re-photography of this area for the 
purpose of revising the inventory after a lapse of ten years. Extensive studies by Prof.