La science des données au service de la forêt
Ce texte fait partie du cahier spécial Université TÉLUQ
Founded il ya à peine trois ans, le Laboratoire de la science des données, ou le DOT-Lab, de l’Université TÉLUQ, comme son nom l’indique, oeuvre dans le domaine de l’exploration des données. What is it? distingue toutefois, c’est que ce laboratoire collecte lui même the majority of data that it deals with and that these cells are mostly related to forest ecology.
If the DOT-Lab has chosen this orientation, it is partly because of its current director, Nicolas Bélanger, professor and researcher in environmental sciences at the Université TÉLUQ. “Je suis essentially un scientifique de terrain, explique-t-il. J’aime aller en forêt pour y récollet une crowde de données sur le behavior environnemental de la forêt. “La collecte de données se fait à l’aide de diverse instruments, including aerial images captured by drone — Nicolas Bélanger is a certified pilot of drones —, des captres au sol ou fixed aux arbres capable of prendre diverse mesures ainsi que des analyzes chemicals
La récolte de données est plus que genereuse. “We have 20 million digital and visual data at our disposal,” he stressed. The same quantity of data obliges us to use the tools of data science to treat and analyze them. »
A multidisciplinary team
C’est pourquoi le DOT-Lab comprend des members qui ne sont pas susus de la filière environnementale. This is the case of Wassim Bouachir, professor and researcher in computer science specialized in computer vision and visual data processing, who assumes this responsibility within the DOT-Lab. “Sa compétence en la matière est telle, précis Nicolas Bélanger, that he even developed an intelligent video surveillance program capable of detecting suicidal behaviour. »
Marc-André Carle is a professor and researcher in information technologies specializing in the conception and management of sustainable value chains. Some of the models that he developed are today in use in the companies of the forest sector. Daniel Lemire is professor and researcher in computer science specializing in data indexing and engineering as well as software performance. Élise Filotas is professor and researcher in environmental sciences specialized in the study of forest ecosystems. They complete this multidisciplinary team.
Three axes of research:
The primary research axis of the DOT-Lab is the effect of climate change on the evolution of the forest. “We have plots of forest that can be electrified to increase the temperature of the sun,” says Nicolas Bélanger. With the help of sensors, we are observing how the forest reacts to this warming. »
The development of forest management strategies is the second axis of research. The third axis, complementary, is to provide the forest industry with tools capable of increasing efficiency. A good example is a Dot-Lab project with the Domtar paper mill in intensive forestry. This project consists of planting fast-growing trees in a soil fertilized with plant residues, either ash or sludge. “On obtains ainsi le même volume de matière ligneuse, mais sur une plus petite surface, précis Nicolas Bélanger, ce qui permet de protecter et de conserver davantage de forêts. »
Un projet de maîtrise à grande retombé
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