Gowri B. Nagendrappa
Masters Student
Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Assessment of forest gravel road quality and faactors influencing it's degradation in Eastern Canada
Directeur: Osvaldo Valeria
Codirecteur: François Girard
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CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECT
Forest gravel roads are essential infrastructure supporting forestry and mining across Canada's vast boreal forests and providing access for emergency and recreational purposes. Spanning over a million kilometres, particularly in the eastern boreal forest, these roads face maintenance challenges due to varying site conditions, construction standards, and operational practices. Despite their importance, significant knowledge gaps exist in understanding the factors influencing road quality (bearing capacity). Previous research has often focused on individual aspects of road degradation, neglecting the holistic view necessary for effective management. This research aims to understand how abiotic factors (drainage ditches, soil deposits, and slope), building standards (roads layer thickness, width, and aggregate composition), and operational practices (time since last maintenance and wood transportation flow) impact the overall quality of the road.
By identifying and analyzing the critical factors influencing road quality, this study will offer valuable insights into the operational and structural dynamics of forest gravel roads. These insights will be instrumental in informing future maintenance protocols and ensuring the roads are maintained efficiently and sustainably. This research is pivotal for ensuring the structural integrity and functionality of forest roads, which are crucial for the economic and ecological sustainability of Canada's forested regions.
RESEARCH INTEREST
- Forest ecology and management
- Forest roads
- Climate change and carbon dynamics
- GIS and Remote sensing
ACADEMIC TRAINING
- Master's degree in Ecology and Management of Forest Ecosystems. University of Quebec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), Rouyn-Noranda, QC, Canada (2023 - to date)
- Master's degree in Natural Resource Management. University of Dharwad, Karnataka, India (2021 - 2023)
- Bachelor's degree in Forestry. College of Forestry, Ponnampet, University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga, India (2017 - 2021).
TRAININGS
- ArcGIS pro for dummies, Center for Forest Research (CEF), Quebec, 23rd - 24th January, 2024
- Development of Professional Skills in Geospatial Technology for Forest Resource Management, College of Forestry, Ponnampet, India, June - Aug, 2021
- Geospatial technology for hydrological modelling Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, ISRO, Dehradun. 19th - 30th July, 2021)
DISSERTATION
- Teak Forest of Kodagu and its Phenological Variations: A Geospatial Investigation* , B.Sc. (Hons) PWD report, Mar 2021 – Aug 2021,
MASTER'S THESIS
- Geospatial Mapping of soil organic carbon using Machine Learning Algorithms in Yellapur Forest Division, Uttar Kannada, Karnataka* , Mar 2022 – Sept 2023
INTERNSHIP
- Determination of water potential in different forest tree species, of dry deciduous forest, in Nagarjunsagar, at the National Center for Biological Sciencese, India, Nov 2021
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
- Gowri B. Nagendrappa.., François Girard. and Osvaldo Valeria., Assessment of forest gravel road quality and factors influencing degradation in Eastern Canada. 17th Annual CEF conference. Université du Québec en Outaouais, Gatineau. May 2024.
- Gowri B. Nagendrappa., François Girard. and Osvaldo Valeria., Understanding Factors Affecting Degradation of Forest Gravel Roads in Eastern Canada. 25th Colloque CAFD. University of Quebec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. November 2023.
