Assessing Biomass Potential for Biofuel Production in Ontario

Client: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

Spatialworks was engaged to develop a GIS-based tool to analyze the potential biomass available as a result of forest harvesting (e.g. slash, and other fibre available under various harvesting methods) for biofuel production. The Biomass Spatial Analysis Tool was created by Spatialworks to:

• Calculate available biomass using recovery ratios based on forest type and harvest methods with forest inventory and harvest data (historic or projected)
• Summarize available biomass by management units
• Analyze available biomass by spatial criteria (e.g. within 200 km of a mill location)
• Perform scenario analyses to identify optimal locations for portable biofuel refinery plants

Spatialworks was subsequently contracted by OMNR to use BSAT to analyze and report on potential biomass for the entire managed forest of Ontario.