Integrating ubiquitous computing design into forestry information and communication technology: a case study in designing a forestry transportation system

The Australian forestry industry has historically constrained the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to the office environment. This negates opportunities which exist when ICT are deployed along the supply chain to provide feedback to the strategic layers for optimisations that improve efficiencies and reduce costs. The wood supply chain is largely based in the “environment”: forests, roads, or mills and there is much to be gained by integrating ICT within these areas. Our experience working within the Cooperative Research Centre for Forestry (CRCF) has been that ICT systems have been developed with limited forsight around their long term sustainability: lack of consideration around the system in its context of use, placing the onus on the user to learn to adapt their work practises for system usage. This paper proposes applying design approaches found within ubiquitous computing to avoid the above shortcomings. Here the Smart Device Environment Integration (DEI) Model is applied to conceptually explore the benefits of applying a systematic approach to forestry systems design. One outcome is the design process is made easier; another is a more complete understanding of system robustness and the limitation for system acceptance from user-centric points of view.