Policy 1.2 - Certification of Air Photo Interpreters

Effective Date: 01-Apr-93
Responsible Branch: Inventory Branch

Resource Management Volume Table of Contents | Amendment Log

Scope

This policy describes the certification that photo interpreters working in and contracted to the Forest Inventory program should have.

Policy

All Ministry employees and private contractors who engage in the practice of forest classification by photo interpretation on provincial forest land will hold a valid Certificate of Air Photo Interpretation for Forest Inventory.

Qualifications

Photo interpreters working in the Forest Inventory program should be knowledgeable about forest classification procedures and be able to meet the provincial classification standards for photo interpretation.

All photo interpreters working in and contracted to the Inventory Program should have good stereo acuity and the relevant qualifications to meet the requirements for certification.

Who Will Be Certified?

Ministry employees occupying the following positions in the Inventory Program will either hold, or be working towards, a provincial certificate in photo interpretation:

• Reinventory Foresters (Branch)
• Technical Audit and Planning Foresters (Branch)
• Inventory Foresters (regions)
• Resource Officer Inventory, or equivalent (districts)

Private consultants, contractors, their employees and/or subcontractors working as photo interpreters in the Inventory Program will also hold a valid provincial certificate in photo interpretation.

After December 1992, quality control on all contracts involving photo interpretation will be signed off by certified Ministry staff. Also after this date, at least 50% of contracted forest classifiers working on each contract involving photo interpretation must be certified.

Certification

A photo interpretation certification exam is held periodically. The exam tests for knowledge of forest classification procedures and the ability to achieve provincial photo interpretation standards. The certificate is valid for five years.

Unsuccessful candidates must upgrade their skills and knowledge prior to reapplication to the certification committees.

A photo interpreter may be decertified if, in the opinion of the certification committee, the interpreter consistently fails to meet the forest classification standards defined in the Inventory Manual, Volume 2, Forest Classification. Decertification rulings may be appealed initially to the certification committee and finally to the Director of the Inventory Branch.

Recertification may be achieved by upgrading skills and knowledge and by passing the certification exam.

Responsibilities

The Director, Inventory Branch will develop and monitor forest classification standards, and implement and administer the photo interpretation policy.

District and Regional Managers will encourage and support individuals working in the Inventory Program to become certified photo interpreters. They will also ensure that people hired for and contracted to the Inventory Program have the relevant qualifications.

References

• Inventory Manual, Volume 2, Forest Classification
• Inventory Manual, Volume 4, Support Documentation, "Certification Policy Addendum for Photo Interpreters Working in the Forest Inventory Program."