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We are not dead!!! Typically this would be meant as a joke however when we walk into a meeting and get looks of shock because people say “We heard you were dead!” It becomes something we have to remind people about.

More and more the Penguins here at FSD are asked about the usefulness of Nelder plots and if they are worth it.  So to answer the broader question this post will try to address this.

Bottom line… YES, Nelder plots are worth it.

Only an update.  Did you get your new key for FPS????

It seems we have another fun-filled announcement from FBRI.  Are we the only ones to see the underlying potential extortion part of the comments? “After all it would be a shame if that software you paid for stopped working…"  While FPS has always had a 10-year expiration that was meant to be “in good faith” to prevent outdated science from being used when better biometrics could be employed with an update.  This was then updated to a secret code to make the system work correctly otherwise bogus numbers would be created.  Everyone implement that properly? Bet not.  And now FPS will expire annually? That would be like starting up Word, and oh sorry you can’t do anything.  Even Microsoft has a more graceful fall back than that.  Who signed up for Biometrics as a Service? While we are not against the prospect of Biometrics as a Service that isn’t what the contract says.  Only the wealthy can do scientifically backed forestry? Pretty sure this is to stem the current exodus of contributors, but everyone came on board knowing that your current version would work with or without FBRI.  What happens when FBRI shutters its doors in a few years?  As there is no data, transparency or documentation to the model once it expires at that point, it is done.  Something to think about huh…

Did you get the latest FPS Update??  Does it work for you? We would love to hear your experiences so that they can be posted to the public bug log and wiki https://fps.wiki/.

The much anticipated FBRI Annual meeting happened today.  Did we learn anything?

In cooperation with The Natural Biometrician, the penguins around the shop here have been working on redesigning the FPS database developed by The Forest Biometrics Research Institute.  Many times the developers have made the announcement that the FPS database is just an example and users are expected to customize it to fit their needs.  The FSD Office Penguins are well on the way to making that a reality with straightforward updates, navigation menus, and functions.  Check out some of the initial screenshots at The Natural Biometrician and tell us what you think.  Want to use the interface for something else.  Go for it.  It is flexible enough to handle just about any MS Access database type of model.

Oh ya, the downside is the cost.  FREE!!!!  Yes, that is right we are giving it away as we should.  Currently settling on the license before releasing in mid-November 2017.  To protect the USER, we are actively considering GPLv3.  Open Source!  That doesn’t mean we would turn down contributions if you feel that it is worth the development.

It has Been a busy summer for the penguins with office visits and PROGRAMMING!!!! There has even been a smattering of biometrics and mensuration.  Hopefully, this fall FSD will be releasing a few new free products to assist in the day to day work of forest inventory.  Some of the projects will help with field work too.  But for now, let’s update you on FBRI communications.  The office penguins were not able to make it to the latest training because of the late announcement by FBRI.  But needless to say, we will be attending the annual meeting in November.  You should be too.  Sounds like a lot of changes on the horizon…

Did you get the latest FPS Update??  Does it work for you? We would love to hear your experiences so that they can be posted to the public bug log and wiki https://fps.wiki/.  Some of the last versions bugs were um interesting.

Another update between projects and office visits.  What else do we know…  Did anyone go to the last SiteGrid training??  We would like to hear from you.\