Forest Gap Management System: A Progressive Web Application for Real-Time Forest Canopy Gap Assessment and Classification

Abstract

Forest canopy gaps play a crucial role in forest dynamics, biodiversity maintenance, and ecosystem regeneration. Traditional gap assessment methods often involve manual data collection followed by post-fieldwork computational analysis, creating temporal delays and potential data integrity issues. This paper presents a novel Progressive Web Application (PWA) designed to streamline forest gap measurement, classification, and data management in real-time field conditions. The application implements two complementary measurement methodologies; the ellipse approximation and grid-quadrat methods, alongside automated Brokaw's classification system. Developed using modern web technologies, the PWA features robust offline functionality, low resource demands (e.g., 1.2 s initial load time, 2.4 MB offline cache, minimal battery impact), and full cross-platform compatibility. The Progressive Web App (PWA) is available at the following URL: https://gap-dynamics-app.onrender.comField validation in Korup National Park (n=303 gaps) confirmed high agreement between methods (Pearson r=0.997, explaining 99.4% of variance; mean bias -17 units, 95% limits of agreement -24 to -10 units), with the ellipse method showing an 11.7% systematic underestimation suitable for calibration or complementary use. Compared to paper-based approaches, the digital app achieved a 47% reduction in time per gap (from 8.4 to 4.5 minutes), complete elimination of transcription errors, data loss, and classification errors, and immediate data availability. User acceptance was very high (mean ratings 4.6-5.0/5), with qualitative feedback emphasizing efficiency, reliability, and data quality. The open-architecture design facilitates adaptation to diverse ecosystems, while the PWA framework ensures accessibility without installation barriers. This tool represents a significant advancement in digital forestry, enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and reliability in tropical forest research.