Blue Raster and World Forest ID (WFID) have partnered to create the World Forest ID Evaluation Platform, a powerful digital tool that brings transparency and accountability to global forest-connected supply chains. As global demand for timber and agricultural products grows, forests are under increasing pressure. Without clear traceability, it’s easy for illegal or unsustainable sourcing to go unnoticed. This lack of transparency contributes to environmental problems like biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. The World Forest ID Evaluation Platform helps solve these challenges by providing a reliable way to track the origin of forest products and support responsible sourcing practices.
What is the World Forest ID Evaluation Platform?
The WFID Evaluation Platform is a secure, user-friendly, web-based tool that helps stakeholders, including companies, regulators, certification bodies, and NGOs verify the origin of traded timber. Using advanced spatial analysis and machine learning, the WFID Evaluation Platform analyzes timber samples to predict their likely harvest location. Built by Blue Raster, the platform leverages a spatial model developed by WFID, combining geolocated reference samples and genus distribution data into an intuitive, cloud-based application developed using the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript. It simplifies the complex process of timber origin verification, with future support planned for agricultural commodities like soy and cocoa.
Key Features and Benefits
The WFID Evaluation Platform helps users verify timber sourcing claims and improve visibility across the supply chain. It supports:
- Certification schemes in ensuring sourcing integrity
- Regulators in enforcing supply chain transparency and accountability
- Companies in achieving sustainability goals and complying with international trade regulations
Personalized Reports
Users begin by sending timber samples to certified labs, which return a completed WFID chemical data spreadsheet. This file is then uploaded to the platform, along with the user’s claimed harvest location. The platform runs its spatial model and produces a downloadable PDF report showing whether the claimed origin is plausible. The report also includes details about the modeling process and the geolocated reference samples used in the analysis.
Intuitive User Interface
The platform’s simple, intuitive design lets users easily review results, manage data inputs, and store reports securely. Data protection is ensured through AWS cloud hosting solution and integrations with ArcGIS Online.
Blue Raster’s Role: Geospatial Technology Meets Forestry Innovation
Data Visualization in ArcGIS Pro
Our team used ArcGIS Pro to create high-resolution genus distribution grids. These grids allow users to spatially anchor their timber samples within corresponding native regions, delivering more accurate harvest origin predictions.
Data Management in ArcGIS Online
Blue Raster configured the application to record both user-submitted inputs and the results of spatial model outputs stored in ArcGIS Online. This ensures ongoing data integrity and allows WFID to analyze historical data for future research and enhancement of the model.
Application Development & Integration
From front-end UI design to backend modeling and cloud infrastructure, we worked closely with WFID to create a custom, scalable application that:
- Integrates with ArcGIS Online and AWS cloud environment and backend functions
- Runs WFID’s spatial model seamlessly
- Delivers results in a secure and user-friendly environment
Strengthening Global Wood Supply Chain Integrity
At Blue Raster, we’re proud to support World Forest ID’s mission to improve supply chain transparency and combat illegal sourcing using GIS and spatial analysis. This partnership combines data science, spatial modeling, and environmental responsibility.
We believe in the power of GIS for Good, using geospatial technology to drive meaningful change, inform communities, and support organizations working toward a more sustainable and equitable future. We collaborate with mission driven partners to build tools that make complex data accessible, actionable, and impactful
If you need GIS consulting for forestry, environmental compliance, or supply chain transparency, contact Blue Raster today to discover how we can help you create advanced geospatial solutions.