04/08/2024
The history behind Cruise Control.
Cruise Control began as a concept in the late 1990’s as technology became increasingly present in the general public. At that time, Landmark Forestry founder, Mike McWhorter, was searching for a better way to collect and compile valuable forest data that would address the issues of inherent human error and increasing efficiency. The traditional method of paper tally was prone to users omitting necessary data, failing to adhere to cruise specifications, and entry errors. This method also required an additional step of transcribing data from paper into a computer, after data collection occurred, which was also an error-prone and a time consuming bottle-neck. In addition to these issues of data accuracy and comprehensiveness, there was an awareness that the advent of GPS and digital mapping could provide a better means of creating and managing mapping data, as well as navigating in the field.
As the owner of a full-service forestry consulting business, Landmark Forestry, Mike had the perfect combination of need and opportunity to begin working with a staff developer to create a software package that could meet the specific needs of procurement, consulting, and managing foresters. At its core, Cruise Control was built to meet the unique needs of Landmark Forestry, but what was soon discovered was that the industry as a whole was searching for a better solution to these same challenges. Not long after its initial use began, others within the industry started to notice and inquire about what Landmark’s foresters were using in the field to enhance the user experience.
Fast forward a few decades and Cruise Control has become an industry leading Forest Inventory Software with a full suite of desktop and handheld applications spanning the complete workflow of project creation, field navigation, data collection, and reporting. Now in its third iteration Cruise Control 3.0 continues to add more features and functionality, adding real value to the forestry professional. With a devoted team of software developers and support personnel Cruise Control continues to offer tangible solutions to the challenges that foresters face. Despite the many iterations of development and added features, all these years later, Cruise Control 3.0 remains a solution built by foresters for foresters.