1. management a change from one silvicultural system to another or from one tree species to another (species conversion) 2. utilization the transformation of timber into a product: (a) primary conversion is the initial sawing of the log into lumber, and (b) secondary conversion is any subsequent working or finishing of the lumber into products 3. GIS the changing of data from one format to another, e.g., TIGER to DXF, or a map to digital files 4. computers the transfer of data from one system to another, e.g., SUN to IBM —see data automation This definition last updated 10/25/2008