Forestry is no longer just about axes and paper maps. 3D technology allows foresters to analyze forest structure with millimeter precision. With LiDAR scanners and drones, it is possible to measure the height of each tree, calculate its timber volume, and detect diseases without stepping in the mud. A clear example: planning selective pruning using digital terrain models.
LiDAR scanner, drones, and software: the tools of the new forester 🌲
The workflow begins with a drone flight equipped with a LiDAR sensor, capturing point clouds of the tree canopy. This data is processed with programs like CloudCompare or LAStools to filter out the ground and vegetation. Then, software such as ArcGIS Pro or QGIS allows for generating canopy height models and estimating biomass. For visualization and planning, Autodesk ReCap or Blender help create 3D scenarios for forest intervention.
Goodbye to the morning walk: now the drone does the rounds for you 🚁
Before, the forester would lace up their boots and trek through the forest on foot, jotting notes in a wet notebook. Today, a drone flies over the plot while they sip coffee. The 3D model reveals that the crooked pine that seemed sick only has a poorly positioned branch. The humor comes when the software says that the perfect tree to cut down is the one you use as a parasol. Technology is useful, but the forest always gets the last laugh.