A groundbreaking interactive tool developed by Scion in collaboration with Indufor Asia Pacific is set to revolutionize the forestry industry. Forest Insights, as the tool is called, provides forest owners, managers, and wood processors with powerful inventory information that will make management, harvesting, and wood processing decisions easier and more informed.
Using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and LiDAR, Forest Insights can accurately detect and identify stands of trees, quantify their volume and maturity over time, and track the history of planting and harvesting. This information gives users a comprehensive overview of the changing availability and growth of planted radiata pine forests, with plans to expand to other tree species and regions in the near future.
The prototype version of Forest Insights currently focuses on modelling east coast pine forests, but Scion has plans to provide the same data for a wider range of trees and regions, with Bay of Plenty being the next area of focus.
One of the key features of Forest Insights is its ability to automatically detect commercial radiata pine forests by their boundaries using trained AI models. This eliminates the need for manual polygon drawing, making the process much more efficient and time-saving.
Forest Insights also aims to level the playing field for smaller forest owners by allowing them to see where other small lots in their region are maturing at a similar time. This information can be used to potentially collaborate and negotiate better pricing from mills.
By utilizing satellite imagery and LiDAR data, Forest Insights can accurately detect different tree species, aligning with the government’s goal of having 20% non-radiata pine forests by 2030. The tool also has the potential to track forest activities and assess forest damage following natural disasters.
Overall, Forest Insights offers a holistic view of forest assets and provides industry and investors with crucial information for making well-informed decisions. This innovative tool is set to transform the way forestry management is conducted, allowing for greater efficiency, sustainability, and collaboration within the industry.
FAQ:
1. What is Forest Insights?
Forest Insights is an interactive tool developed by Scion in collaboration with Indufor Asia Pacific that provides powerful inventory information for the forestry industry to make management, harvesting, and wood processing decisions easier and more informed.
2. How does Forest Insights work?
Forest Insights utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and LiDAR to accurately detect and identify stands of trees, quantify their volume and maturity over time, and track the history of planting and harvesting.
3. What are the benefits of Forest Insights?
Forest Insights offers a comprehensive overview of the changing availability and growth of planted radiata pine forests. It levels the playing field for smaller forest owners, allows for collaboration and negotiation, and provides industry and investors with valuable information for making well-informed decisions.
4. Can Forest Insights detect different tree species?
Yes, Forest Insights has the ability to detect different tree species accurately, aligning with the government’s goal of having 20% non-radiata pine forests by 2030.
5. Can Forest Insights track forest activities and assess forest damage?
Yes, Forest Insights has the potential to track forest activities and assess forest damage following natural disasters, providing valuable insights for forestry management and recovery efforts.