Digital tools in modern forestry
Drone, GPS and data as part of the toolkit
One of the competency objectives in the education is that you can apply digital technologies and tools and solve tasks with a digital perspective. It reflects a development where forestry is increasingly using data to support decisions that were previously made by eye alone.
§Drones mapping the forest
Drones are used today as an alternative to satellite imagery to map forest and nature areas. With a drone you can quickly collect vegetation data, make 3D height models of forest and nature and automate tree counting, which gives a much more detailed background for planning than before.
§Multispectral cameras detect problems early
With multispectral cameras mounted on drones you can perform vegetation analyses that detect stress disease or nutrient deficiency in the vegetation before it becomes visible to the naked eye. This provides a more precise decision base for where and when action should be taken.
§GPS and digital mapping in daily work
GPS-based positioning is used to mark drainage, document completed work and navigate precisely in large or unfamiliar areas. Digital maps and registration systems make it possible to collect information about a stand's history in one place, so decisions about care and felling can be based on an up-to-date data foundation.
- 01Drone-based mapping of vegetation and natural areas
- 02Multispectral analysis for early detection of stress and disease
- 03GPS registration of completed work and locations
- 04Digital maps as a common basis for operations planning
§Data as the basis for decision-making
Digital documentation is also becoming an increasingly important part of certification work under FSC and PEFC where data on implemented measures must be demonstrable and traceable. The better documentation the easier it is to prove that operations meet the standards it is certified to.
“The best digital tool is still only as good as the professional judgment it supports.”