Successful Implementation of the ‘LIFT Forest – eVTOL AI’ – Watch the Video for More Insights!

The project stands out for its use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, equipped with advanced sensing systems such as 3D LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) to create highly detailed and accurate digital twin of forested areas. A digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical environment, which in this case, enables forest managers to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the forest’s structure, health, and biomass distribution.

The primary objective of this project is to support the efficient and sustainable management of forests by offering an unprecedented level of precision in monitoring forest conditions. The ability to visualize and measure forest biomass – a key indicator of forest health and carbon storage potential – can significantly improve decision-making processes, contributing to better environmental stewardship and resource management.

A major milestone was reached when a successful demonstration flight was conducted in the Fala area.

During this flight, a portion of the forest was surveyed using the drone, which captured detailed data about the terrain and tree cover. This data was then processed and analyzed using specialized software, which allowed the team to visualize the results in a comprehensive viewer. The viewer enables users to take precise measurements and display various outputs, including vector layers that map out different features of the forest, and classified point clouds, which represent the three-dimensional structure of the forest.

The processed data provided valuable insights into the forest biomass present in the surveyed area. Using this information, the project team was able to calculate the amount of wood biomass in the test region. These calculations are crucial for generating reports that can inform forest management strategies, including timber harvesting, conservation efforts, and carbon sequestration planning.