Study visit (T2.3)

„WAVE ŠŠ“  is developed for the employees of forestry sector and licensed contractors. The aim of the application is to reduce the administrative burden on the economy and to speed up communication between forest owners, Ministry officials, lincensed contrators, and Christmas trees producers.

Application contains 4 main modules. First module covers remittance of trees and issuance of a tree receipt. Second modul encompass biological reforestation.Third modul is the planning modul which is used exclusively by employees of the Ministry, for coordinating current year work and planning work for the coming years. Fourth module applies to Christmas tree manufacturers. 

LogBuch ermöglicht Datenaggregation direkt im Wald, sowie eine einfache Auswertung und Weiterverarbeitung der Daten.  Die Kombination aus Sprachaufzeichnung und Bluetooth-Button ermöglicht es, freihändig Bäume präzise zu verorten und wichtige Informationen direkt am Baum aufzuzeichnen, wie z. B. Sicherheitshinweise oder Planungen zum Arbeitsverfahren. Die zu erwartende Hiebsmenge kann ermittelt und Sortimente geplant werden. Forstwirte und Harvesterfahrer erhalten detaillierte Informationen, die Vernetzung mit Drittsystemen wird unterstützt. Die Technologie: Ein 2-Frequenz-GNSS-Empfänger wird mit einem Smartphone verbunden, um die aktuelle Position zu ermitteln. Alle gesprochenen Informationen können aufgezeichnet, automatisch transkribiert und klassifiziert sowie die aktuelle Position hinterlegt werden. WLAN wird für den Datenaustausch zwischen Smartphone, Webserver und anderen Benutzern verwendet. Die Daten können als Karte oder Tabelle in georeferenzierten oder nicht referenzierten Formaten (xlsx, GeoJson, shp, GPX, map) exportiert werden. Anwendungen: Präzise Vorbereitung der Holzernte und Aufbau eines digitalen „Warenbestandes“ (Bsp.: „Wertholzkataster“), Flächenaufnahme für Forstförderung / Pflanzflächen durch Verbinden aufgenommener Eckpunkte, Kartierung von Rückegassen durch die Linienfunktion und Speicherung für die Steuerung der Holzernte oder als Zertifizierungsgrundlage, Jagdorganisation, Erfassung von Habitatbäumen etc., sowie Verkehrssicherung.

FOVEA offers an innovative all-in-one solution for digital logging of wood: With the “iFOVEA Pro” app, wooden piles of any size can be measured in a few minutes using the latest image processing technology. In addition, the forest management system (FMS) supports the inventory and logistics of wood quantities as extensive online software. The iFOVEA app provides different measurement methods depending on the requirements:

• Photo-optical measurement for plywood piles (number, solid cubic meters and cubic meters)
• Photo-optical measurement for industrial wood (outline and cubic meter)
• Photo-optical measurement for trucks (number, solid cubic meters and cubic meters)
• Data acquisition for long timber
• Manual section procedure with and without line sampling

The calculation of all measured values takes place directly on the smartphone or tablet and does not require an internet connection in the forest. With numerous configuration options, each measurement method can be individually adapted. With the Forest Management System (FMS), the measured data can be easily managed online. In addition to an extensive wood inventory, the system offers a map function and options for invoicing and automatic calculation of wood prices.

LogBuch enables data aggregation in the forest, a simple evaluation of the data and further processing.  The combination of voice recording and Bluetooth button enables hands-free precise location of trees with simultaneous recording of important information about the tree, such as safety instructions or planning working procedures. The expected cut volume can be determined, and assortments planned. Foresters and harvester operators both receive detailed information (cross-linking with third party systems is supported). Technology: An A 2-frequency GNSS-receiver is connected to a smartphone to estimate the current position. A bluetooth button is used for language analysis. All spoken information can be recorded, automatically transcribed and classified, and the actual position lodged. WLAN is used for data exchange between smartphone, webserver and other users. Data can be exported as a map or table in georeferenced or not referenced formats (xlsx, GeoJson, shp, GPX, map). Applications: Preparation of timber harvesting, establishment of a digital "inventory", area mapping (also planting) by connecting recorded corner points, mapping of skid trails by the line function (harvest control or certification basis), remote navigation via Google Maps. In addition, recording of habitat trees etc., support for hunting organization (high seats, driven hunt stands, stalking routes etc.) and traffic safety measures.

The aim of the project was to work out the complex method of defining selected forest stand descriptions as well as aboveground biomass and carbon sequestration, based on the use of remote sensing for the purposes of forest management planning.

Among main goals were:

• acquisition and processing of remote sensing, laboratory and field data,
• determining the amount of biomass and carbon in the forest based on radar data,
• development of methods for the inventory of selected stand descriptions, growing stock and biomass with the use of active remote sensing techniques,
• local correction of dendrometric volume equations based on terrestrial laser scanning data (TLS),
• development of the merchantable volume conversion factors into biomass and carbon.

Results of the project allow to: reduce time needed to carry out the work of the forest management, especially inventory of growing stock; obtain higher accuracy of the CO₂ balance, biomass and annual allowable cut calculations; determine growing stock for any forest area; reduce cost of field work in forest management.

The Center of Excellence for Forestry 4.0 is developing Industry 4.0 digitalization concepts for the forest and wood cluster. The driving force behind this approach is a closely cooperating working group of companies, research centers and the Forestry Education Center  North-Rhine Westphalia as a practical testbed.New, intelligent and decentrally acting machines, devices, services and people, will enable the cluster to optimize its complex value-added networks, develop new business models and meet current challenges from ecology, economy and climate change. Existing approaches address the complexity of structures and processes, and the conflicting demands on forest management only insufficiently. To "smartify" the forest and wood cluster, existing competencies from industry, science and administration must be bundled: The goal of KWH4.0 is to create a know-how base and infrastructures, and to implement forest and wood 4.0 components via innovative Smart Forest Labs. The Smart Forest Labs serve as experimental forestry laboratories in which developed components, systems and processes are tested, standardization advanced, concepts disseminated, and actors trained. Developed concepts and standards are continuously published as practical recommendations, a first version of the communication infrastructure S3I (Internet of Things application) has been established. In addition, there is an increasingly smart fleet: forestry machines have been upgraded to retrieve digital information (GPS position, fuel consumption, production data, etc.) and at the same time networked via alternative radio standards with machines in regions where mobile communication is not possible.