Sensors, measurement equipment

Festmeter Wöls Ltd. offers vitality analyses with regard to bark beetle detection in coniferous forests. Using the carrier systems multicopter or light aircraft, forest plots are flown over in a grid system and aerial photographs are taken with a special camera, which are later analysed and evaluated on the computer. The technology used makes vitality restrictions visible, changes in the water content of the needles can be seen, but not the exact cause, such as the bark beetle itself. However, since image series from at least two flights at different times are compared, many other causes such as drought stress can be excluded and the bark beetle can be traced very closely.  Initial trees are identified in the analysis, while the decision on necessary measures remains with the qualified on-site staff. A 100% hit rate is impossible. The aim should be to be able to act faster and more purposefully in the field. Long-standing customers report positive hit rates of over 80%. 

The threat of forests by various harmful microorganisms is growing due to changing climate conditions and spreading of non-native pathogens and pests.. Simultaneously the relevance of biological methods of monitoring and preventing forest degradation is increasing in the face of the chemical’s use restrictions. The main aim of the project is the development of an innovative device (electronic nose/ e-NOS), based on a matrix of broad-band electrochemical sensors and neural networks that would detect and analyse the odor-based signals e.g. pheromones of certain insect species. The examples of pathogens and pests addressed in the project include Dendrolimus Pini (L.) and Phytophthora oomycetes.
The developed system delivers comprehensive and complex information which allows to create a neural classifier (using artificial intelligence). The dedicated software was developed to perform the analysis of the data and create a database – library of signals, which will allow to detect the analytes sought in the field. For each application foreseen in the project (analysis of specific smells), dedicated sensory matrices were prepared.   

The Best Practice is addressing the challenge of soft terrains in harvesting.

It eases planning of harvesting locations and anticipating of harvesting of different forested areas. It considers only the static features of forest, not daily weather for example. However, bearing capacity in three different summer moisture condition classes is considered in the maps.

The material of the mainland Finland harvesting maps contains rasterized harvesting maps describing the terrain's bearing capacity. The capacity is classified in six categories. The maps tell when it is possible to go into the forest with the harvester. The material is free to use.

Forest stand inventory with the aid of the Smartphones capabilities (App). Easy, cheap and reliable tool for determining the most important dendrometer indicators (key figures of tree stands). Suitable for single tree measurement or stand inventories

Smartphones can be used as a good referencing tool for forest inventories and forest operation planning. Many further application developments and integrations thinkable

Easy and fast implementation of forest inventories and single tree measurement.
Possible determination of the base area (m2/ha) with or without the distinction of different tree species. Trunk rate (#/ha), stand height (m/ha), reserve of rough wood (m3/ha)