Phone-based measurement algorithm to assess forest health

Assessing the health of forests using rapid phone-based measurement algorithm is the next step forward for forest remote sensing research.
Measuring tree diameter is critical to monitoring forest health and carbon sequestration levels. Streamlining this process allows scientists to determine the health of a forest and understand the effects on the wider forest ecosystem.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have developed an algorithm that provides an accurate measurement of tree diameter using low-cost, low-resolution LiDAR sensors incorporated into mobile devices. This novel approach provides accurate and timely results compared to previous manual measurement techniques.

In this study, the researchers developed the algorithm to accurately measure trees almost five times faster than traditional methods.
The research, published in Remote Sensing, discusses how the highly valuable automated measurement technique advances scientists’ ability to calculate a wide range of tree variability efficiently.

Previous manual methods to discover how much carbon a forest is sequestering are hugely valuable, but also time-consuming, explains first author Amelia Holcomb from Cambridge’s Department of Computer Science and Technology.
“We wanted to develop an algorithm that could be used in more natural forests, and that could deal with things like low-hanging branches, or trees with natural irregularities,” said Holcomb.
The researchers collected their own dataset and trained the algorithm to differentiate trunks from larger branches and determine tree angle of lean using image processing and computer vision techniques. The algorithm app was tested in three different study sites – one each in the UK, US and Canada – in varying seasons.
Since the measurement tool requires no specialised training and uses sensors that are already incorporated into an increasing number of phones, it could be an accurate, low-cost tool for forest measurement, even in complex forest conditions.

This research represents an important advancement in forest management and conservation efforts. The algorithm provides a practical solution to enable faster and more accurate measurements of forest health, helping to ensure forests continue to play a crucial role in mitigating climate change. The researchers plan to make the phone-based algorithm publicly accessible for Android devices in the near future.

If you're interested in learning more about this research, you can access the paper published in Remote Sensing here: https://bit.ly/3MfhBT2

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