Discover ProX PC for best custom-built PCs, powerful workstations, and GPU servers in India. Perfect for creators, professionals, and businesses. Shop now!
SERVICES
Discover ProX PC for best custom-built PCs, powerful workstations, and GPU servers in India. Perfect for creators, professionals, and businesses. Shop now!
Contents
In the past centuries, we saw an increase in deforestation activities such as cutting down trees for wood, extraction of natural resources, and clearing of forests to construct factories and houses. As a result of these activities, natural forests are decreasing at an alarming rate.
Forests provide a home to over 80% of terrestrial species of that world, oxygen to breathe, and maintain ecological balance by supporting biodiversity, moreover, they also provide essential resources and livelihoods for millions of people worldwide.
However, the health and sustainability of these vital ecosystems are increasingly under threat from deforestation, climate change, and unsustainable management practices. Governments worldwide, and independent organizations have taken notice of this and joined hands to counter deforestation and climate change. However, some hurdles stop this from happening.
About us: ProX PC is the end-to-end computer vision platform. With ProX PC, it becomes possible for enterprises to start using machine learning without a single line of code. Book a demo with us to learn more.
ProX PC
Forestry management is a difficult task and hence faces numerous challenges. As forest lands are vast and often inaccessible, they are labor-intensive and time-consuming, and manual data collection is extremely difficult, as a result accurately assessing forest conditions throws us with various challenges.
AI in forestry provides a way to transform and revolutionize how we monitor, manage, and protect our forests. By using satellite imagery, and drones, we can use computer vision to process and analyze visual data faster and at scale, leading to better forestry management.
Image
Image Classification –source
Analyzing Data from Drones
Image
Aerial Photography using drones –source
When drones are combined with high-resolution cameras and sensors, they can capture detailed images and videos of forested areas and go to places where it’s difficult for humans. By combining computer vision algorithms and drones we can:
Leveraging Satellite Imagery
Image
Satellite image of forest –source
Satellites provide a top view of vast forested regions and capture images at regular intervals. These images combined with Computer Vision (CV) can help with:
Image
Classification of harvested areas, new plantings, and areas of low stocking using satellite imagery –source
Monitor Forest Fires: CV can detect the early signs of forest fires, such as smoke and heat signatures, which enables providing rapid response and minimizing damage.
Ground Vehicles
Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV), when equipped with cameras and sensors, can navigate through forests, and capture detailed images and data from the forest floor. Computer vision applications then use this data to:
Key Applications of AI in Forestry
1. Tree Species Identification
Different tree species have varying ecological roles, attributes, growth rates, wood qualities, economic values, and conservation statuses. As a result, identifying tree species is a crucial part of forestry solutions.
Drones fly over forested areas and capture detailed images of tree canopies from various angles. Then, researchers process these images using computer vision algorithms to detect features such as leaf shape, color, texture, and branching patterns.
Moreover, researchers use special cameras equipped with spectral and hyperspectral imaging capabilities to identify species based on their species-specific spectral signatures.
2. Forest Inventory and Analysis
Using computer vision, researchers automate the process of counting trees. This provides a detailed inventory of forest resources and tracks changes in their numbers, which helps assess afforestation or deforestation.
Imshr
Computer Vision in a Forest Environment –source
Moreover, we can also perform:
3. Wildlife Monitoring
Using object detection algorithms in forestry AI, we can identify, and count wildlife species present in a forest. Moreover, we can also perform:
4. Sustainable Forest Health Monitoring
Image
Tree health classification –source
Forests are vulnerable to various threats such as diseases, pest infestations, and environmental damage. Early detection and intervention are essential for prevention and conservation.
A wide range of sensors coupled with drones and satellites capture high-resolution images of forest canopies and help with health analysis. The data gathered is then fed to state-of-the-art CV models (YOLO, EfficientNet, MobileNet) to detect signs of disease and pest infestations:
Image
Near-infrared band assisting in highlighting the differences in crop vigor –source
5. Deforestation Detection and Prevention
Image
Detecting deforestation –source
Deforestation has an impact on global forests, which results in loss of biodiversity, disruption of ecosystems, and contribution to climate change through increased carbon emissions. The adverse effects of climate change are visible all around the globe, with increased sea levels, irregular rains, increased forest fires, and unexpected weather changes.
All these can be prevented by reducing deforestation. The use of AI in forestry drastically helps with controlling deforestation by detecting illegal logging.
The images of forests captured by satellites at regular intervals provide a continuous stream of data and monitoring. These images are then fed to AI models that analyze the images to detect changes in forest cover.
Image
Deforestation analysis –source
One of the major problems encountered is illegal deforestation. The application of AI in forestry can detect anomalies in forest cover to help prevent illegal activities such as forest clearing or burning.
These systems offer real-time monitoring of forest cover changes, as they generate alerts when suspicious activities are detected. This enables authorities to take swift action against illegal activities.
6. Biomass Estimation and Carbon Sequestration
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activities. These greenhouse gases lead to global warming and hence climate change. Plans absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere and store it in the form of biomass. As a result, forests play a crucial role in carbon storage and climate regulation by reducing the amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.
Image
Forest carbon storage –source
Accurate estimation of forest biomass and carbon sequestration is crucial for climate change prevention, as they have a direct impact. Biomass and carbon sequestration data play an important role in shaping policy decisions and international agreements related to carbon credits and emissions reductions.
Computer Vision performs this. By combining CV models with LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology, we can precisely estimate forest biomass and carbon storage. LiDAR sensors use laser pulses to create detailed 3D maps of forest structures. By mounting this sensor on drones or aircraft, researchers can capture data on tree height, canopy density, and forest floor topography.
Image
LiDAR sensor image –source
CV models process the LiDAR data to estimate biomass and carbon storage using:
7. Wildfire Detection and Forest Management
Image
Fire Detection –source
The number of wildfires has been increasing recently due to climate change, prolonged droughts, and emissions by human activities. Wildfires are a threat to not only the forests, but also the animals, and humans living nearby. Computer vision combined with thermal imaging and real-time monitoring systems using drones and satellites is the solution for reducing and managing wildfires.
These systems continuously monitor forested areas for signs of wildfires using heat detection. Thermal imaging can identify hotspots and areas where temperature increases in the forests, this can indicate the possibility of wildfires. Moreover, infrared images can also be used to detect smoke and plumes in the air.
Image
UAV model based forest fire detection system –source
Moreover, CV can also be used for fire predictions.
8. Soil Erosion Conservation
We can identify areas prone to erosion by analyzing topographical changes from Lidar sensor data. Moreover, by using AI in forestry and multispectral imaging we can monitor soil health.
9. Seedling Detection and Monitoring
Conclusion
In this blog, we looked at the different practical applications of Computer Vision in forestry management. We saw how AI in forestry is revolutionizing the way we monitor and protect our forests. When coupled with drones, LiDAR sensors, multispectral imaging, and satellite images, CV can be used for tree species identification, forest inventory analysis, health monitoring of trees, Deforestation Detection and Prevention, and Biomass Estimation.
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to advance, we can expect more useful and accurate tools for monitoring and managing our forests. These innovations will enable us to address the pressing challenges of deforestation, climate change, and biodiversity loss more effectively. Moreover, organizations such as the World Resources Institute (WRI), created in the United States are relentlessly working towards a more sustainable future.
Related Products
Share this: