The challenges faced by companies and practitioners in the fields of arboriculture and forestry are numerous – and grow more complicated with every passing year. Whether battling against climate change, diseases or pest damage, woodlands and trees are under threat. Many experts suggest investing in new technology is the way forward, helping this exciting and vital land-based industry preserve and protect greenery through the cultivation of more efficient and sustainable practices.

Thanks to the rapid pace of change in the tech sector, major shifts are enabling new and important ways of managing and monitoring the very areas which need help most – as well as creating safer working environments for all.

The New Age of Forestry and Arboriculture

New challenges in arboriculture and forestry call for an equally new take on how to rise to meet these issues. By utilising the very best of the technology world, professionals in this sector can enjoy increased mapping capabilities on a level they might not have previously anticipated. One of the most exciting areas of development is within the satellite and remote sensing technology, originally designed to help map outer space, not the Earth’s forests. California’s satellite firm Planet currently uses 149 micro-satellites to help gain a better understanding of the factors affecting the earth, and in the case of forestry, it is hoped this data will enable fast identification of dangers to forests from illegally chopping down trees and the speedy prevention of widespread fires.

Whilst full implementation is some years off, by 2021 the European Space Agency will have launched Biomass, a new satellite that promises to provide unheard-of levels of detail within the Earth’s orbit. This technology will be able to capture data on tree trunk density and reach far below the forest canopy, tracking the landmass and wood coverage within the world’s forests. During a three-year mission, the Biomass operation will create complex 3D maps to help scientists gain a better understanding of eight critical growing cycles.

Essential Tech for the Forestry Toolkit

Satellite technology might represent the future of wide-scale forest mapping, but day-to-day forestry and arboriculture use significantly more ‘down to earth’ tech to get the job done. There are a plethora of techie kits available, such as the Postex Positioning System, designed to aid the follow up of individual tree studies in long term evaluations. This clever tech allows just one person to measure and electronically capture a wide range of data and calculations, making it ideal for inventories, as well as reliably created alongside leading scientists and research institutes, for peace of mind and effectiveness. In addition, the latest digital survey equipment allows foresters to gain a better understanding of any problems which could be lurking beneath a tree’s façade, and decay detection equipment from trusted manufacturers such as IML and PICUS combine both decades of experience and the latest technical innovations to ensure full and thorough decay inspections – perfect for helping experienced professionals conduct more efficient surveys and forestry works.