Finnish forest owners can now monitor the general state of their property, the health of their trees and whether it’s time to harvest on the web.
The online service has been launched by the Tapio Forestry Development Centre. It is based on airborne surveillance of forestry using laser measuring and GPS location technology.
It can assess data on tree species in a given area, and even drill down to individual tree dimensions and potential timber volume.
Currently, said Tapio’s Suvi Karjula, forests are surveyed on the ground in this sort of detail in Finland roughly every nine years.
“The web service will provide information between these rather rare reports,” she said. “And forest owners can also update the system themselves about the condition of their holding or felling activity.”
The system updates users on opportunities for harvesting, detailing volumes available and keeping them up to date on any protected nature reserves in neighbouring forest areas to help ensure these are not accidentally damaged.
“The service is a springboard for more exact planning and it also sends out reminders on silvicultural measures that should be taken at particular times,” said Ms Karjula.
Users of the online system have to pay an annual subscription, but printed reports it generates are free.
