The It4forest team is pleased to announce the publication of a significant research article titled “Digital Forest Inventory Using Fused UAV and PLS Point Cloud Data”. This new study showcases a novel approach to forest inventory by combining UAV-based LiDAR (ULS) and personal laser scanner (PLS) data.

The study evaluated the effectiveness of a fused dataset that combines UAV-based LiDAR (ULS) and personal laser scanner (PLS) data. This fusion intended to overcome the specific limitations associated with each platform. A mixed forest stand in northeastern Germany was surveyed using both ULS and PLS technologies under consistent scanning patterns. This approach allowed for a comprehensive assessment of the forest’s vertical structure. The results indicate that the combined use of ULS and PLS data significantly improves the accuracy of forest inventories, providing a more detailed understanding of forest composition and structure. The findings of this research are crucial for advancing sustainable forest management practices, as accurate forest inventories are essential for effective planning and resource management.

This article, authored by Ramazan Bülbül and Stefan Reder, Ferréol Berendt, Kevin Beiler, Tobias Cremer, and Jan-Peter Mund from the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development.

Suggested citation title:

Ramazan Bülbül, Stefan Reder, Ferréol Berendt, Kevin Beiler, Tobias Cremer, and Jan-Peter Mund:  Digital Forest Inventory Using Fused UAV and PLS Point Cloud Data

https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLVIII-M-7-2025-299-2025

Keywords: forest, lidar, inventory, uls, remote sensing