Drones outfitted with cutting-edge technology are increasingly being used in scientific efforts to better understand and monitor forests, particularly in the context of climate change.
Drones are being used by scientists to collect data on forest composition, size, and health, which are critical criteria in calculating their capacity to absorb carbon dioxide—the primary contributor to climate change. On-the-ground surveys, for example, can be time-consuming and potentially detrimental to the ecology.
Drones, which can assess height, girth, and wood density, are a non-invasive and efficient alternative. Drones produce 3D models of forests by capturing high-resolution photos, which scientists use to study forest structure and health. This method is very beneficial for assessing a tree's absorptive capacity without having to go into the forest.
Drones' inability to look below the canopy is a severe constraint. Researchers use LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology to scan the entire forest, reconstructing the shape and size of each tree. Scientists collect data on leaf litter and soil in addition to monitoring trees, realizing that a forest's carbon potential extends beyond its trees.
Researchers in Thailand, for example, are combining drone-mounted LiDAR with improved soil analysis to get more precise estimates of a forest's carbon storage capacity. The advancement of technology such as LiDAR, as well as the planned launch of the European Space Agency's Biomass satellite, demonstrates the increasing precision in monitoring and comprehending forests in the fight against climate change.
As the need to quantify forest carbon capacity grows, technical developments will be critical in delivering precise and reliable data for informed decision-making and global climate action.
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Technology is a useful servant, but a dangerous master, it was rightly said. Electronic devices have grown into an inevitable part of our daily lives.
