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US$36m raised for drone reforestation efforts

In Issue60 by FIEALeave a Comment

Fire seasons are now longer and the destruction more intense, as fires burn hotter and spread to more drought-stricken ground. Since the start of this year, 32,247 wildfires have burned over 3.3 million acres in the United States, according to the National Interagency Fire Centre. An early start to the season, and an especially brutal beginning in New Mexico, puts …

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NZ’s forest cover change being mapped

In Issue60 by FIEALeave a Comment

Microsoft and New Zealand Crown Research Institute, Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, are teaming up to develop improved detection of land use and forest cover change in New Zealand. Microsoft says its AI for Good team will work with Manaaki Whenua’s Remote Sensing team to develop models and methods to assess and monitor changes in land use and land cover at …

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Australia’s first 4D digital mapping project

In Issue60 by FIEALeave a Comment

Tasmania to get 4D digital twin with Virtual Tas using laser scanning and image capture technology Enzen Australia and 42-24, a TasNetworks’ subsidiary business, have launched Virtual Tas, a joint venture which will undertake annual statewide aerial captures of Tasmania to create a 4D Digital Twin. Using laser scanning and image capture technology, along with the ability to model and …

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NSW planting efforts doubling in size this year

In Issue60 by FIEALeave a Comment

Key points: 6.5 million trees will be planted around Tumut and Tumbarumba by the end of August Planting efforts have doubled to help the timber industry recover from the Black Summer bushfires One third of the area’s total plantation was lost in the fires More than 100 crew members are out in cold, wet and sometimes snowy conditions, to plant …

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Precision Forestry: A forest of one

In Issue60 by FIEALeave a Comment

A single tree does not make a forest – just yet. Scion is developing and testing a range of precision forestry technologies with Hawke’s Bay forestry company Pan Pac Forest Products in New Zealand to make a ‘forest of one’ a reality sooner rather than later. A forest of one means that we are effectively able to apply forestry management …

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Ultra-long range hydraulic drone lifts serious weight

In Issue60, Video by FIEALeave a Comment

A unique heavy-lift UAV out of Edinburgh promises to obliterate the power and range of electric drones using a Rotax engine and bent-axis hydraulic motors similar to those used on huge tree harvesters. It’s now lifting 95 kg in testing. Flowcopter promises an extraordinary 900 km of range and more than six hours of endurance, as well as a huge …

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Soaring demand for trees to offset Australia’s emissions

In Issue60 by FIEALeave a Comment

From 50 trees to 2.8 million. That has been the trajectory for Lisa McCreery’s native tree nursery since it was set up 43 years ago by her parents outside Tammin in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt. “Mum started off with 40 or 50 trees,” Mrs McCreery said. “That’s how I got my pocket money, just working in the nursery, my sisters and …

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Monitoring system for sensitive environments

In Issue60 by FIEALeave a Comment

The conservation and restoration of remnant native woodlands and wetlands to enhance biodiversity and ensure the sustainability of habitats is a priority for many agencies. The task, however, of monitoring and reporting on numerous small areas located on private land across the landscape regularly is onerous. This article introduces a monitoring framework developed in collaboration with Waikato Regional Council’s (WRC) …

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Drones – heading towards a futuristic vision

In Issue60 by FIEALeave a Comment

The role of drones is growing rapidly in various industries, including inspection, surveillance and time-critical transport. Fast, long-flying and cost-effective drones can cope with challenging environments. Technological developments and active research open up new avenues for them. Automatic drones are rapidly becoming part of transport systems in various industries. They have great potential, for example, in construction and aerial surveillance …