ForestTECH is the annual technology series run by FIEA for Australasia’s senior resource managers and inventory foresters. It’s the one event each year that continues to draw in specialist forestry staff from both countries.

Key researchers, technology providers and forest owners also take up the opportunity to build in client meetings, workshops and discussion groups around both the New Zealand and Australian events to capitalize on the “once a year” turnout.

In 2014, the ForestTECH event profiled new developments in remote sensing and analytical tools for forestry companies, the operational use of airborne and terrestrial LiDAR and its integration into forest inventory and planning systems, developments in new satellite imagery and results from UAV trials collecting high-resolution spatial datasets for forestry companies.

ForestTECH 2015 attracted over 250 to the series in November 2015. The programme was designed to build on the operational trials profiled in late 2014.

New data collection technologies including satellite imagery, UAV platforms, airborne and terrestrial LiDAR, harvester information, in-field sensors and improved field data collection and reporting are increasingly being introduced to forestry operations.

Leading communications and resource specialists bought in for the series demonstrated and discussed how local foresters’ could best handle the increasing volumes of data being collected out in the field.

Advanced and faster processing systems are required to handle “big data” with the information now being made available, often in real time, to multiple users. Speedy development of digital gadgets like smartphones and tablets and improved connectivity has changed how forestry companies are collecting and managing data to improve their operations.

Forestry apps and the development of mobile forestry applications continue to rise exponentially – from measurement of wood volumes out in the field through to scheduling and logistics of wood flows.

ForestTECH 2015 provided local forestry companies with a timely overview of data collection tools, systems for better managing and analyzing this information and forestry apps that have been developed, are available, and are adding value to forestry companies around the world right now.