In an era of dynamic development of artificial intelligence, innovative technologies are finding ever broader applications, successfully entering new fields. One area where the achievements of AI researchers are beginning to benefit environmental protection is forestry. In light of this trend, the research center IDEAS NCBR joined forces with experts to initiate an inspiring debate.

Artificial intelligence supports forest protection: Innovative precision forestry solutions implemented by scientists from IDEAS NCBR

Precision forestry: new tools

In the IDEAS NCBR research team led by Prof. Krzysztof Stereńczak, scientists focus on developing precision forestry technologies. Their goal is to create an AI-based tool that will enable the detection, description, and measurement of the characteristics of individual trees using remote sensing data. The main challenge, however, is not creating devices for remote imaging of trees, as such solutions exist and are becoming increasingly common. The key here is ensuring automatic data processing that will provide reliable information suitable for forestry specialists. The scientists want to develop a tool that will enable the integration of tree data in specific areas, such as a stand, forest, or park, for effective nature protection and forest management.

The research team is also working on developing methods for precise measurement of tree biometric features, such as volume, height, or health condition, as well as on tree species recognition. Thanks to these efforts, many activities previously performed in the field will now be automated. The results of these measurements will be automatically integrated with systems already used in forestry. In addition, artificial intelligence is to support predicting the deterioration of the health of specific trees through the analysis of data such as the presence of parasites on the trunk, which will be collected using close-range remote sensing.

Artificial intelligence revolutionizes nature protection and forest management

Automation of measurements and protection

The breakthrough in nature protection and forest management is visible thanks to the use of new technologies that significantly increase the efficiency of foresters' work. In the past, tree measurement was carried out, among other things, using calipers and simple height meters, and manual description required time and labor. Now, however, thanks to the use of innovative tools such as drones, GPS transmitters, or laser scanners, the measurement process has become more precise, faster, and more accurate.

The results of these measurements are of great importance for many tasks related to environmental protection. This information is valuable in planning plantings, managing invasive species, and shaping the biodiversity of forests. By implementing artificial intelligence in forestry, scientists from IDEAS NCBR and other specialists in this field have noticed that this solution not only saves foresters' working time, but above all provides precise and reliable data based on a much larger amount of information than that obtained in the traditional way.

Prof. Krzysztof Stereńczak emphasizes that interdisciplinary cooperation in research is the key to achieving the assumed goals. The use of artificial intelligence in forestry, which until recently was unusual, has now become an extremely beneficial tool. AI enables better protection of the natural values of forests and allows more effective management of how they are developed.

Experts on the role of AI in forestry

According to Dr. Eng. Marek Ksepko, director of the Białystok Branch of the Bureau of Forest Management and Forest Geodesy, the foundation of precise modeling and forecasting of the development of forests and the natural environment is reliable knowledge. Modern inference methods based on artificial intelligence techniques are crucial in the analysis of huge and multi-source data sets. This makes it possible to draw conclusions and discover relationships between various elements of the environment, which opens new perspectives for the protection and sustainable management of the natural environment. The development of computational techniques allows these methods to be used today, which is a true revolution in thinking about nature and constitutes a kind of "support for our brains."

Concepts from the article

AI — Artificial Intelligence. A set of methods and systems performing tasks usually requiring human reasoning, learning, perception, or content generation. In HEXX AI CMS, it includes language models, document analysis, and automations.

Why it matters: It takes over repetitive tasks — transcriptions, descriptions, translations, selection — and shortens the path from idea to publication. In an editorial office, this means more time for work a machine cannot do: evaluation, contacts, decisions.

When it is used: For generating and editing content, document analysis, transcription, translation, and automating the flow of materials.

What happens if it is omitted: Without AI, the team manually performs mass work (photo descriptions, language versions, summaries), while competitors publish faster and more cheaply.

Summary

Scientists from IDEAS NCBR under the leadership of Prof. Krzysztof Stereńczak are developing artificial intelligence tools for precise measurement of trees, diseases, and species from remote sensing data. Thanks to automation, foresters will gain more time and more accurate analyses, which supports planting planning and biodiversity protection.

Experts emphasize that modern inference methods make it possible to discover relationships in multi-source data, opening new perspectives for forest management.