| Authors | n.n. |
| Country | Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland |
| Paper (PDF) | View paper |
| Category | Harvesting & Extraction › Remote sensing & mapping |
<img src="/f/project-regarding-the-felling-machine-of-the-future-positioning-laser-scanning-driver-guidance-tree-measurement.png" alt="project regarding "the felling machine of the future". Positioning, laser scanning; driver guidance, tree measurement" style="max-width:50%;border-radius:6px;margin:8px 0">
project still running
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Research and development projects focused on the felling machine of the future aim to integrate precise machine positioning, real-time laser scanning, automated driver guidance, and onboard tree measurement into a unified harvesting system that substantially reduces operator workload and improves operational precision. These projects — several of which have been conducted under Scandinavian forestry research programs involving partners such as the Skogforsk (Swedish Forest Research Institute), Stora Enso, and various university research groups — envision harvesters equipped with centimetre-accurate GNSS positioning, 3D LiDAR sensors scanning the surrounding stand, and processing systems that can automatically detect, locate, and characterise individual trees in real time. Driver guidance interfaces then present the operator with augmented reality or screen-based guidance showing which trees to fell, in what sequence, and along which approach paths, based on a pre-loaded silvicultural prescription and the live scanned environment. Simultaneously, the harvester head's onboard measurement system records the dimensions of each processed stem with high accuracy, contributing to a continuously updated digital inventory of the stand. A key goal of these projects is to close the loop between pre-harvest planning and actual harvesting execution — ensuring that thinning prescriptions are followed precisely, that log assortment decisions are optimised in real time against market requirements, and that the resulting stand data is automatically captured for future management planning. In the Australian context, where plantation harvesting increasingly demands both high productivity and detailed traceability, the technologies developed through such projects are highly relevant, particularly as the sector faces ongoing pressures around skilled operator availability and occupational health and safety in challenging terrain.
Enhances felling efficiency and reduces stand damage and accident risk through improved machine guidance.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Company | n.n. |
| Country | Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland |
| Type | Paper |
| Year | 2023-2025 |
| FWPA RD&E | 1.1 |
| Remarks | 0.0 |
| Case Studies | 0 |