¶ reforestation planning device compromising a data acquisition unit and a reforestation instruction unit
| Patent holder | Komatsu Mfg Co Ltd |
| Patent link | View patent |
| Category | Planning & Inventory › Remote sensing & mapping |
Reforestation planning device, reforestation system and reforestation planning method
¶ Overview
A reforestation planning device comprising a data acquisition unit and a reforestation instruction unit is a purpose-built or software-defined system that combines the collection of site-specific environmental and spatial data with the generation of prescriptive planting instructions tailored to those conditions, enabling more precise and outcomes-focused reforestation operations. The data acquisition unit component gathers information relevant to reforestation planning — which may include soil type, slope, aspect, moisture regime, existing vegetation cover, erosion risk, proximity to seed sources, and historical land use — drawing on onboard sensors, connected field instruments, GPS receivers, and integration with remote sensing datasets such as satellite imagery or airborne LiDAR. The reforestation instruction unit then processes this acquired data, typically using decision-support algorithms or rule sets derived from silvicultural knowledge, to generate site-specific planting prescriptions: recommended species, seedling type, planting density, spacing pattern, site preparation method, and timing. This architecture reflects a shift from standardised, area-wide reforestation prescriptions toward adaptive, spatially variable approaches that match planting decisions to the actual conditions of each part of a site, improving the efficiency of resource use and the ecological outcomes of restoration. In a patent and innovation context, this type of device has been the subject of intellectual property filings seeking to protect the integration of real-time data capture with automated prescription generation as a distinct technological contribution to reforestation practice. In the Australian context, such systems are relevant to both commercial plantation re-establishment — where site variability influences species and density choices — and to large-scale environmental reforestation under biodiversity and carbon programs, where getting species selection and planting conditions right is critical to long-term canopy establishment and carbon sequestration outcomes across heterogeneous landscapes.
¶ Assessment
A helpful decision-support tool that improves planning for reforestation and reduces the risk of regeneration failure, though benefits depend on implementation quality.
¶ Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Company | Komatsu Mfg Co Ltd |
| Type | Patent |
| Year | 18/4/23 |
| Status | Pending |
| FWPA RD&E | 7.4 |
| Inventors | Togashi Ryoichi, UeModel Mitsuru |
| Patent No. | EP 4494456 A1 |