How can you collaborate with other professionals in LiDAR drone forest inventory projects?

2 Choose the right LiDAR drone system

Depending on the project goals and scope, you will need to choose the right LiDAR drone system for your forest inventory. There are different types of LiDAR sensors and drones available, with different capabilities and limitations. You should consider factors such as the accuracy, resolution, range, coverage, and payload of the LiDAR sensor, as well as the flight time, endurance, speed, and maneuverability of the drone. You should also consult with your collaborators, especially the drone pilots and the data analysts, to ensure that the LiDAR drone system meets their needs and expectations.

3 Plan and execute the LiDAR drone flights

Once you have chosen the LiDAR drone system, you need to plan and execute the LiDAR drone flights in a safe and efficient manner. You should follow the best practices and regulations for drone operations, such as obtaining the necessary permits, conducting pre-flight checks, avoiding obstacles and interference, and monitoring the weather and battery conditions. You should also coordinate with your collaborators, especially the forest managers and the stakeholders, to ensure that the LiDAR drone flights cover the areas of interest and do not disturb the forest ecosystem or the human activities.

4 Process and analyze the LiDAR drone data

After you have collected the LiDAR drone data, you need to process and analyze it to extract meaningful information and insights. You should use appropriate software and tools to clean, filter, classify, and visualize the LiDAR point cloud data, and to derive forest metrics and indicators, such as tree height, diameter, density, volume, biomass, and health. You should also collaborate with your data analysts, who can apply advanced techniques and methods, such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and spatial statistics, to enhance the quality and accuracy of the LiDAR drone data analysis.

5 Report and share the LiDAR drone data results

The final step of any LiDAR drone forest inventory project is to report and share the results with your collaborators and stakeholders. You should prepare clear and concise reports that summarize the main findings and recommendations of the project, and that highlight the benefits and limitations of the LiDAR drone data. You should also use effective and engaging ways to present and share the LiDAR drone data results, such as maps, graphs, charts, images, videos, and interactive dashboards. You should also solicit feedback and suggestions from your collaborators and stakeholders, and discuss the potential applications and implications of the LiDAR drone data for forest management and conservation.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?