Scanning forests with lasers can provide three-dimensional models of forests, creating a unique way to look at these ecosystems. Researchers at the University of Helsinki are pioneers in applying this technical solution to measuring ecosystems.
The technique, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), opens up new opportunities in measuring forest structure, monitoring disturbances and simulating ecosystems.
“TLS provides us with a new way of looking at forests – not just from above, but from within,” says associate professor Eduardo Maeda from the University of Helsinki. “It helps us understand tree growth, forest responses to disturbances, and the effects of forest structure on biodiversity and capacity for recovery.”
Researchers have applied the TLS technique in ecosystems across the world, from Southeast Asia to the Amazon. In Finland, research has provided new information about the effects of forest management on forest structure and growth, supporting increasingly sustainable practices and national forest monitoring.
