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METSÄ GROUP AND COLLECTIVECRUNCH EMPOWER FOREST OWNERS
Metsä Group and CollectiveCrunch have teamed up to release an innovative solution that equips forest owners with detailed and timely information about potential threats in forests. “Bark beetles and storm damages pose significant threats to forest health, resulting in substantial economic and ecological consequences,” said Jarkko Lipponen, co-founder and CEO of CollectiveCrunch. “Detecting the early signs of bark beetles, and monitoring changes such as storm damage in near real- time, is vital for forest owners to take swift and appropriate actions to mitigate their impact.” In response to this critical need, the joint effort that was initiated in December 2022 (ttjonline December 20, 2022) has culminated in the development of an advanced AI-based solution that enables an early detection of bark beetle outbreaks and near real-time monitoring of storm damages in forest ecosystems. By analysing a combination of various
data sets, the AI-powered solution detects subtle patterns and anomalies associated with bark beetle infestations. It allows forest owners to access near real-time information and precise location-based insights to effectively combat the risks posed by bark beetles and storm damage. “The solution developed through the collaboration between Metsä Group and CollectiveCrunch goes beyond detecting bark beetle outbreaks and storm damages.
It also has the capability to identify forest areas under stress, providing forest owners with valuable information about ecosystem health and risks,” said Mr Lipponen. “The solution can detect dead trees, enabling a deeper understanding of the biodiversity values within forests. By comprehensively assessing the condition of forests, this technology empowers forest owners to make informed decisions regarding sustainable forest management practices, while promoting the preservation of vital biodiversity and ecological balance.” “By combining data with CollectiveCrunch’s AI capabilities, we are empowering forest owners with the tools they need to protect their valuable resources,” said Olli Leino, digitalisation director at Metsä Group. “Forest owners can now proactively identify areas vulnerable to bark beetle outbreaks, including influences from storm damages. With early detection, prompt action can be taken, preserving the health and productivity of forests while ensuring sustainable management practices. The ability to detect and address these threats efficiently brings significant value to forest owners, safeguarding their investments and contributing to the long-term resilience of forest ecosystems.” Metsä Group is currently finalising
integrations and piloting the product. Customers will be able to access
the product through Metsä Group’s application starting in August. “The collaboration between Metsä
Group and CollectiveCrunch highlights the power of industry – leading expertise and technological advancements in addressing the pressing challenges faced by the forestry sector,” said Mr Lipponen. “We are delighted to provide forest owners with a solution that enables them to carry through their commitment to responsible and efficient forest management.” ■
Above: Forest owners can now proactively identify areas vulnerable to bark beetle outbreaks
possibility of emotional bias or subjectivity, which can impact an evaluator’s results, even changing from day to day. Whether an owner needs to verify stand volume, timber assortment, tree lists, carbon capacity or any other metric, they can get there faster with AI analysis.
While current AI solutions focus on analytics and don’t make recommendations for actions, the granularity they provide enables forest managers to work smarter and increases the validity of their conclusions and decisions.
There are many uses for timberland today, and all of them require awareness of past, present and future conditions and market needs. As demand for carbon credits increases from global corporations aiming to offset emissions, more accurate forest inventories
may actually make those forests more valuable, as we are already seeing doubts arise about the validity and effects of some carbon credit claims due to faulty data. When it comes to concerns about forest fire dangers and prevention, today’s leading forest analysis services like CollectiveCrunch can provide valuable stressor measurements including dryness levels.
Forest analysis services can also track and predict the threat posed by bark beetles, which scientists say is being exacerbated by warmer winters and longer summers that improve beetle survival and reproduction as well as reduce trees’ ability to counter outbreaks. Predicting the risk of such outbreaks involves multi-year stress analysis to predict the vulnerability of trees. Doing this at a scale of millions of acres is a significant
challenge that CollectiveCrunch recently mastered.
Given all of the obstacles forest managers face to accurately measure their stocks, it seems inevitable that traditional boots-on- the-ground methods of data collection will be supplanted by digital tools that guarantee specific degrees of accuracy. As forest management AI continues to improve and developers add features and enhancements to their services, they will likely deliver new insights and enable even better decision making and planning for all types of forestry needs. Future profitability and competitiveness across several forest markets may well be determined by how much data owners can access and what analysis is available, making today the best time to start gathering and using better data. ■
www.ttjonline.com | July/August 2023 | TTJ
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