Prestudy on adaptation- and new usage areas for high capacity drones in forestry vegetation management

Important results from the project

We are satisfied with the implementation of the feasibility study, which has achieved the planned results. We have gathered and engaged current and future project partners in a consortium with extensive and broad expertise, with good potential to contribute to system change in Swedish forestry. We have also conducted business/needs analyses on the state of digitalization in Swedish forestry, the regulatory landscape for drone operations and simulation studies of management alternatives.

Expected long term effects

The results of the pilot study are a good starting point for the collaborative project in the form of needs analyses and engaged project partners - the largest the actors in Swedish forestry. The pilot study is a first step towards implementing precision forestry for all forest values. Solutions in the collaborative project should lead to demonstrable implementations in practice in the participating actors´ forests and contribute to the introduction of autonomy in Swedish forestry.

Approach and implementation

We have arranged workshops to collect interests and information broadly, and with more detailed expert analyses on certain topics. Both project partners of the feasibility study and new actors have participated. We have focused on initiating collaboration and engagement between actors for a common goal and understanding of challenges for all parties in the project. Overall, this will result in a purposefully designed collaboration project with good prospects for contributing to system change.