Technology at the service of forest renewal – Drone and GPS mapping for precise stand staking

Forest renewal made efficient with drone and centimetre-accurate GPS technology. FOREST4EU project uses RTK-enabled drones to capture high-resolution images for precise mapping and staking of forest stands. This reduces manual labor by eliminating compass and tape reliance, cutting planting time by up to 35%. A 15-hectare area is mapped in ten minutes, with data processed into orthophotos to define plots, traffic routes, and planting density. The plan is automatically sent to field GPS devices for accurate line marking. Developed by ONF and FCB under the PIF initiative, this method improves accuracy, planning efficiency, and sustainability in forest regeneration.