University of Helsinki Develops a Digital Twin for Forests Using Laser Scanning Technology
University of Helsinki Develops a Digital Twin for Forests Using Laser Scanning Technology
Synopsis
- Researchers at the University of Helsinki are pioneering the use of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) to create detailed 3D models of forests.
- The technology enables new ways to measure forest structure, track ecosystem changes, and study biodiversity.
- Findings are being applied from Finland to the Amazon, enhancing sustainability and global forest monitoring.
4 mins Read
Scanning forests with laser technology is offering a groundbreaking way to understand ecosystems. At the University of Helsinki, researchers are using Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) to generate three-dimensional digital twins of forests, allowing them to see not just from above—but from within. This approach provides unique insights into tree growth, structural diversity, and forest recovery after disturbances.
“TLS provides us with a new way of looking at forests – not just from above, but from within. It helps us understand tree growth, forest responses to disturbances and the effects of forest structure on biodiversity and capacity for recovery,” says Associate Professor Eduardo Maeda from the University of Helsinki.
Maeda explains that these insights empower researchers, policymakers, and communities to make informed decisions and to better harmonize human activity with the natural environment. His Terrestrial Ecosystem Dynamics Research Group (Tree-D Lab) has become a global leader in studying ecosystem changes. Alongside TLS, the group integrates satellite data, drone sensors, and field measurements to achieve a comprehensive understanding of forests. Their recent article in Nature Communications highlights the vast potential of TLS for ecological research.
The Tree-D Lab has applied TLS technology across various ecosystems worldwide. In regions like Southeast Asia and the Amazon, laser scanning combined with machine learning has been used to assess the impact of forest fragmentation and logging. The findings reveal distinct changes at forest edges compared to interior areas, emphasizing how human activity alters natural habitats.
Fieldwork remains a crucial part of the research. “A trip to the middle of the rainforest can be difficult,” says Maeda, whose team, including Iris Starck, Carolina Castilho, and Elisa Sillfors, conducts challenging on-site measurements. Starck, a Postdoctoral Researcher, recently returned from the Amazon and expanded her doctoral research—titled “The Influence of Forest Management on Boreal Forest Structure and Microclimate”—from Finland’s boreal forests to a global scale.
In Finland, the research has already contributed valuable insights into how forest management affects structure and growth, guiding more sustainable practices and improving national monitoring methods.
A related study, “Expanding Forest Research with Terrestrial LiDAR Technology” (Maeda et al., 2025), further details how TLS enhances understanding of forest architecture. Using the TreeQSM algorithm, scientists can visualize trees through quantitative structure models (QSMs)—cylinder-based reconstructions showing branch length, volume distribution, height ratios, and diameter-to-volume relationships. This visualization allows for detailed quantitative analysis of forest composition and structure.
Each branch’s geometry and distribution reveal how smaller branches contribute to overall tree volume, how larger branches dominate lower orders, and how vertical distribution affects ecosystem modeling. The models, illustrated by Jonathan Terschanski, highlight TLS’s ability to visualize forest structure with scientific precision.
Through such innovation, the University of Helsinki continues to lead global research into climate change, forest ecology, and sustainability—bridging advanced technology and environmental science to help protect one of Earth’s most vital ecosystems.
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About the University of Helsinki Tree-D Lab
The research was led by Associate Professor Eduardo Eiji Maeda at the University of Helsinki, a leading institution in environmental and sustainability sciences. Maeda heads the Tree-D Lab (Terrestrial Ecosystem Dynamics Research Group) within the Department of Geosciences and Geography and the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science.
The Tree-D Lab specializes in studying how terrestrial ecosystems respond to environmental change, combining cutting-edge technologies such as terrestrial laser scanning, drone-based sensors, satellite imagery, and field measurements. Under Maeda’s leadership, the team has become internationally recognized for its integration of geospatial data, machine learning, and ecological modelling to better understand the structure, biodiversity, and resilience of forests. The group’s research spans boreal forests in Finland to tropical regions in the Amazon and Southeast Asia, contributing to global efforts in climate monitoring, sustainable forest management, and digital-twin ecosystem modeling through innovation and advanced remote-sensing technologies.
Featured image Source: Phys.org
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