SIMULATION IN THE WOODS: FROM REMOTE SENSING BASED DATA ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING TO VARIOUS SIMULATION APPLICATIONS

This paper focuses on joint work towards the development of simulation applications in the forest sector. They are based on advanced “semantic ” world modeling techniques which use remote sensing data and processing algorithms to derive tree species classification maps as well as forest stand attributes and sin-gle tree databases over large areas. The resulting databases are the basis for a variety of different simula-tion applications in an integrated systems approach. Forest growth simulations aim to predict the appear-ance of the forest in the next decades. Forest machine simulators allow for an efficient development of forest machines and their control algorithms as well as for cost-effective driver training. Harvesting cost simulations calculate the harvesting costs long before the lumbermen start to work. Decision support sys-tems enable wood owners and the wood industry to compare different treatment scenarios based on simu-lations and thus to comprehensively assess ecological and economical chances and consequences.