Lasers and drones assess health of world forests and help track climate change
Phys.org
February 24, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
UCL researchers have launched an innovative pilot initiative using advanced technologies like lasers and drones to create highly detailed 3D scans of tropical rainforests. This cutting-edge approach enables precise measurements of tree structure, volume, and carbon storage, providing critical insights into forest biomass and its role in the global carbon cycle. Published in *Earth System Science Data*, this study marks a significant milestone in understanding how forests store carbon, offering a robust dataset for scientists to model environmental impacts more effectively.
The initiative employs state-of-the-art 3D scanning techniques to map dense tropical rainforests with unprecedented accuracy. By combining laser scanning and drone technology, researchers can capture intricate details of tree formations that were previously difficult to measure in such challenging environments. This data allows them to estimate the total biomass stored in forest areas, which is essential for assessing how much carbon forests contribute to combating climate change.
The findings reveal that these detailed 3D models provide a more accurate picture of forest ecosystems than traditional methods. By analyzing tree density, height, and distribution, scientists can better understand the health of the forests and their ability to sequester carbon. This level of precision is particularly valuable in dense tropical regions, where manual measurements are often impractical or insufficient.
This breakthrough has far-reaching implications for conservation efforts and climate change mitigation. Accurate data on forest biomass can inform more effective policies for protecting and managing forests, while also improving global models that track carbon storage and emissions. As the dataset grows,
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Originally published on Phys.org on 2/24/2026