Aim & Objectives
Precision forestry is an approach to forest management that leverages advanced technologies to enhance decision-making processes and optimize forest operations. LiDAR technologies enable detailed measurements of tree height, canopy density, stem diameter, and even understory vegetation, allowing for a more precise understanding of forest composition and health. By capturing data at a level of detail that traditional methods cannot achieve, LiDAR helps forestry professionals monitor forest growth, assess biomass, and detect potential risks such as pest infestations or disease. By leveraging these innovative techniques, researchers can gain more precise insights into forest structure and dynamics. This will be the primary focus of the upcoming summer school, where participants will explore the latest advancements and applications of these remote sensing technologies in forest ecosystem analysis.
COST Action CA20118 – The COST Action 3DForEcoTech is dedicated to advancing various remote sensing technologies that can capture detailed data at both individual tree and stand levels. These technologies are essential for the comprehensive monitoring and analysis of forest ecosystems. Within 3dForEcoTech, we are developing protocols for data acquisition, processing, fusion for forest inventory and ecological applications, and will establish open-data and open-source algorithm databases.
European Forest Institute – EFI – The European Forest Institute is an international organisation, established by European States. EFI conducts research and provides policy support on issues related to forests; facilitates and stimulates forest-related networking and promotes the dissemination of unbiased and policy-relevant information on forests and forestry. Finally, EFI advocates for forest research and for the use of scientifically sound information as a basis for forest policies.
Target Audience
3DForEcoTech COST Action, in collaboration with EFI, organises this summer school for PhD candidates and postdocs from a variety of research fields focusing on precision forestry. We have around 20 places available for this summer school. Check out some impressions of the 2023 edition in Ljubljana, Slovenia here; of the 2022 edition in Helsinki, Finland here.
How to apply?
To apply, please use the following form by April 30th, 2025. Each applicant is requested to upload (i) a one-page CV, (ii) a max. 300-word abstract of the participant’s current work and (iii) a SHORT VIDEO (60 sec max) of yourself explaining your motivation for joining us as a participant. The organizing committee will use this information to decide which candidates will be accepted. Decisions on participation will be communicated by the middle of May 2025.
When & Where?
30/06/2025 – 04/07/2025, Warsaw, Poland
Contacts:
Hotel: During the summer school it is only possible to stay in the hotel in double rooms and share them with other participants of the same gender.
Participation fee & support: No registration fee. COST Action 3DForEcoTech, and EFI will reimburse the costs of selected participants covering their accommodation and subsistence (NO TRAVEL COSTS). Only applicants from COST countries (https://www.cost.eu/about/members/) are eligible for reimbursement. The costs will be reimbursed only after the completion of the summer school. Students from outside the COST countries can also apply, but they have to use their own funding.
Preliminary Programme Overview
Monday:
- Welcome and introduction to the COST Action 3DForEcoTech. Overview of ground-based active and passive remote sensing technologies.
Tuesday:
- Introduction to airborne active sensors. Overview of modelling approaches in ecological and forestry applications. Selection of project topics and formation of working groups.
Wednesday:
- Participation in the 3DForEcoTech Final Meeting or group work on selected projects. This is a valuable opportunity to engage with COST Action members and learn more about their ongoing research activities.
Thursday:
- Full day dedicated to collaborative group work on projects.
Friday:
- Finalization of project outcomes. Preparation and delivery of final presentations.
Throughout the summer school, a poster session will be organized, where participants will present their current research interests. This will serve as a platform for open exchange and dynamic discussions between students and trainers.
Logistics:
- Suggested arrival: Sunday, 29th June
- Suggested departure: Saturday morning, 5th July
LOCAL ORGANISERS
Forest Research Institute
Braci Leśnej 3 Street, Sękocin Stary,
05-090 Raszyn, Poland
ORGANISERS & TRAINERS
- Krzysztof Stereńczak (Department of Geomatics, Forest Research Institute, Raszyn, Poland)
- Bartłomiej Kraszewski (Department of Geomatics, Forest Research Institute, Poland)
- Mattia Balestra (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy)
- María Menéndez-Miguélez (Department of Forest Management and Dynamics, ICIFOR, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain)
- Martin Mokroš (Department of Geography, University College London, London, UK)
