SPOT: robotics for forest assessment

In Vallombrosa forest (Italy), the geoLAB – Laboratory of Forest Geomatics team moved the first steps in the use of SPOT – Boston Dynamics’ unmanned ground vehicle – for forest inventories.

Robotics in Forest Inventories: SPOT’s First Steps

published on 31 October 2023

https://doi.org/10.3390/f14112170

In the rapidly evolving landscape of forest tree monitoring and assessment, the integration of new tools and techniques is pivotal. The initial experience with SPOT, a versatile robot, has unveiled both its potential and challenges when compared to traditional forest surveys.

Pros:

Autonomous Movement: SPOT navigates forest terrain adeptly, autonomously avoiding obstacles at slow speeds. This capability hints at the possibility of future automatic point cloud acquisition, eliminating the need for teleoperation.
Battery Efficiency: SPOT’s battery usage is commendable, reaching its maximum potential easily. This is crucial given SPOT’s weight, making transportation in the field more manageable.

Cons:

LiDAR System Limitations: The EAP LiDAR system on SPOT has limitations. While the Velodyne LiDAR hardware is promising, the absence of a formal SLAM procedure results in noisy point clouds that are challenging to interpret, particularly for trees smaller than 20 cm.
Height Measurement Constraints: SPOT’s ability to direct laser pulses in different directions is beneficial for measuring DBH but falls short in capturing tree height, with a maximum measurement of about 3m above the ground.
Accuracy Variability: Results, especially in DBH measurements, varied significantly across different sampling protocols due to differing point cloud densities.

Future Exploration:

Terrestrial Laser System Integration: Future exploration involves integrating a different TLS system with SPOT connected to payload docks, aiming to implement a more robust SLAM procedure for improved accuracy.
Applications in Forest Plantations: SPOT’s capabilities could be harnessed for monitoring and analyzing forest tree plantations, especially in flat and homogeneous conditions, such as those found in hybrid poplar plantations and short-rotation forestry.
Biodiversity Assessment: SPOT’s extensive range of movements could revolutionize the assessment of forest-floor biodiversity attributes, including fallen trees, woody debris, and microhabitats related to trunks and roots. This could significantly reduce the time and manual effort required during field inventories.

The initial results suggest a promising future for legged robots like SPOT in supporting forest inventory and mensuration. The potential for fully autonomous missions holds great promise, akin to the capabilities already demonstrated by UAVs. As research continues, the integration of advanced technologies and refined protocols is expected to enhance the role of SPOT in advancing forest monitoring practices.