WIDE Trust Supports Future Forestry Innovators at ForestSAT 2024

The WIDE Trust's commitment to nurturing future forestry leaders was showcased this September through its support of students attending the prestigious ForestSAT 2024 conference in Rotorua, New Zealand. The event, which ran from 9-13 September, brought together over 350 global delegates from 30 countries, including the University of Canterbury’s School of Forestry (SoF) Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis (RSGA) research group.

The RSGA team, consisting of co-Directors Associate Professor Justin Morgenroth and WIDE Trust Lecturer Dr. Vega Xu, alongside postgraduate and undergraduate students, presented their groundbreaking research to the international forestry community. Thanks to WIDE Trust’s partial sponsorship, Justin and Vega, alongside 11 students, from PhD candidates to undergraduates, were able to attend, present their research, and engage with global experts in forest monitoring, geospatial technologies, and environmental sustainability.

Dr. Ning Ye, a postdoctoral researcher, expressed his excitement at the availability of new hyperspectral satellite data. This new access opens up possibilities for improving tree species classification and forest health mapping. Other highlights included integrating vegetation radiative transfer models with hyperspectral data, offering promising new approaches for monitoring forest health and biodiversity using multispectral drone imagery.

The conference also provided opportunities for professional growth. Joseph Avis, a PhD student, highlighted the significance of the evolving applications of spaceborne LiDAR and synthetic aperture radar, particularly in fire mapping and carbon tracking. The practical examples shared at the conference have inspired Joseph to apply these technologies within his own research.

For Joe Zhao, another PhD candidate, the conference introduced innovative AI applications in forestry and highlighted the potential of forest digital twins for precision surveys. The networking opportunities allowed Joe to connect with researchers, gaining valuable insights and resources to enhance his current work.

For undergraduate Blake Singleton, the experience was truly transformative. He described the event as an “amazing experience,” providing unparalleled exposure to leading experts in forestry and geospatial technologies. Blake's key takeaway was the importance of data fusion across RGB, multispectral, hyperspectral, and LiDAR data sources to deepen understanding of forest ecosystems and health.

Overall, the conference provided all attendees with invaluable insights into the latest advancements in remote sensing technologies and forest management. The WIDE Trust's support enabled these future forestry leaders to not only share their research with a global audience but also expand their knowledge, make meaningful connections, and be inspired by the global community working to shape the future of sustainable forest management.

The WIDE Trust remains committed to fostering growth and development in the forestry sector, ensuring that New Zealand’s next generation of innovators continues to play a leading role on the world stage.

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Celebrating the Mid-Year Achievements of WIDE Trust Grant Recipients