AI system for harvesters in forestry operations

Södra and its subsidiary Nordic Forestry Automation AB (NFA) are implementing driver assistance technology for thinning operations and collecting data on individual trees, providing valuable insights for future planning and analysis.

Implementation and installations in harvesters are set to begin in the second half of 2025. NFA is an AI company specialising in forestry technology and developing next-generation driver assistance systems for forestry machinery, using sensor technology from autonomous vehicles and AI algorithms.

Södra became a shareholder in NFA through Södra Ädla in 2023 and has since supported and monitored the system’s development.

Magnus Petersson, Head of Forest Development at Södra, says more innovation and standardisation of operations is needed in forestry. Thinning a forest requires constant decision-making about which and how many trees to harvest to optimise the plantation’s various values. These decisions are usually made manually and rely heavily on the operator’s experience.

The system includes cloud-based services enabling detailed data collection on each tree. This data is delivered to forest owners in reports highlighting harvested and retained trees, ensuring thinning work aligns with the local growth potential of the forest stand.

The retained trees’ positions are mapped with centimetre-level accuracy, providing increased transparency, quality assurance, and alternative forest management methods opportunities.

“Södra has been one of our key partners in developing our technology from the beginning. With valuable advice and clear requirements, they’ve helped us grow as a company”, says Lars Svensson, CEO of Nordic Forestry Automation.

“Reaching the point where we can announce a launch date for our first product is a significant milestone and proof that we are on track to realise our vision of helping machine operators do excellent work and create thriving forests”.

Source: WoodBiz / SA Forestry – November/December 2024 Newsletter (Page 6)

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