Bringing Forestry Into The Digital Age

Interview With Professor David Drew, University Of Stellenbosch

This year’s Forestry South Africa AGM offered a unique lineup of speakers, each bringing a compelling narrative to the stage. Rudi Dicks spoke of unshackling regulations to stimulate investment. Sandile Ngcobo made a powerful case for a South African biomass value chain through Mondi’s Project Vuselela. Then came Professor David Drew, who painted a visionary picture: an open-air laboratory that blends nature, data and cutting-edge digital technology.

FORESTRY AND THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION

In his talk, Professor Drew explored four aspects of the digital revolution that he believes will transform forestry research:

Affordable sensors: It is possible to build sensors significantly cheaper than equivalent off-theshelf products – around R1 000 each compared to prices like £1 000 (R24 000) – making it viable to deploy them at scale to monitor the health and behaviour of entire forest compartments.

The Internet of Things (IoT): Thanks to innovations in data transfer and connectivity, IoT enables vast and interconnected data systems that can monitor and report conditions in real time, even from satellites. Starlink will make this even easier, if Elon will ever let us access it!

Autonomous remote sensing: Technologies like drone-in-a-box solutions provide 24/7 monitoring and can deliver leaf-level imagery  to detect events such as insect attacks or rainfall responses the moment they happen.

Artificial Intelligence: While public focus may fall on tools like ChatGPT, Drew is more excited about AI’s ability to process massive forestry datasets and identify hidden trends.

IMAGINING FORESTRY RESEARCH DIFFERENTLY

Professor Drew’s vision took shape during his time in Australia with CSIRO, where he was introduced to open-air labs and new modelling techniques. “It gave me the confidence to apply ideas that we have seen applied in natural ecosystems to managed landscapes, like forestry,” he explains. The result is the Open-Air Laboratory (OAL) concept: a high-tech, real-world ‘in-situ’ research lab that pushes forestry into the fourth industrial revolution.

“The evolution of sensor technology has been a gamechanger,” says Drew. “We now live in a digital world – and forestry must embrace that. It’s not just about the big players; small and medium growers need a way in too. In South Africa, a precompetitive, open dataset, created by networking compartments using sensor technology offers a practical entry point for everyone”

INSIDE THE OPEN AIR LAB

The 10-hectare OAL, located on a wine farm in Somerset West, is a research forest like no other. It hosts multiple Eucalyptus species – some familiar, others not – including E. cladocalyx, E. urophylla, E. grandis and E. cloeziana. These are planted at densities ranging from 400 to 10,000 trees per hectare. But, as Drew notes, “this is not about site-species matching. We want to understand in fine detail how trees respond to environmental conditions and how this affects growth and wood formation.”

What sets the OAL apart is not just its scale or sensor coverage, but its open-access ethos. “This is precompetitive research, funded by a foundation. The data will be freely available, allowing researchers and industry players to apply AI tools and test countless hypotheses,” says Drew.

A PLATFORM FOR COLLABORATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING

Beyond data, the OAL is also a hub for collaboration. Drew’s research team is strikingly diverse, with students from backgrounds including data science, electrical engineering, molecular biology and even mammalian behavioural ecology.

“They come because this is new and exciting,” Drew explains. “It’s giving students, working on forestry problems, hands-on experience with cutting-edge science and creating opportunities for them to be absorbed into the industry. It’s a real investment in the Sector’s future capacity.”

SCALING THE VISION

As trees on the current site grow, new challenges arise – especially around managing the enormous data sets it generates. “Many of our existing modelling tools date back 30 or 40 years. With advances in algorithms, hardware and data streams, it’s time for next-generation forecasting models,” Drew notes. To address this, post-doctoral researchers will be brought in to help develop different simulation tools.

Plans are already in place for a second OAL, in collaboration with the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI). “This lab will explore how trees respond under different drought scenarios – a crucial question as we face climate change. It’s still early days, but we’re working closely with FABI’s Director, Professor Bernard Slippers, to get it off the ground,” says Drew.

THE IMPORTANCE OF STABLE SUPPORT

Drew is quick to credit the Hans Merensky Legacy Foundation for their funding support. “Long-term funding is a luxury in research. It lets you focus on the big picture and build something with momentum,” he says.

He also praises Forestry South Africa and Dr Ronald Heath for their role in securing ongoing funding through the Sector Innovation Fund and how this has been distributed. “By requiring cross-institutional collaboration, they’ve ensured stronger returns on investment and created a model that drives innovation.”

BUILDING THE FUTURE OF FORESTRY

The OAL represents more than a technological leap – it’s a new research philosophy. By combining real-world forestry with the tools of the digital age, Professor Drew is creating a platform that not only deepens our understanding of forest systems but also builds the skills and infrastructure needed for a more resilient future.

As sensors become cheaper, data becomes richer, and AI becomes smarter, the Forestry Sector stands on the cusp of transformation. With thought leaders like Drew at the helm – and with sustained support from funding bodies and industry partners – South African forestry is uniquely positioned to lead this digital revolution.

Source: Forestry In Focus

Back to NEWS:
BUSINESS  l  CLIMATE CHANGE  l  CONSTRUCTION  l  EDUCATION  l  ENVIRONMENT  l  FORESTRY ENGINEERING  l  FORESTRY  l  GOVERNMENT  l  INTERNATIONAL  l  LAND  l  RECYCLING l  RESEARCH  l  ROOFING  l  SHORT HAUL  l  SILVICULTURE  l  SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY  l  TRANSPORT  l  TREATMENT  l  TRANSPORT  l  VALUE ADDING