Forestry App Helps Landowners Understand Tree Value
Scientists at Purdue University have developed iForester, a new app that helps landowners learn more about the value of their own trees and conduct preliminary assessments of their forests. The app uses the lenses of an iPhone to measure a tree’s diameter at a standard height. New features that the developers are adding to the app will let users add height to estimate the tree’s biomass and volume, which are useful in understanding how much carbon a particular tree can store. Additional improvements planned for the future will allow users to estimate the value of a tree as lumber. This could help landowners understand the potential value of their trees, even in areas where they don’t have access to the services of a professional forester.