A Sensor Solution For Automated Measurements of Forest Roads

This presentation outlines conceptual design and technical aspects of a recently developed sensor solution for the automated measurement and analysis of forest roads’ geometric features. Forest roads play a pivotal role within the forest infrastructure, serving multifaceted socio-economic functions that span from facilitating forest management and operational activities to providing different ecosystem services. Given their significance, regular assessments of forest roads conditions are necessitated, driven by the dynamic nature of their usage patterns and the varying stresses they endure over different seasons. The RoadSens system, developed as part of the SmartForest project, offers an end-to-end solution comprised of two main components: an integrated proximity sensing platform and edge- or cloud-based data processing software. This system utilizes advanced technology, including a stereo camera for 3D perception of the road and a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) module for georeferencing of measurements and longitudinal road geometric features. With a data handling engine capable of recording and processing data streams from the stereo camera at 30 or 60Hz and GNSS at 10Hz, RoadSens provides a practical monitoring tool for retrieving detailed information about forest road conditions. Moreover, the platform's flexibility allows it to leverage cloud infrastructure for efficient post-processing tasks, enhancing its overall performance and usability. The primary data product provided by the system comprises information derived from the longitudinal profile, such as horizontal and vertical road curvatures, slope measurements, and cross-sectional details obtained at predefined intervals. These cross-section parameters include the road width, center point, side-slopes, and pertinent information regarding ditches, including their location, depth, and distance from the road’s edge based on their visibility in the camera. The detailed data products generated by RoadSens have the potential to significantly improve the capture and documentation of road geometry with high spatial resolution, thereby addressing a key challenge in remote sensing approaches for evaluating forest roads. In conclusion, the RoadSens system presents a promising advancement in the automated measurement and analysis of forest road geometry, offering relevant and timely information for forest management and maintenance operations.