Conference Program

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Conference program

The Applications & Solutions in Digital Forestry International Conference brings together innovators from higher education, nonprofit organizations, agencies and industries for an engaging program that will explore global trends in digital forestry, digital tools in practice and the future of digital forestry. Join us for dynamic sessions, demos and networking with colleagues and exhibitors. 

Return to main conference webpage. 

Conference Location

The conference will be held at Purdue Memorial Union (PMU), 101 Grant St., West Lafayette, IN 47906. Some additional sessions will take place at the Stewart Center, located next door to PMU. Look for conference signs to direct you to the check-in table and main meeting space. 

  • Conference registration/check-in: PMU South Ballroom (entrance)
  • Keynote and plenary sessions: PMU North and South Ballrooms
  • Parallel and other sessions: See program for details.

Note: Room assignments may change. Any changes will be announced at the conference. 

Wednesday, June 3

5:30-7 p.m.

Conference Kickoff: Registration and Networking Reception (heavy appetizers, cash bar)
PMU South Ballroom

Thursday, June 4

8-9 a.m.

Registration Check-in and Light Breakfast (PMU South Ballroom)

9-10:15 a.m.

Conference Opening (PMU North Ballroom)

Welcome from Purdue and the Institute for Digital Forestry 
Dan DeLaurentis, Executive Vice President for Research, Purdue University
Songlin Fei, Director, Institute for Digital Forestry, Purdue University

Keynote: The Future of Individual Tree Intelligence: Powered by Disruptive Sensing
Juha Hyyppä, Professor and Head of Department, Finnish Geospatial Institute

10:15-10:30 am

Break - Coffee and assorted beverages (PMU South Ballroom)

10:30-11:50 a.m.

Parallel Session 1

A. Modeling AI for Forest Measurement and Carbon (PMU North Ballroom)

  1. Comparative Assessment of 12 Alternative Methods for Projecting Forest Aboveground Biomass Derived from Terrestrial and Remote Sensing Technologies. Aaron Weiskittel, University of Maine 
  2. Exploring the Potential of Developing a Geo-AI Ensemble Framework to Estimate Carbon Stocks Across Subtropical and Temperate Forests Using Airborne LiDAR. Aji Kusumaning Asri, National Cheng Kung University
  3. Weighted Sampling and Data Simulation Improves Tree Species Classification Using Hyperspectral Data for Underrepresented Species. Shahla Mohammadi, Purdue University
  4. Building Analytics-Ready Digital Forests: Scalable LiDAR and Machine Learning Pipelines. Bruce Ripley, University of Idaho

B. Advanced Sensing Systems Across Scales (Stewart 302)

  1. Scanning Forests with the FARO Orbis. Nathan West, Point3D
  2. Large-Scale Mapping of Forestry Assets Using Geiger-Mode LiDAR. Amy Neuenschwander, 3DEO
  3. Tree Species Identification Using Multi-Source Remote Sensing and Artificial Intelligence. Bina Thapa, Purdue University
  4. High-Resolution In-Situ Imaging Sensors for Precise Plant Health Diagnosis. Jian Jin, Purdue University

C. Urban Forestry: Measurement, Planning and Decision Support (Stewart 306)

  1. uTREE: A Generative AI Platform for Urban Tree Inventory and Scenario Planning. Brady Hardiman, Purdue University
  2. Evaluating LiDAR Modalities, Automation, and Applications for Urban Tree Inventories. Ian Hanou, PlanIT Geo
  3. Smart Tree Management: Operationalizing Canopy Assessments to Inform Planting Strategies. Will Ayersman, Davey Resource Group
  4. Smart Tree Management: Proactive Maintenance - Budgetary Savings. Phillip Potyondy, Davey Resource Group 

11:50 a.m.-1 p.m.

Lunch (PMU North/South Ballrooms)

1-2 p.m.

Plenary Session 1: Advances in Remote Sensing for Forest Management (PMU North Ballroom)

  1. Ensuring Geolocation Accuracy of Multi-Modal, Multi-Platform and Multi-Temporal Geospatial Data. Ayman Habib, Purdue University
  2. Individual Tree- and Area-Based Regional Carbon Stock Mapping Using High-Density Airborne LiDAR: A Case Study of Gyeonggi, South Korea. Youngkeun Song, Seoul National University
  3. Towards 4D Forest Monitoring: Mapping Disturbance and Recovery with Remote Sensing and AI. Carlos Alberto Silva, University of Florida

2-2:15 p.m.

Break - Coffee and assorted beverages (PMU South Ballroom)

2:15-4 p.m.

  • Poster Session (PMU, Rooms 240-250, East/West Faculty Lounge)
  • Exhibitor Tables (PMU South Ballroom)
  • Tech Demos (PMU South Ballroom)

4-5 p.m.

Plenary Session 2: Forest Health, Resilience and Climate Applications (PMU North Ballroom)

  1. Combining Digital Approaches and Plant Biology to Monitor Forest Health. John Couture, Purdue University
  2. Geospatial Foundation Models to Transform Forest Resilience. David Coomes, University of Cambridge, U.K.
  3. From Forests to Faucets: Applications of Digital Technology in Quantifying Benefits of Forests to Water and Communities. Ge Sun, U.S. Forest Service

5-6 p.m.

Break/Free Time

6-7:30 p.m.

Dinner (PMU North/South Ballroom)

Friday, June 5

7:30-9 a.m.

Exhibitor Breakfast - Light breakfast and networking with exhibitors (PMU North and South Ballrooms)

9-10 a.m.

Panel Discussion: Operationalizing Digital Forestry: Policy, Standards and Workforce Development (PMU North Ballroom)

Linda Heath, Director, Inventory Monitoring and Assessment Research, U.S. Forest Service
Paul Cooper, Chief Operating Officer, Arbor Day Foundation
Juha Hyyppä, Professor and Head of Department, Finnish Geospatial Research Institute 
Aaron Weiskittel, Director, Center for Research on Sustainable Forests, University of Maine 

10-10:15 a.m.

Break - Coffee and assorted beverages (PMU South Ballroom)

10:15-11:15 a.m.

Parallel Session 2

A. Scalable Digital Forestry Systems: Cloud, AI and Space-Based Data (PMU North Ballroom)

  1. Innovations in Cloud-Native Digital Forestry Solutions. Patti Carroll, Amazon Web Services
  2. Resilience, Ecology and AI at Argonne National Laboratory. Ross M. Alexander, Argonne National Laboratory
  3. Space Technology and Exploration at National Cheng Kung University. Charles Lin, National Cheng Kung University

B. Forest Inventory Technologies and Workflows (Stewart 302)

  1. Low-Cost Video-Based Solutions for Efficient Forest Inventory. Yingjie Chen, Purdue University
  2. iForester: AI-Empowered DBH and Height Measurement Techniques Using Smartphone Embedded Sensors. Song Zhang, Purdue University
  3. Tree Segmentation and Classification for the Masses: Using Publicly Available LiDAR and Remote Sensing Data to Conduct Large Scale Urban Tree Inventories. Robert Smail, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

C. Carbon Systems, Data Infrastructure, and Environmental Intelligence (Stewart 306)

  1. Scaling AI and Remote Sensing for Operational Forest Carbon MMRV: Multi-Stakeholder, Multi-Scale Applications in the Working Forests of Maine. Daniel Hayes, University of Maine
  2. Indiana’s Statewide Remote Sensing Data: Fueling Digital Forestry Workflows. Shaun Scholer, Indiana Geographic Information Office
  3. From Canopy Maps to Environmental Intelligence: The Next Era of Digital Forestry. Rubab Saher, Purdue University

11:15-11:30 a.m.

Break - Coffee and assorted beverages (PMU South Ballroom)

11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Plenary Session 3: Digital Twins and Decision Support Systems (PMU North Ballroom)

  1. From Canopy to Cloud: Scaling Forestry Research with the Data to Science Platform. Jinha Jung, Purdue University
  2. Building Digital Forestry Tools With, Not For Stakeholders: Perspectives from Intended End-Users. Leslie Boby, Southern Regional Extension Forestry at University of Georgia
  3. From Data to Decisions: Operationalizing Smart Tree Management at City Scale. Frank Mastrobuono, greehill
  4. Networking Challenges and Solutions Using Digital Twins in Operational Forestry.  Robert F. Keefe, University of Idaho

12:45-2 p.m.

Lunch and Conference Wrap-up (PMU North/South Ballrooms)