Neural Network Has Learned to Identify Tree Species

 Relates to my forestry work, could have been used to update inventories of species.

Neural Network Has Learned to Identify Tree Species

By Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Russia), February 9, 2021

An algorithm developed at Russia's Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology can identify the species of trees captured in satellite images.

Scientists at Russia's Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) have developed an algorithm that can identify tree species in satellite images.

The scientists applied a neural network to automate the identification of dominant tree species in high- and medium-resolution images.

A hierarchical classification model and additional information further augmented predictions, while enhancing the algorithm's stability to enable its practical usage.

Skoltech's Svetlana Illarionova said, "Commercial forest taxation providers and their end-users, including timber procurers and processors, as well as the forest industry entities, can use the new technology for quantitative and qualitative assessment of wood resources in leased areas. Also, our solution enables quick evaluations of underdeveloped forest areas in terms of investment appeal."

From Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Russia)