In May, Vilnius hosted an international meeting of partners of the EU initiative ICAERUS to discuss the progress of the project and present innovative drone solutions to representatives of the Lithuanian Forestry Agency. The event brought together scientists, technology developers, public sector and forestry experts seeking to apply unmanned aerial vehicle technologies in agriculture, forestry, and environmental monitoring.
What is the ICAERUS project?
ICAERUS is a European Union-funded project that aims to promote the use of drones, data analysis, and digital solutions in agriculture, forestry, and rural development. The project focuses not only on technology development, but also on real-world use cases that meet the needs of the public sector, farmers, and foresters.
The project is being implemented by a broad network of European partners: universities, research centers, technology companies, start-ups, and public institutions. All partners are working together to ensure that innovations are practical, economically viable, and environmentally friendly. You can find out more about the project and its partners on the official website: https://icaerus.eu/
Lithuanian use case: forestry and biodiversity
One of the most important elements of the ICAERUS project is the Lithuanian forestry and biodiversity use case. This use case focuses on how data collected by drones can help to:
- monitor forest conditions and changes in real time;
- identify signs of disease, pests, or climate change;
- assess biodiversity and habitat conditions;
- plan sustainable forest management and logging;
- reduce human resource and field work costs.
During the meeting in Vilnius, these solutions were presented to the Lithuanian Forestry Agency, discussing the possibilities of integrating them into everyday forestry practices and national monitoring systems. A detailed description of the Lithuanian use case is available here:
ICAERUS platform – unified access to innovation
An important part of the project is the ICAERUS digital platform, which acts as a central hub for drone solutions, services, and knowledge. On the platform, users can:
- find and compare drone solutions for different sectors;
- learn about real-life use cases in Europe;
- assess the maturity and applicability of technologies;
- establish contacts with service providers and technology developers;
- share experiences and best practices.
The platform is particularly useful for the forestry sector as a tool for finding solutions and making decisions, helping to accelerate innovation and support data-driven decisions. More about the platform:
A step towards smarter forestry
The ICAERUS partner meeting in Vilnius and the presentation of solutions to the Lithuanian Forestry Commission mark an important step towards digitized, sustainable, and data-driven forestry in Lithuania. Drone technology, combined with advanced analysis platforms, opens up new opportunities to protect forests more effectively, enhance biodiversity, and adapt to the challenges of climate change.