The collaborative project "Digital Reference Forest Area Sparbach" conducted in partnership with the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), received the State Prize for Forestry in the "Innovation" category on November 29, 2024, in Vienna. This project stands out for its uniquely comprehensive multimodal approach, uniting an unparalleled variety of data collection methods for forest measurement. It integrates AI-powered forest inventory with satellite- and drone-based forest monitoring, LiDAR-based sampling, as well as terrestrial and drone-mounted laser scanning technologies.

During the award ceremony, DI Elfriede Moser, Head of the Forestry and Regions Section, emphasized the need for role models. "Every sector requires innovation and forward-thinking individuals," she said. The Austrian State Prize for Forestry, awarded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions, and Water Management, honors innovative and sustainable forestry concepts. The prize recognizes outstanding achievements that promote the protection, care, and sustainable use of Austria’s forests. It highlights the balance between nature-oriented management and economic sustainability while reinforcing the self-image of forest managers.


From left to right: Elias Kimmel (BOKU), Federal Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Regions, and Water Management Norbert Totschnig, Herbert Pamminger (Managing Director palos GmbH), Oliver Hilpold (CEO LIECO Group), SD Elfriede Moser (Head of the Forestry and Regions Section), Konrad Mylius (President of Land & Forest Enterprises Austria), Rafael Reisenhofer (palos GmbH), Dr. Christoph Gollob (BOKU)
© Rene Hemerka

"We demonstrate with this collaborative project the vast interdisciplinary potential that can be unlocked when science, established providers, and a forestry company like ours work together intensively," said Oliver Hilpold, CEO of LIECO Group, to which palos GmbH belongs. "That our approach, which can serve as a model for collaboration across the entire forestry and wood cluster, is now being recognized is a great source of encouragement and motivation for us."

The project continues to progress, allowing further methods to be tested and validated based on the excellent data obtained so far. Herbert Pamminger, Managing Director of palos GmbH, is pleased with the positive effects for the palos platform: "The project results so far have provided direct added value for the users of the palos platform. The derivation of individual trees, even in heterogeneous mixed forests, not only enables precise inventorying but will significantly enhance the efficiency of future forest management."


Sparbach Reference Forest Laser Scans © palos GmbH

Dir. DI Hans Jörg Damm, Head of the Wilfersdorf Estate and Forestry Operation, to which the reference area belongs, welcomes the fact that his forest is part of the project: "The significant technological advances currently entering the forestry sector help us forest enterprises address the growing number of challenges. Strong practical relevance leads to real benefits, resulting in both economic and ecological success. We are happy to make 50 hectares of our operation available for this project and to be pioneers in this important development."

A heartfelt thank you goes to Prof. Dr. Arne Nothdurft and Dr. Christoph Gollob and their team at the Institute of Forest Growth at BOKU Vienna for their scientific support, as well as to all participants from the companies involved in this project so far: Arboreal, Riegl, Planet Labs, Airbus, and Geo Ville. Last but not least, we extend our gratitude to the colleagues at the Sparbach Forestry Operation for their on-site support in implementing this project.