Research

In this project, novel scenarios are tested and evaluated, and work is done on how to bring "common sense" into robots. The approach followed is "human-in-the-loop", combining the advantages of human experts with the advantages of AI. Specifically, this project tests and evaluates deployment scenarios of robots in forestry technology and presents new deployment scenarios. The novelty of this approach allows us to explore basics in terms of requirements, challenges and future possibilities in dealing with such systems, thus paving the way for more advanced basic projects or applications. Specifically, this project is expected to result in a series of international publications and an infrastructure to research and test the fundamentals for the use of future AI technologies and to apply them in teaching. Finally, the emerging robot test park in Tulln – adjacent to the new House of Digitalization - may also generate broad interest in the topic. The research methodology follows a 3G pioneer research approach with agile human-centered design: generation 1 testing of existing technology, generation 2 adaptation of existing technology with low-cost means, generation 3 advanced adaptation that goes beyond the state of the art and is planned together with our partners in Canada and UK - world leading robotics institutes. The infrastructure funded by this proposal will serve existing projects and is intended to spur new, larger projects (e.g.,EU). Added values are planned on three levels: 1) for the international AI research community through publications, 2) for the state of Lower Austria through a) later practical usage possibilities, and b) as an important contribution to teaching and making AI education more attractive to young researchers to counteract the labor shortage in AI.

The invasive Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is increasingly migrating into habitat types worthy of protection, where, due to its rapid growth, its low soil, site and climate requirements, its high capability of reproduction via root suckers and stump sprouts, its strong vegetative reproduction and massive production of seeds and due to its allelopathic properties, it endangers rare plant species and associated animal species. In the present project, an attempt is being made to combat invasive Tree-of-Heaven on the dry grassland site Dürrham (Heißlände) in the Lower Lobau, which is worthy of protection, and in the FFH habitat types 91G0 (Pannonian oak-hornbeam forest), 91H0 (Pannonian downy oak forest) and in the FFH habitat type 6210 (Trespen-fescue-limestone dry grassland) on the Bisamberg, respectively. Furthermore, soil as well as potentially susceptible dicotyledonous plants will be sampled and screened for the agent V. nonalfalfae (see below) on both sites in spring 2024 and 2025. The control is to be carried out using the biological control method developed at the Institute of Forest Entomology, Forest Pathology and Forest Protection (BOKU University) in 2011 on the basis of the native wilt fungus Verticillium nonalfalfae, which has already proven to be sustainable, cost-efficient, but also quickly and specifically effective in numerous series of experiments. The control is therefore also in line with the biodiversity strategy Austria 2030+ of the BMK.

This research project will revolutionize forest inventory throughout Austria in a long-term and sustainable way. Thus, the project is of nationwide relevance . Due to the practical and target group oriented nature of the project, the research results will be available to a broad audience and will provide forest owners, forest enterprises, service providers and authorities with a planning tool for the creation and maintenance of climate-smart forests. The methods to be developed in the project should be implementable as a standard solution for the highly precise and spatially explicit inventory of raw wood reserves and the operational planning of forest enterprises based on it. By combining modern, laser-based field survey methods (partly with commercially available mobile devices such as Apple iPhone and iPad) and remote sensing methods, planning uncertainties of careful and sustainable forest management can be minimized, the productivity of different timber harvesting methods can be predicted and thus the risks and costs of forest enterprises can be reduced. The methods thus contribute to the preservation of protective forest tasks and nature conservation functions as well as to the establishment of "climate-smart" mountain forests in Austria. The Austrian forest ownership communities and larger forest enterprises with regular sample inventory and forest management benefit from digital inventory solutions with person-carried laser scanners (PLS) as well as the area-accurate stock and assortment and productivity forecasts achieved by combining PLS data with remote sensing data. Low-threshold access to an easy-to-use and digital inventory and planning tool will create incentives for regular and sustainable forest management in Austria's small private forests.