Why SLAM works under canopy
Tree cover blocks satellite signals, so GNSS is unreliable in the forest. SLAM positions from its own sensors, mapping stems and terrain regardless of canopy — making fast, repeatable plot capture possible where GPS cannot help.
What you can measure
From a SLAM cloud you extract DBH (diameter at breast height), stem counts, tree positions and, with care, heights. These feed stand metrics, biomass and inventory — far faster and more completely than caliper-and-tape sampling.
Field workflow
Walk a looped route through the plot keeping steady overlap among the stems, and close the loop. Process and georeference to plot control if positions must tie to a map. Then run forestry analysis to extract metrics. Confirm tolerances in the accuracy guide.
Domande frequenti
Does a SLAM scanner work under tree canopy?
Yes. SLAM positions from its LiDAR and motion sensors rather than satellites, so it maps stems and terrain under canopy where GPS/GNSS is unreliable.
Can SLAM measure DBH and tree height?
Yes. DBH and stem positions extract reliably from a SLAM cloud; tree height can be derived too, though dense upper canopy can limit how well treetops are captured.
How accurate is SLAM for forest inventory?
Handheld SLAM reaches 1–5 cm, which is well within the needs of DBH, stem counts and stand-level inventory and biomass estimation.