Revolutionary AI-powered tool created by UF/IFAS researchers to assess hurricane damage in Florida forests

Researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have developed a technology using lasers and artificial intelligence to assess the damage to forests caused by hurricanes. This innovative approach allows for faster and more efficient evaluation of the impacts of hurricanes on Florida forests, providing valuable information for planning restoration activities, insurance claims, and management decisions following a hurricane.

Dr. Carlos Silva, an assistant professor at UF/IFAS, is leading the research in the Forest Biometrics and Remote Sensing Lab. Traditional methods of evaluating hurricane damage involve physically going into forests, setting up plots, and measuring trees, but Silva and his team wanted to find a better way to assess the impact. By utilizing remote-sensing methods such as lidar, which uses pulsed lasers to measure distances, and NASA satellites, Silva’s team collected data to generate three-dimensional maps of forests before and after hurricanes.

The information gathered from the ground scanners and satellites was combined and processed using artificial intelligence to create an online mapping platform that shows the impacts of hurricanes on Florida forests. This platform can be accessed by anyone online and provides valuable data for decision making following a hurricane.

Silva and his team are testing different AI models to improve the accuracy and efficiency of their mapping platform, with the goal of making it a useful tool for future hurricane seasons. The technology developed by UF/IFAS researchers represents a significant advancement in monitoring and evaluating forest damage caused by hurricanes, providing valuable data that can help communities better prepare for and respond to these natural disasters.