Interpine Innovation

27/05/2026

🌲 New cost saving insight from LiDAR for forestry operations: walking / machine hindrance mapping

Understanding how easy (or difficult) it is to move through a forest stand has always been important—but hard to quantify.

Our latest article shows how LiDAR can be used to map walking hindrance, turning vegetation density into a practical layer for planning and decision-making.

👉 Read more: https://interpine.nz/mapping-walk-hindrance-with-lidar-a-new-layer-of-insight-for-forestry-operations/

Forestry teams have always understood that how easy a stand is to move through has a real impact on field productivity, safety, and cost — but until now, it has been difficult to measure consistently at scale.

By identifying where movement is open, slowed, or heavily restricted, these maps can help with smarter crew deployment, better route planning, improved health and safety, and a clearer understanding of why operational costs vary from stand to stand.

Interpine’s TreeTools Silva Cloud now makes it possible to generate these hindrance maps directly from your LiDAR data.

If you’re looking to reduce wasted time in the field, improve operational visibility, and support more data-driven forestry decisions, this is well worth a look.

14/05/2026

🌲🤖 New in Virtual Plot: Chemical Thinning (eThinning) AI – ALPHA Release

We’ve just released an ALPHA Chemical Thinning (eThinning) AI model in TreeTools.ai Virtual Plot, supporting rapid post‑treatment stocking assessment using drone imagery.

Designed to detect remaining crop trees and distinguish them from chemically thinned stems showing stress or dieback, this new capability helps foresters evaluate the success of eThinning operations — particularly in steep or hard‑to‑access terrain.

This release is part of our collaboration with NZ Forest Growers Research – Precision Silviculture, and we’re inviting users to trial the model, share feedback, and help improve it using real‑world forestry data.

👉 Read the full article and learn how to get involved:
https://interpine.nz/introducing-chemical-thinning-ethinning-ai-in-virtual-plot-alpha-release/

13/05/2026

🌲🚁 Power your forest inventory surveys with DJI and TreeTools Virtual Plot. Maximise your value, tightly integrated AI drone-to-decision solution in field and offline.
Interpine is combining DJI Enterprise drone technology with our Virtual Plot forest inventory software to help forestry teams capture better data and turn it into real insight — faster.
As an authorised DJI reseller, we’re offering 50% off Virtual Plot when you purchase a DJI Matrice 4E Combo 2 through Interpine.
👉 Read more about the offer and how it can support your operations: https://interpine.nz/power-your-forest-surveys-with-dji/

13/05/2026

🌲 Using Computer Vision to Measure Log Volumes in the Log Yard 🤖📏

Accurately measuring log volumes in operational log yards is a long‑standing challenge for the forestry sector. As part of a postgraduate research project, Ethan Clapham (University of Exeter) explored whether modern computer vision and AI techniques could provide a practical, scalable alternative to traditional log scaling methods.

Working alongside the Interpine team, the project tested an image‑based approach using real log yard imagery captured during forestry operations. The research demonstrates how automated detection and geometric modelling can estimate log diameters and volumes directly from photographs — even under challenging real‑world conditions such as occlusion and variable lighting.

We were pleased to support this work by contributing real‑world data and industry expertise in log scaling and applied AI, helping bridge the gap between academic research and operational forestry.

👉 Read the full article and view the research poster here:
https://interpine.nz/image-based-log-volume-estimation-advancing-log-yard-measurement-with-computer-vision/

01/05/2026

🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ Interpine Whānau on the Move – Rotorua Marathon Weekend!

This weekend, several of our Interpine whānau are lacing up their running shoes and taking on the Rotorua Marathon. It’s fantastic to see members of the team putting their fitness to the test and embracing the challenge.

Alongside our runners, Interpine is also proud to be supporting the Kids’ Mini Marathon, helping encourage the next generation to get active and enjoy the buzz of this iconic Rotorua event.
Health and wellbeing are an important foundation for both productivity and enjoyment at work, and it’s great to see so many of the team taking this opportunity to get out there, stay active, and support the wider community.

Best of luck to everyone involved this weekend — we’ll be cheering you on! 👏💚

22/03/2026

We’re proud to see Interpine Innovation recognised as the drone service provider supporting OSPRI’s thermal drone trials for possum detection and biosecurity monitoring.

Using advanced thermal imaging and AI‑ready data capture, our drones are delivering faster intelligence in hard‑to‑access terrain, helping enable more effective and efficient decision‑making for pest control and disease eradication programmes.

This is a great example of how innovative drone services can improve outcomes for biosecurity, farmers, and New Zealand’s environment. We’re excited to be part of work that turns high‑quality data into real‑world impact. 🚁🌱

It’s early days for a drone trial tracking the locations of possums, but initial planning has shown these types of drones can give high quality information about the possum and other species populations in an area, particularly in areas hard to assess. OSPRI Procurement and Contracts Manager Ray Y...

15/02/2026

DJI L2 vs L3 Drone LiDAR: What the Upgrade Means in the Forest 🌲🚁

At Interpine, we’re always focused on improving the quality and reliability of our forest data. Our latest analysis compares DJI’s Zenmuse L2 and L3 LiDAR sensors, flown over the same Pinus radiata stand under identical conditions, to see how the new generation performs in real forestry environments.

The results were clear.
✅ More consistent point density across complex terrain
✅ Significantly improved canopy pe*******on and ground detection
✅ Cleaner, more reliable terrain models with fewer data gaps
✅ Much greater tree‑level detail, including branch‑scale structure

While the L2 remains effective in simpler terrain, the L3 delivered uniform coverage and high‑quality data even on steep, variable ground and under dense canopy. This consistency reduces re‑flights risk, post‑processing effort, and uncertainty in downstream forest inventory outputs.

For forestry projects where terrain complexity and data confidence matter, the L3 represents a meaningful step forward in drone‑based LiDAR capability.

👉 Read the full technical comparison here:

The Interpine team currently utilises the DJI Zenmuse L3 LiDAR sensor as part of its operational drone services, reflecting a continued focus on improving data quality and operational capability. F…

05/02/2026

Interpine's drone pilots undergo rigorous annual external operational competency assessments, demonstrating their expertise and enabling the expansion of capabilities under CAA Part 102, including operations such as beyond visual line of sight, nighttime flights, high-altitude missions, and more, all while maintaining stringent adherence to health and safety protocols. It is gratifying to witness the team's successful completion of airspace refreshers and flight exams.

30/01/2026

Drone-based LiDAR is transforming how we measure and understand our forests. It’s one of the fastest and most effective ways to collect detailed forest inventory and planning data.

From small woodlots to full forest estates, Interpine’s combination of modern LiDAR sensors, beyond‑line‑of‑sight drone operations, and advanced communication systems sets our team apart as sector leaders.

Paired with our SilvaCloud and TreeTools.ai analysis suite, we deliver fast, accurate, and scalable insights—making our end‑to‑end capability second to none.

TreeTools SilvaCloud
https://treetools.ai/silva-cloud-product/

Interpine Drone LiDAR Upgrade
https://interpine.nz/elevating-our-drone-services-with-dji-zenmuse-l3-lidar/

30/01/2026

New Software Update: Virtual Plot Professional v2.15

It’s been a busy month for the TreeTools team, and we’re excited to share another significant update to Virtual Plot Professional. You can now conduct forest inventory stocking plots with your drone more efficiently than ever—powered by the latest advances in artificial intelligence.

What’s New in Version 2.15?
• Target Stocking & Tolerance Reporting
Set your target stocking levels and tolerance ranges to receive clear, effective reporting on the percentage of plots that fall under, on, or over your target.

• Enhanced Manual Refinement
Add meaningful context to each plot by tagging “verified unstocked” or “invasive w**d issue”. These additional insights help strengthen both reporting accuracy and on‑ground forest management decisions.

• Start Your AI Tree Detection Model Labelling Now
Don’t yet have an AI model trained for your tree species? No problem. Simply choose not to apply any existing AI models, and Virtual Plot will still calibrate your imagery and generate virtual plots ready for your own manual labelling using the REFINE tool.

Once you’ve completed your labelled dataset, reach out to the team and share your project folder, and our team can assess it for training a new species‑specific model to add to Virtual Plot.

👉 Explore the new tutorial and start leveraging AI for smarter forest inventory today:

https://treetools.ai/tutorial-virtualplot/

👉 Try it out for as little as $38/month.

https://treetools.ai/virtual-plot-plans/