{"id":16638,"date":"2026-10-14T12:41:55","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T12:41:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/isites-dev.co.uk\/iprosurv-refresh\/?post_type=ips_case_studies&p=16638"},"modified":"2026-10-20T19:51:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T19:51:12","slug":"storm-damaged-forests-assessing-the-impact-with-drones","status":"publish","type":"ips_case_studies","link":"https:\/\/isites-dev.co.uk\/iprosurv-refresh\/ips_case_studies\/storm-damaged-forests-assessing-the-impact-with-drones\/","title":{"rendered":"Storm-Damaged Forests: Assessing the Impact with Drones"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n 150 hectares<\/strong>
\n Windblown woodland surveyed<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n 3 days<\/strong>
\n To complete the aerial survey<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n DJI Mavic 3E<\/strong>
\n Platform used to capture the site data<\/span>\n <\/div><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n

The challenge<\/p>\n

Assess storm-damaged woodland before clearance could begin<\/h2>\n

Storm Arwen brought destructive winds to Scotland, leaving this woodland with around 90% of its tree stock affected. Fallen and unstable trees made the site hazardous, while the scale of the damage made a rapid, reliable assessment difficult from the ground.<\/p>\n

The owner needed to understand the extent of the damage, plan safe access for cutting teams and provide mapped evidence to support an application to supply timber beyond the annual limit that applied to the site. The assessment also needed to inform the eventual clearance and replanting plan.<\/p>\n

\n The priority was to map the damage quickly, help teams assess risks before entering the woodland and provide evidence for decisions on timber supply and recovery.
\n Iprosurv surveyed 150 hectares over three days and produced measurable mapping data for the client.<\/small>\n <\/div><\/div>\n
\n

Case at a glance<\/p>\n

Aerial mapping for woodland recovery<\/h3>\n

Event:<\/strong> Storm Arwen<\/p>\n

Site:<\/strong> Windblown woodland in Scotland<\/p>\n

Platform:<\/strong> DJI Mavic 3E<\/p>\n

Area surveyed:<\/strong> 150 hectares<\/p>\n

Survey duration:<\/strong> 3 days<\/p>\n

Outputs:<\/strong> 2D maps and digital surface models<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

The approach<\/p>\n

Map the damage. Support safer access. Plan what comes next.<\/h2>\n

Iprosurv used a DJI Mavic 3E to survey the affected woodland and collect aerial imagery across 150 hectares. The data was processed into 2D maps and digital surface models, giving the client a measurable record to support timber supply decisions, clearance planning and future replanting.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
01<\/div>\n

Survey the affected woodland<\/h3>\n

Use the DJI Mavic 3E to capture data across a large, hazardous area, completing the 150-hectare survey over three days.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
02<\/div>\n

Create measurable site records<\/h3>\n

Process the imagery into 2D maps and digital surface models that can be measured, reviewed and retained as a record of the site before clearance.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
03<\/div>\n

Support clearance and replanting plans<\/h3>\n

Give the client and cutting teams an overview to help assess site risks, plan clearance and consider the layout for replanting pine stock.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n

The result<\/p>\n

A mapped record to support urgent decisions and long-term recovery<\/h2>\n

Iprosurv surveyed more than 150 hectares over three days and produced 2D maps and digital surface models. The measured outputs gave the client data to support its request for authorisation to supply timber beyond the annual limit that applied to the site.<\/p>\n

The mapping also gave cutting teams an overview of the affected woodland before deployment into a hazardous area. Retaining the data created a record of the site before clearance and provided information that could help with planning the replanting of pine stock.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

What the data supported<\/p>\n

Clearer information for the recovery operation<\/h3>\n
\n \u2713<\/span>
\n Mapped coverage of 150 hectares in three days<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n \u2713<\/span>
\n Measurable 2D maps and digital surface models<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n \u2713<\/span>
\n Evidence to support the client\u2019s timber supply authorisation request<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n \u2713<\/span>
\n Information for safer clearance planning and pine replanting<\/span>\n <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

Why it matters<\/p>\n

The right data helps connect urgent clearance with woodland recovery<\/h2>\n

After a major windblown event, owners need to understand the scale and location of the damage, plan work around unstable trees and provide the information required for decisions on timber and felling. Aerial mapping can give teams a shared overview before they enter the affected area.<\/p>\n

A retained pre-clearance record can also help inform later decisions, including how the land may be prepared and replanted. The specific permissions required depend on the site and the proposed work.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

Start with the affected area<\/p>\n

Need to assess storm-damaged woodland?<\/h2>\n

Tell us about the affected area, access risks and information you need for clearance or replanting. We\u2019ll help you assess whether drone mapping could support your recovery plan.<\/p>\n

Talk to Iprosurv<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":16639,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","industries":[406],"case_study_categories":[],"class_list":["post-16638","ips_case_studies","type-ips_case_studies","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","industries-environmental-and-forestry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/isites-dev.co.uk\/iprosurv-refresh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ips_case_studies\/16638","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/isites-dev.co.uk\/iprosurv-refresh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ips_case_studies"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/isites-dev.co.uk\/iprosurv-refresh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/ips_case_studies"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isites-dev.co.uk\/iprosurv-refresh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16639"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/isites-dev.co.uk\/iprosurv-refresh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"industries","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isites-dev.co.uk\/iprosurv-refresh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/industries?post=16638"},{"taxonomy":"case_study_categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isites-dev.co.uk\/iprosurv-refresh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case_study_categories?post=16638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}