STEMS
STEMS (Single TrEe Metrics and Stand assessment) is a simple natural color (RGB) image based powerful, versatile tool designed for optimizing forest management strategies. This automated workflow leverages advanced computer vision techniques and artificial intelligence to deliver high accuracy (75 - 90%) stand portrait with detailed tree inventory (spatial location tree species, total tree height, diameter-at-breast-height, basal area, volume) and hence enabling enhanced block-level compilations. With a very limited restriction in the way input data needs to be acquired, STEMS offers several advantages including cost-efficiency and robustness across diverse stand conditions. It has a good potential to be portable across platforms (aerial / satellite) and seamlessly integrate with LiDAR.
The current version of STEMS works in managed commercial forests of Eastern Canada, although preliminary versions of the model are available for testing in western Canada.
The confidence in estimating STEMS outputs is higher in the eco/bioclimatic zones where the models were developed. The models can be used with caution in areas with similar conditions and species distribution, such as New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Managed forests of Eastern Canada
Managed forests of Western Canada
| Eastern Canada (19 commercial tree species) | Western Canada (16 commercial tree species) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Conifers | Deciduous | Conifers | Deciduous |
| Balsam Fir | Balsam Poplar | Douglas Fir | Balsam Poplar |
| Red Spruce | Black Ash | Spruce (hybrid) | Trembling Aspen |
| Eastern White Cedar | Largetooth Aspen | Lodgepole Pine | Western Maple |
| Red Pine | Pin Cherry | Ponderosa Pine | White Birch |
| Black Spruce | Red Maple | Balsam Fir | |
| Jack Pine | Red Oak | Black Spruce | |
| White Spruce | Sugar Maple | Sub Alpine Fir | |
| Tamarack / Larch | Trembling Aspen | Tamarack / Larch | |
| White Pine | White Birch | Western Red Cedar | |
| Yellow Birch | Western Hemlock | ||
| White Pine | |||
| White Spruce | |||