Operationalizing the use of TLS in forest inventories:

The R package FORTLS

The R Package FORTLS

Automatic Processing of Ground-Based Technologies Point Cloud Data for Forestry Purposes

Process automation of point cloud data derived from ground-based technologies such as LiDAR (e.g. Terrestrial Laser Scanner and Moblie Laser Scanner, TLS and MLS resectively) or photogrammetry. FORTLS enables (i) detection of trees and estimation of tree-level attributes (e.g. diameters and heights), (ii) estimation of stand-level variables (e.g. timber volume), (iii) computation of metrics related to important forest attributes, and (iv) optimization of plot design in forest inventories.

Molina-Valero, J. A., Martins-Neto, R. P., Martínez-Calvo, A., Rodríguez-Ruiz, J., Surový, P., Seppelt, A., & Pérez-Cruzado, C. (2025). Use of close-range LiDAR devices and statistical inference approaches in operational stand-level forest inventories. Remote Sensing of Environment, 325, 114773. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2025.114773

Molina-Valero, J. A., Prado, Ordóñez-Prado, C., Martínez-Calvo, A., Rodríguez-Ruiz, J., Pérez-Cruzado, C. (2023). Muestreo operativo con escáner láser terrestre (TLS) en inventario forestal. Foresta, (87), 54-62. https://www.forestales.net/Canales/Ficha.aspx?IdMenu=b6947309-987f-4bff-808d-4e7e974ccaf8&Cod=b2f4e17c-2eff-475e-9e6c-81ef1ef6c271&Idioma=es-ES

Molina-Valero, J. A., Martínez-Calvo, A., Villamayor, M. J. G., Pérez, M. A. N., Álvarez-González, J. G., Montes, F., & Pérez-Cruzado, C. (2022). Operationalizing the use of TLS in forest inventories: The R package FORTLS. Environmental Modelling & Software, 150, 105337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2022.105337 

Scientific achievements related with FORTLS

a book opened to show a book with a bookmark
a book opened to show a book with a bookmark

Molina-Valero, J. A., Martínez-Calvo, A., Villamayor, M. J. G., Pérez, M. A. N., Álvarez-González, J. G., Montes, F., & Pérez-Cruzado, C. (2022). FORTLS: Un paquete de R para el uso operativo de dispositivos terrestres de tecnologíaLiDAR en inventario forestal. In 8º Congreso Forestal Español. La Ciencia forestal y su contribución a los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible. Sociedad Española de Ciencias Forestales. https://8cfe.congresoforestal.es/es/content/fortls-un-paquete-de-r-para-el-uso-operativo-de-dispositivos-terrestres-de-tecnologia-lidar

Molina-Valero, J. A., Aulló-Maestro, I., Parras, A., Pérez-Cruzado, C., & Montes, F. (2021). Assessing the ForeStereo sensor and the FORTLS R package for estimating stand variables in mature forests. In Proceedings of the SilviLaser Conference 2021 (pp. 95–97). https://doi.org/10.34726/wim.1927

Publications

Conferences

Ariza-Salamanca. A. J., & Molina-Valero, J. A. Aplicaciones del escaneado láser terrestre en ciencias forestales. Geociencias aplicadas a la gestión forestal, 330. https://mastergeoforest.es/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Capitulo_12.pdf

Book chapters

Videos

Training material

English version
Spanish version
a man standing in front of a computer screen
a man standing in front of a computer screen

In this section, you will find resources to help you get started with FORTLS software. These materials are designed to guide you through the setup, features, and best practices, ensuring a smooth and efficient start. Explore the links below to dive in!

Projects and funding

FORTLS has also been actively involved in diverse national and international initiatives. Discover where!

Design of forest monitoring systems on a regional scale [ED431F 2020/02]

Supported by the Regional Government of Galicia

Climate Change Adaptation of Forests in the Brdy Highland

https://adaptbrdy.czu.cz/en

Central Bohemian Mobility for Excellence in Research, Innovation and Tecnology (MERIT - Grant Agreement No. 101081195)

https://meritcb.eu/