Latvia, September 17-18, 2025
An international seminar on remote sensing research took place in Salaspils, Latvia as part of the FOREST4EU project FOREST4EU
On September 17-18, 2025, the Latvian State Forest Research Institute (Silava) hosted a B2B training seminar on the use of remote sensing tools in forestry. The event was organized by the Latvian Logistics Association as partner in the FOREST4EU project. The aim of the seminar was to provide practical knowledge on the use of satellite, LiDAR and drone data forest management and monitoring, as well as to ensure the exchange of knowledge between representatives of different countries and organizations.
Over the two-days course, participants learned about:
- Sentinel-2 satellite image access and usage options;
- The meaning and use of vegetation indices (NDVI, NBR, NDMI, EVI);
- Methods of LiDAR data processing and interpretation;
- The principles of UAV photogrammetry and the practical use of data in forest management.
The training was led by Italian expert Dr. Francesca Giannetti (Università degli Studi di Firenze, coordinator of the FOREST4EU project) and provided participants with both a theoretical overview and practical examples of remote sensing tools and their applications.
The event was attended by representatives from across the Latvian forestry sector, including SIA “Rigas meži”, MPKS “MeZsaimnieks”, AS “Latvijas Valsts mezi”, the Latvian State Forest Institute “Silava”, the State Plant Protection Service, the Ropazu municipality, private forest owners and other interested parties. The seminar confirmed the high level of interest among Latvian forestry professionals in digital technologies and innovations that help to make informed decisions on forest management, ensure sustainability and respond to the challenges of climate change.