Integration of UAV Technology for Sustainable Forest Management in Zambian Forestry

Oze Makukula

Diplomová práce

Abstract:

This study assesses the application of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology in forest monitoring and management, with a focus on developing a practical framework for its integration into Zambia’s forestry sector. UAV imagery was acquired over Pinus kesiya plantation stands of different age classes and processed using Agisoft Metashape Professional to generate an orthomosaic, Digital Surface Model (DSM), and point cloud. These outputs were further analyzed in ArcGIS Pro to assess spatial distribution, canopy structure, and height variability. In addition to UAV data, field measurements of tree height and diameter at breast height (DBH) were collected across five sample plots representing different age classes. The field data were used to evaluate growth patterns and to validate UAV-derived results. The findings indicate that UAV technology is effective in capturing spatial variability and structural characteristics of forest stands. However, discrepancies were observed between UAV-derived height values and field measurements, particularly when using mean DSM values, highlighting the importance of selecting appropriate metrics such as percentile-based height estimates. The study also evaluated the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of UAV technology compared to traditional forest monitoring methods. Results show that UAVs offer a faster and more flexible approach to data collection, although they require technical expertise and initial investment. Several limitations were identified, including the absence of a Digital Terrain Model (DTM), which affected height estimation accuracy. Based on these findings, a practical framework is proposed to guide the integration of UAV technology into forest management in Zambia. The framework outlines key steps including regulatory compliance, data acquisition, processing, analysis, and field validation. Overall, the study demonstrates that UAV technology has strong potential to support efficient and data-driven forest management when combined with field measurements.

Keywords

UAV technology, Forest monitoring & management, Integration, Framework, Zambia

Jazyk práce: angličtina

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 1. 4. 2026

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Obhajoba proběhla 1. 6. 2026
• Vedoucí: doc. Ing. Peter Surový, PhD.
• Oponent: Zdeněk Patočka, Bc., externi

Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze

Fakulta lesnická a dřevařská

Magisterský studijní program:
Forestry, Water and Landscape Management