Wednesday, September 17, 2025
In the heart of Europe’s expansive forests, a quiet revolution is underway, one that promises to reshape the woodworking and timber industries. This transformation is not driven by new machinery alone, but by a powerful combination of advanced digital technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and a focus on the most fundamental unit of the forest: the individual tree. Spearheaded by the SingleTree project, a collaboration of Europe’s leading researchers and companies, this initiative is charting a new course for sustainable forest management, with Swedish forestry giant SCA Skog at the forefront.
The SingleTree project, which commenced in late 2024, is a four-year, EU-funded endeavor aimed at optimising the entire forest value chain. It’s a mission to transition from managing forests at the stand level—treating an entire section of woodland as a uniform entity—to a more precise, tree-by-tree approach. Coordinated by the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy (NIBIO) and supported by 14 partners from across Europe, this project brings together some of the most brilliant minds in forestry and digital technology. The goal is simple yet ambitious: to unlock the full potential of every tree by using remote sensing, AI, and data-driven insights.
Creating a digital twin of the forest
At the core of this technological leap is the concept of a “digital twin” of the forest. This isn’t just a 3D map; it’s a living, breathing virtual replica that evolves with the real-world forest. Through high-resolution laser scanning and data collected from advanced forestry machines, SCA Skog is creating these digital twins, providing an unprecedented level of detail about each tree. This data, combined with powerful AI algorithms, allows for a fundamentally new way to plan harvesting operations.
SCA’s internally developed tool, SCAn, exemplifies this shift. Instead of spending significant time on-site, forestry planners can now perform a large part of their work from the office. This not only boosts efficiency and saves valuable time, particularly during the harsh Scandinavian winters, but it also allows for a more targeted approach to field inspections. By virtually analyzing the forest, planners can identify and prioritize specific areas that require on-the-ground assessment, making the entire process smarter and more efficient.
From forest to finished product: A digitally connected value chain
The impact of this digital transformation extends far beyond the planning phase. The SingleTree project is building a seamless, digitally connected value chain, ensuring that data follows the timber from the forest to the final product. Participants in a recent annual meeting of the SingleTree project in Sundsvall, Sweden, witnessed this firsthand. At a logging site, harvesters and forwarders equipped with advanced GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) technology precisely positioned and tracked each piece of timber.
This data is part of the broader “DigFor Trace” project, which enables the tracking of timber from its origin to the sawmill. The ability to trace a log’s journey ensures accountability, but it also provides crucial data for optimising the entire process. At the Bollsta sawmill, a state-of-the-art facility, this digital connection culminates in a groundbreaking grading system. Using CT scanners, the sawmill can look inside each log to determine its internal properties and identify the most suitable end product. This level of precision maximizes value, ensuring that a high-quality log becomes a premium-grade product, rather than being downgraded. This also plays a huge part in preventing wasted resources.
Global collaboration, local application
The SingleTree project is a testament to the power of international collaboration. With partners from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Spain, and Switzerland, the project is tackling challenges and opportunities that vary significantly across different European forest ecosystems. Magnus Bergman, Head of Technology and Digitalisation at SCA Skog, highlights the stark contrasts: “Our forests here in Northern Europe, with only a handful of tree species, cannot be compared to forests in other EU countries, which might have as many as 50 different tree species.” This diversity of conditions makes the project’s findings incredibly valuable, ensuring the developed solutions are adaptable and robust.
Innovations aren’t just happening on the ground. The project also explores cutting-edge methods for aerial data collection. At the annual meeting, attendees were introduced to a unique 12-meter-long airship from the Finnish company Kelluu. This environmentally friendly and efficient alternative to helicopters can fly for up to 12 hours, collecting high-resolution data that will be used for analysis. SCA, which already scans tens of thousands of hectares annually with helicopters, is partnering with Kelluu to test this exciting new technology over its forests, demonstrating a commitment to exploring every avenue for improving digital forestry.
Sustainability and the future of woodworking
For the woodworking industry, the implications of the SingleTree project are profound. It’s not just about efficiency and profit; it’s about sustainable management and environmental stewardship. The project’s focus on maximising the value of each tree naturally leads to less waste and a more efficient use of resources. By integrating nature conservation strategies directly into harvesting plans, tools like SCAn ensure that environmental considerations are not an afterthought but an intrinsic part of the process.
This new era of digital forestry is poised to lead to major changes in how forests are managed, how the timber industry operates, and how research is conducted. For woodworkers and timber businesses, this means a future with more traceable, higher-quality, and sustainably sourced materials. The collaboration between forest owners, researchers, and technology companies is paving the way for a more intelligent, connected, and responsible future for the entire forest-based value chain. The first results of this ambitious project are now emerging, and they promise to be a blueprint for the future of sustainable woodworking.
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Tags: digital forestry, digital harvesting operations, EU project, finished goods warehouse, forestry machines, SCA
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