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Innovative digital measurement technologies: a leap towards sustainable forestry

sustainable forestry Timbeter

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In the ever-evolving forestry sector, digital transformation reshapes how businesses approach efficiency, sustainability, and transparency. Estonian company Timbeter has emerged as a leader in this shift of sustainable forestry, offering innovative digital measurement solutions that streamline operations and contribute to the industry’s broader environmental goals. In conversation with Timbeter’s CEO, Anna-Greta Tsahkna,  we explore how Timbeter’s technology transforms the forestry sector and helps companies meet their green objectives.

Revolutionising timber measurement

Timbeter’s primary innovation lies in its digital measurement technologies, which replace traditional manual methods of timber measurement with cutting-edge digital solutions. By utilising both software, hardware and integrated solutions, Timbeter’s platform allows for accurate and efficient measurements of timber volumes, reducing errors and speeding up processes. This automation minimises the need for costly manual labour, enhances accuracy, and reduces the risk of disputes in timber transactions.

However, as Tsahkna explains, the impact of their technology has expanded significantly beyond improving convenience. “Accurate information in real-time helps to make decisions, whether for logistics planning or sales,” she notes. For example, understanding each assortment’s exact location helps increase timber transport efficiency and avoid half-empty or overloaded trucks.

An indicator of Timbeter’s reliability is their recent agreement with the Lithuanian state forest management, whereby Timbeter’s technology now measures all timber sold by the Lithuanian state. The prerequisite to meet the national forest certification requirements was that the Kaunas Institute of Technology validated the company’s software and hardware combination.

“This ensures that the results are undisputable, similar to the use of speed cameras in traffic management,” says Tsahkna. This high level of transparency is critical in forestry, where regulatory compliance and traceability are increasingly important.

Impact on sustainability and green goals

Timbeter’s digital solutions are not just about improving operational efficiency but also vital for driving sustainability. Not only does their product allow for increased efficiency, but they also reduce material use. For instance, a Chilean customer using Timbeter’s technology reported a remarkable reduction in the use of spray paint, cutting down by 22.5 tons in the first year and later by 45 tons annually. This reduction lowers the environmental impact and contributes to cost savings, showing how sustainability and business efficiency can go hand in hand. Such success stories illustrate that Timbeter’s digital solutions effectively make the forestry sector more environmentally friendly, particularly in regions where traditional, labour-intensive methods are still prevalent.

Adapting to European and global requirements

Timbeter’s solutions have gained traction on a global scale, with their technologies being implemented in countries like Brazil and Chile. In Brazil, for example, Timbeter has established an office to serve the local market better and shorten the sales cycle. This presence allows the company to expand its offerings, including the real-time monitoring of trucks for optimal logistics planning. Such innovations are essential in Latin America, where forestry companies often have long histories of building on strong community engagement. The region also faces significant pressure to reduce illegal forestry and corruption.

By providing transparent, real-time data accessible to all stakeholders, Timbeter’s solutions make it harder for fraudulent activities to occur. Through its pilot projects with state governments, Timbeter is demonstrating how digital tools can be used more effectively to control and monitor forestry activities.

Timbeter is especially relevant in Europe in light of the new deforestation regulation. Companies must ensure that their products do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation, so Timbeter’s services are in high demand. What makes them especially suitable is Timbeter’s adaptability to different regulatory environments in local and regional contexts.

“Coming from a small country, we had to aim for exports immediately,” says Tsahkna. “This gives us an advantage over our competitors since we have experience adapting to particular requirements.”

New direction: measuring growing forests

The company is actively working on new solutions that build on their know-how. An important direction in measuring the growing forest is to provide more accurate data on carbon sequestration and help companies participate in carbon credit markets. By developing remote monitoring tools using satellite data, Timbeter aims to offer a comprehensive view of forest ecosystems, enabling better management and conservation practices.

As the forestry industry continues to face challenges related to sustainability and traceability, Timbeter’s digital tools provide a way forward, proving that technological innovation is vital to achieving green goals and sustainable forestry.

Written by
Peeter Vihma
Peeter Vihma is an author, documentalist, and researcher at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech). He is interested in how digital technology influences people and societies, especially regarding nature and resources.

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