Arkansas researcher using GeoAI to map and manage forests, technology expected to add jobs

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – A professor from the University of Arkansas at Monticello is using his research project to create a high-resolution map of the Arkansas forest canopy, which at least one company in the Natural State is using to its advantage.

Professor Hamdi Zurqani from UAM and the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture has spent two years working on a forest map.

Highland Pellets, a company in Pine Bluff, plans on using it soon. Highland Pellets uses pine trees and sawmill residues to make about 600,000 tons of wood pellets a year, making sustainability the most important thing to procurement manager Andy Quinn.

“To make sure that we are leaving trees for future generations,” Quinn said. “And that we’re not going in and just clearing everything out and converting it.”

So, when Quinn learned about this research project, he reached out to Zurqani to learn how this could benefit the company.

“To help us make sure that deforestation is not occurring,” Quinn said. “Making sure we’re not having logs brought in from high-sensitive areas.”

And to benefit others is exactly what Zurqani said he wanted from his project.

“Because when you start a project, you ask yourself a question: Is this project going to be beneficial for others, or am I doing it for nothing?” Zurqani said.

Quinn said this map will do more than show the forest canopy.

“This technology allows us to grow faster and look for more qualified people to hire,” Quinn said.

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