To see the tree without branches

LiDAR in today’s iPhones is an amazing tool for digital forestry. It makes it possible to quickly estimate the distance from the device to the tree and automate measurements directly in the forest.

But LiDAR has its limitations. One of the biggest challenges is that it sometimes gets “confused” by branches when you want to measure the diameter of a tree. For species like Sitka spruce or Norwegian spruce, this can make diameter measurements less reliable.

With the latest release of Arboreal Forest, we are solving this problem.

A new way of measuring tree diameter

In this update, the app combines LiDAR data with advanced image analysis. By using the RGB image from the camera, the app can filter away branches and focus only on the stem. This gives much more precise and reliable diameter measurements, even in dense spruce stands.

We also added real-time feedback before you measure. The app now shows you where it detects the edges of the tree, so you can confirm the detection before taking a measurement. This reduces errors — especially in dense forests where trees grow very close together.

What this means in practice

• Faster inventory work
• Less manual correction
• Better data quality for decision-making

Our test users have confirmed that this new method not only improves accuracy, but also increases productivity in the field.

Available now

The update is available in the App Store today.

We are also publishing our accuracy benchmarks. You can explore how the results vary by iPhone model, measurement method, and app version — and see the improvements for yourself.

👉 See our evaluation benchmarks here

We hope you enjoy the new features and look forward to hearing your feedback.

Here is a video if you want to see more: