nitay Inc. consortium to pilot satellite-based forest resource estimation

A consortium consisting of nitay Inc., Archeda Co., Ltd., and SOC Co., Ltd. has been selected by Hokkaido to conduct a demonstration project for the FY2026 Space-Related Industry Promotion Project. Starting in August 2026, the project aims to develop methods for estimating Above-Ground Biomass (AGB) using satellite imagery.

The initiative seeks to address labor shortages and high accident rates in the forestry industry by automating forest resource surveys. Currently, these surveys rely heavily on manual on-site inspections, which are labor-intensive and prone to error. By utilizing optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data, the consortium intends to verify if remote sensing can provide a high-precision, low-cost alternative to traditional methods.

The demonstration will involve five stages: preparing ground-truth data using aerial laser scanning and UAV-LiDAR, procuring satellite data, building analytical models, evaluating accuracy, and verifying economic effectiveness. The ultimate goal is to develop a service for forestry operators and local governments to assist in decision-making, such as identifying priority areas for harvesting.