How LiDAR Mapping Reduced Survey Costs by 60% for Pacific Northwest Timber Company
Project Overview
When Cascade Timber Resources approached BW Geo in early 2025, they faced a familiar challenge: accurately mapping 50,000 acres of rugged forest terrain while keeping costs manageable. Traditional ground surveys would have required months of fieldwork and a budget exceeding $2 million.
The Challenge
The terrain presented significant obstacles: steep slopes averaging 35 degrees, dense canopy coverage exceeding 80%, and limited road access to remote parcels. Previous survey attempts using photogrammetry alone had produced unreliable ground elevation data due to the thick vegetation.
Our Solution
We deployed a multi-sensor approach combining airborne LiDAR with high-resolution multispectral imagery. The LiDAR system’s ability to penetrate forest canopy allowed us to capture accurate bare-earth terrain models while simultaneously mapping vegetation structure.
Key Technical Specifications
- Point density: 8 points per square meter
- Vertical accuracy: ±10cm RMSE
- Flight altitude: 1,000m AGL
- Coverage rate: 2,500 acres per flight day
Results
The project was completed in 6 weeks—compared to an estimated 8 months for traditional methods. Total cost came in at $780,000, representing a 61% reduction from the conventional survey estimate. More importantly, the data quality exceeded specifications, enabling Cascade Timber to identify an additional 3,200 acres of harvestable timber that previous surveys had missed.
Lessons Learned
This project reinforced several best practices for large-scale forest mapping: early coordination with aviation authorities for airspace clearance, careful flight planning to optimize LiDAR pulse angles on steep terrain, and integrated QA/QC workflows that catch data gaps before demobilization.