Arne Nothdurft

Arne Nothdurft is a University Professor for Forest Monitoring at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) in Vienna, Austria, where he chairs the Institute of Forest Growth within the Department of Forest and Soil Sciences. With a career spanning over two decades in forest research and academic leadership, he has established himself as a leading expert in advanced forest inventory techniques and forest growth modeling.

Professor Nothdurft's research focuses on the application of cutting-edge technologies in forest monitoring, particularly LiDAR and personal laser scanning systems for forest inventory. His work bridges the gap between traditional forestry practices and modern digital solutions, with emphasis on mixed species forest management, climate change adaptation, and the development of smart forestry systems. His research interests encompass forest growth modeling, tree species classification using point cloud data, and the development of spatial prediction models for forest inventory parameters.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward integrating artificial intelligence with forestry applications, particularly in the analysis of 3D point cloud data from laser scanning technologies. His work spans both theoretical advancements in spatial statistics and practical applications for forest managers, with a particular focus on improving the accuracy and efficiency of forest inventory systems.

• Thurn und Taxis Förderpreis für die Forstwissenschaft (2008)

Professor Nothdurft has supervised numerous master's and doctoral theses, primarily focused on the application of laser scanning technologies in forestry, forest inventory optimization, and growth modeling. His research is supported by multiple ongoing projects funded by Austrian research agencies and federal ministries, with a strong emphasis on practical applications for forest management. He leads the Institute of Forest Growth, which maintains the Lehrforst Rosalia long-term forest monitoring site, and collaborates extensively with the Institute of Forest Engineering on smart forestry initiatives.