Case Study Storm-Damaged Forests: Assessing the Impact with Drones

150 hectares
Windblown woodland surveyed

3 days
To complete the aerial survey

DJI Mavic 3E
Platform used to capture the site data

The challenge

Assess storm-damaged woodland before clearance could begin

Storm Arwen brought destructive winds to Scotland, leaving this woodland with around 90% of its tree stock affected. Fallen and unstable trees made the site hazardous, while the scale of the damage made a rapid, reliable assessment difficult from the ground.

The owner needed to understand the extent of the damage, plan safe access for cutting teams and provide mapped evidence to support an application to supply timber beyond the annual limit that applied to the site. The assessment also needed to inform the eventual clearance and replanting plan.

The priority was to map the damage quickly, help teams assess risks before entering the woodland and provide evidence for decisions on timber supply and recovery.
Iprosurv surveyed 150 hectares over three days and produced measurable mapping data for the client.

Case at a glance

Aerial mapping for woodland recovery

Event: Storm Arwen

Site: Windblown woodland in Scotland

Platform: DJI Mavic 3E

Area surveyed: 150 hectares

Survey duration: 3 days

Outputs: 2D maps and digital surface models

The approach

Map the damage. Support safer access. Plan what comes next.

Iprosurv used a DJI Mavic 3E to survey the affected woodland and collect aerial imagery across 150 hectares. The data was processed into 2D maps and digital surface models, giving the client a measurable record to support timber supply decisions, clearance planning and future replanting.

Survey the affected woodland

Use the DJI Mavic 3E to capture data across a large, hazardous area, completing the 150-hectare survey over three days.

Create measurable site records

Process the imagery into 2D maps and digital surface models that can be measured, reviewed and retained as a record of the site before clearance.

Support clearance and replanting plans

Give the client and cutting teams an overview to help assess site risks, plan clearance and consider the layout for replanting pine stock.

The result

A mapped record to support urgent decisions and long-term recovery

Iprosurv surveyed more than 150 hectares over three days and produced 2D maps and digital surface models. The measured outputs gave the client data to support its request for authorisation to supply timber beyond the annual limit that applied to the site.

The mapping also gave cutting teams an overview of the affected woodland before deployment into a hazardous area. Retaining the data created a record of the site before clearance and provided information that could help with planning the replanting of pine stock.

What the data supported

Clearer information for the recovery operation

✓
Mapped coverage of 150 hectares in three days

✓
Measurable 2D maps and digital surface models

✓
Evidence to support the client’s timber supply authorisation request

✓
Information for safer clearance planning and pine replanting

Why it matters

The right data helps connect urgent clearance with woodland recovery

After a major windblown event, owners need to understand the scale and location of the damage, plan work around unstable trees and provide the information required for decisions on timber and felling. Aerial mapping can give teams a shared overview before they enter the affected area.

A retained pre-clearance record can also help inform later decisions, including how the land may be prepared and replanted. The specific permissions required depend on the site and the proposed work.

Start with the affected area

Need to assess storm-damaged woodland?

Tell us about the affected area, access risks and information you need for clearance or replanting. We’ll help you assess whether drone mapping could support your recovery plan.

Talk to Iprosurv