Work

A Proof-of-Concept Mixed Reality Prototype for Virtual Tree Tagging and Field–Office Communication in Forestry

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Forest planning and operational execution still often rely on separate office-based workflows, field inventories, and analogue tree-marking procedures, limiting direct communication between planners and field personnel. Mixed reality (MR) interfaces and forest digital twin concepts may help link planning decisions with field-level visualization and interaction. This study presents an initial proof-of-concept prototype for MR-based virtual tree tagging and field–office communication in forestry. The prototype integrates a Unity GE-based Forest Planner System, a Microsoft HoloLens 2-based Forest Worker System, and a locally hosted MagicOnion server for bidirectional client–server communication. Virtual trees with predefined stem diameters were created in Unity GE, and torus-shaped markers were implemented to support tree selection, color-coded designation, marker deletion, and visualization of predefined diameter-related attributes. Under controlled indoor conditions using a 5G mobile hotspot, both clients connected to the server and exchanged marker-related events. Marker creation, color assignment, deletion, and shared marker-state updates initiated from either client were reproduced in the corresponding system. The prototype demonstrates the functional feasibility of the core communication workflow but remains limited to a simulated environment.

Source: Applied Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/app16147331

Authors: Avinash Shanmugam, Felipe de Miguel-Díez, Thomas Purfürst

Institution: Technische Universität Dresden

Language: English

Topic: Augmented Reality Applications

Subfield: Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition

Field: Computer Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life on land

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896