About TreeSense
The Centre for Remote Sensing and Deep Learning of Global Tree Resources (TreeSense) aims to transform the way we observe and understand woody vegetation across the globe - both inside and beyond forested areas.
Our goal is to develop advanced AI-based algorithms for next-generation satellite data, enabling precise detection and characterization of trees. This includes identifying species, measuring crown size and height, estimating carbon stocks and sequestration rates, and mapping local usage patterns.
By integrating cutting-edge technology with deep learning methods, TreeSense will uncover how environmental and human factors are shaping tree resources — and what these changes mean for ecosystems and local livelihoods worldwide.
The TreeSense Centre will officially launch in spring 2025 with a grant of DKK 59,909,600. The centre is led by Professor Rasmus Fensholt (UCPH-IGN) in collaboration with Co-PIs Professor Christian Igel (UCPH-DIKU), Associate Professor Laura Vang Rasmussen (UCPH-IGN), Associate Professor Martin Brandt (UCPH-IGN), Assistant Professor Ankit Kariryaa (UCPH-DIKU/IGN), and Centre Administrator Andreas Egelund Christensen (UCPH-IGN).
Relevance, novelty, potential and impact
Trees are fundamental for all living organisms on land and trees provide a broad range of ecological, economic, and social benefits paramount for human well-being such as carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change and support biodiversity, timber production, and food products. Nevertheless, the characterization of global woody resources remains deficient, and, as a result, detailed knowledge of how climate change and human management affect this vital resource is severely lacking.
In recent decades, satellite remote sensing has proven essential in quantifying global distributions and changes in tree-dominated ecosystems. However, current state-of-the-art global data products offer only limited details, which impedes in-depth characterization of woody resources. Consequently, there is a remarkable gap in our understanding of how global change impacts the structure, functioning, resilience, and human utilization of woody ecosystems ranging from tropical to arctic regions. In fact, as it stands today, trees in non-forest designated areas remain unquantified in all global-cover remote sensing products, impairing important political decision-making regarding climate mitigation strategies, food security, and biodiversity conservation.
With TreeSense, our vision is to revolutionize remote sensing of woody vegetation by developing new means to characterize and quantify global woody vegetation dynamics, both inside as well as outside of forests. We will achieve this goal by devising new artificial intelligence (AI) based algorithms for the next generation of remotely sensed data to characterize trees, including key properties such as species identification, crown size and height, carbon stocks and sequestration rates, and local usage. Our approach will ultimately allow us to accurately unveil and quantify the coupled human-environmental drivers of change in all woody resources and thereby gain new, vital knowledge on the implications of those changes for local livelihoods across the planet.
Organisation
Steering committee (SC)
A steering committee consisting of all PIs is responsible for the scientific progress, employment, and regular evaluation of the direction of centre activities. The SC will meet monthly for running updates and have bi-annual seminars focusing on the overall direction of TreeSense. Daily managerial decisions will be the responsibility of the centre leader. Administrative support is provided by the host department (financial and HR support), and a fulltime centre administrator will secure timely coordination of centre administrative tasks, such as budgeting, recruitment, social media public outreach, and travel and meeting logistics.
An early career (PhD/Postdoc) panel will be established, being responsible for arranging social and scientific events. The panel will report to the SC with suggestions for centre improvements etc.
Scientific Advisory Board (SAB)
The board will help guide the launch and progress of TreeSense. The SAB holds complementary expertise to the SC and includes Matthew C. Hansen, Patrick Hostert, Niall Hanan, Agnès Bégué and Markus Reichstein, which are all highly recognized experts in their respective fields. In addition to guidance during the important start-up phase, the SAB will provide a critical review of the scientific progress, guidelines for improvements, and specific advice based on annual reports and other publications. The SAB will meet with the SC in the inception phase of the centre and after the 2nd and 4th year.
Funding
TreeSense is funded by the Danish National Research Foundation through a Centre of Excellence Grant (DNRF Grant Number 192)
Director of Centre: Rasmus Fensholt