Augmented Reality in Forestry: Current Capabilities, Limitations, and Future Directions

Abstract

Purpose of the Review This semi-systematic review examines how augmented reality (AR) was developed and applied in forestry between 2000 and 2025. With a European focus and international scope, it integrates peer-reviewed literature, grey literature, and commercially available tools to capture progress and practice. It maps AR use cases, characterises hardware, software, and data pipelines, assesses Technology Readiness Levels, and identifies barriers, research gaps, and priorities for future deployment. Recent Findings AR in forestry is moving from isolated prototypes towards early operational implementation. The most mature applications are found in forest inventory, urban forestry, and roundwood measurement, where smartphone- and tablet-based tools using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), Red, Green, Blue, and Depth (RGB-D) sensing, Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM), and computer vision have reached moderate to high readiness, with some commercially deployed. Head-mounted displays and machine-integrated systems are being tested for stand visualisation, digital tree marking, planting guidance, and harvesting support, but most remain at pilot stage. Most systems cluster around TRL 4–6, while only a limited subset reaches TRL 7–9. Summary AR in forestry is a heterogeneous but rapidly evolving ecosystem of mobile, wearable, and machine-integrated solutions. Persistent barriers include under-canopy tracking instability, weak georeferencing, limited ruggedness and battery life, ergonomic constraints, poor interoperability, and limited validation. AR nevertheless shows strong potential as a human-centred interface, but wider deployment will require forest-adapted localisation, lightweight 3D visualisation, stronger system integration, and closer collaboration across stakeholders.

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