How can we explore new ways of communicating tree failure risk, prevention, and safety while advancing digital data acquisition in our forests?
On May 15th, the Cecina pine forest became an open-air laboratory for the TREESURE project, combining interactive role-playing games, digital technologies, and field activities dedicated to sustainable forest management. The day brought together researchers, students, institutions, and technicians with a shared goal: exploring new ways to communicate tree failure risk, improving prevention strategies, and experimenting with innovative tools for forest monitoring.
The activities were made possible thanks to the collaboration of the project partners: the University of Florence (UNIFI), Bluebiloba, CREP, VAB, and the Municipality of Cecina, who actively contributed to coordinating and carrying out the initiatives throughout the day.
Morning Session: Risk Perception and Serious Role-Playing
The morning session focused on a participatory activity involving Precision Forestry students from DAGRI at the University of Florence. For these future experts, it is crucial to balance high-tech training with a deep understanding of risk perception and risk assessment. Through an interactive tabletop role-playing game developed within the TREESURE project, participants simulated emergency scenarios related to tree failure risk, engaging with topics such as safety, community dynamics, and public communication.
The experience was further enriched by the participation of Civil Protection representatives and technicians from the Municipality of Cecina, who helped make the simulation even more realistic. Students fully immersed themselves in the dynamics that emerge during critical events, interpreting a wide variety of roles—including citizens, families, children, “elderly influencers,” administrators, and communication officers—clashing and collaborating to manage the emergency.
Afternoon Session: High-Tech Forestry in the Field
In the afternoon, activities moved directly to the Cecina pine forest for a practical field session focused on digital technologies applied to forest monitoring. Participants tested cutting-edge tools and applications developed and used within the TREESURE framework and the partner project SINTETIC (of which Bluebiloba is a partner), including:
- Mobile Laser Scanner: provided by Bluebiloba for high-resolution spatial data collection.
- LiDAR-equipped iPads with TreeScanner: exploring real-time, mobile tree mapping solutions.
- FuelMAPP application: utilized for precise forest fuel assessment and fire risk management.
This day beautifully demonstrated how collaborative, participatory approaches and advanced technological tools can work together to support forest monitoring and biodiversity protection.
A special thanks goes to the Municipality of Cecina for its constant support, and to the Carabinieri Forestali Biodiversità di Cecina for sharing their invaluable expertise with the students during the field activities.
TREESURE continues to develop innovative and participatory tools for the future of sustainable forest management.
Stay tuned for more updates on our work!
