Abstract:

The Forest Spatial Analysis Technology (ForestSAT) Conference is a pivotal assembly in the global domain of forestry remote sensing, functioning as a vital gauge for advancements in this area of research. The ForestSAT 2024 was convented from September 9 to 13 in Rotorua, New Zealand, drawing academics from more than 40 nations to deliberate on 38 subjects, including statistical remote sensing, forest inventory, forest ecology, remote sensing algorithms, remote sensing products, and future trends. The conference underscored five significant aspects: firstly, the prominence of statistical remote sensing; secondly, the robust demand for remote sensing applications within forest ecology and inventory; thirdly, the accentuation on data fusion to capitalize on the strengths of multi-source and multi-modal data; fourthly, the vital support that remote sensing products contribute to the global “double carbon” strategy; lastly, the inquiry into future developmental trajectories for forestry remote sensing. During the event, two keynote speeches were presented, with additional avant-garde topics such as UAV remote sensing, upscaling, small-domain estimation, and error propagation. As an integration of sampling surveys, statistical models, and remote sensing technology, statistical remote sensing is instrumental in addressing the challenges of forestry remote sensing, elucidating the emerging developmental directions in this discipline.

Key words: ForestSAT, statistical remote sensing, upscaling, small-area estimation, error propagation