Integrating ARKit 6 (Arboreal Forest app) in woodland mensuration: A case study in the Zagros woodlands, Iran
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15287/afr.2026.4056Keywords:
crown diameter, cumulative distribution functions (CDFs), height, LiDAR, probability density functions (PDF), TruPulse 360BAbstract
As augmented reality (AR) technology continues to evolve, its application in forestry measurement is gaining increasing attention. While previous research has largely focused on diameter at breast height (DBH) measurements, expanding AR-based tools to other tree parameters is essential for assessing forest structure, biomass, and growth. This study evaluates the effectiveness of ARKit 6 (Arboreal Forest app, AF), a LiDAR-integrated mobile tool, for measuring tree height and crown diameter, by comparing its measurements with those of TruPulse 360B (TP), a professional-grade laser rangefinder. A statistical framework employing probability and cumulative distribution functions was applied to 215 broadleaved and coniferous trees, with goodness-of-fit tests (Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Anderson-Darling) indicating that Weibull and Log-Normal distributions best described the measurements. Agreement between tools was assessed using Bland-Altman analysis and error metrics including bias, mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean square error (RMSE). For height, the bias was -0.01 m, MAE 0.125 m, and RMSE 0.211 m, while for crown diameter, bias -0.59 m, MAE 2.02 m, and RMSE 2.70 m, indicating strong agreement between AF and TP. Descriptive statistics indicated similar means, standard deviations, and skewness values, suggesting that AF provides measurements comparable to TP. Minor differences in kurtosis and skewness suggest how each tool handles extreme values. These findings highlight AF as a cost-efficient and reliable alternative to professional-grade tools for tree height and crown diameter estimation. As AR technology evolves, its role in forestry is expected to expand toward real-time data integration, modeling, and ecological assessments.
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