Measuring the impact of bark beetles

Ben Bright (former MS student, now research associate) and Dr. Jeff Hicke investigate ways of using LiDAR and other types of remote sensing to measure biomass change in forests affected by bark beetles. Beetles have killed millions of trees in western North American during the last decade. Measuring the amount of biomass killed by bark beetles is an important first step in determining how bark beetle outbreaks affect forest carbon sequestration and climate.

Learn more about their work and Dr. Hicke's lab.

With the assistance of Linda Tedrow, a remote sensing specialist at the University of Idaho, they have created innovative ways of visualizing these impacts through virtual three-dimensional technology using the virtual reality IQ Station located in the University of Idaho Library.