Funding tool: Basic research projects
Project-ID: FTI25-G-001
Project start: 01. Mai 2026
Project end: 30. April 2029
Runtime: 36 months / ongoing
Funding amount: € 360.000,00

Brief summary:
The SMARTER FOREST project develops a foundational framework for explainable, human-centered cyber-physical systems (CPS) to advance sustainable, resource-efficient, and resilient forest operations. Addressing critical gaps in the adaptation of AI-driven technologies to complex, unstructured natural environments, the project integrates human-in-the-loop methodologies, explainability mechanisms, and circular economy principles. A three-generation research design evaluates current CPS technologies, iteratively adapts them through low-cost, human-centered enhancements, and prototypes advanced systems guided by real-world forestry use cases. These include predictive road maintenance, biodiversity assessment, and fire risk mitigation. Through decentralized multi-robot coordination, sensor integration, and adaptive digital twin modelling, the project enhances transparency, usability, and ecological impact assessment. By combining ecological, technical, and human factors, SMARTER FOREST lays the scientific groundwork for deploying trustworthy AI in forestry, contributing to both EU circular economy targets and broader transdisciplinary innovation in sustainable resource management.

Keywords:
Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI), Human-centered AI (Human-in-the-Loop), Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), Sustainable Forestry, Digital Twins, Robotics in Natural Environments, Circular Economy, Resilience in Technical Systems, Environmental Monitoring, Multisensor Data Fusion, Interdisciplinary Research, International Collaboration.