Virtual Forest Twins based on Marteloscope point cloud data from different forest ecosystem types and its associated teaching workload

The 8th intellectual output (IO-8) titled "Virtual Forest Twins based on Marteloscope point cloud data from different forest ecosystems type and its associated teaching workload" [of the Erasmus+ project "Virtualization of Forest Studies (Virtual Forests)"] was led by Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) in Eberswalde, Germany. The main objectives of IO-8 were two-fold: (1) the development of an analytical pipeline for the virtualization of real forest stands from selected marteloscope sites into 3D virtual twins, and (2) the preparation of open-access, blended teaching and training materials based on the aforementioned analytical pipeline. Specifically, 3D virtual forest twins were created based on point cloud data derived from UAV-mounted and hand-held terrestrial laser scanning technology, followed by a series of software- and hardware-supported analytical steps, and finally rendered for visualization and presentation. The point cloud data collected represents the first significant product of IO8. All further results and products are compiled into open-source resources for teaching, training and research purposes in higher education and forest science. These include technical guidelines, MSc.-level learning materials available for self-directed study on the project Moodle, and a stand-alone online multimedia tutorial narrated in a published ArcGIS StoryMap.