Shaping the future of forestry in Germany: Stakeholder perspectives on optimizing forest management through Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality (AR) is revolutionizing various industries by enabling the real-time, context-driven integration of data into the physical environment. In forestry, AR offers opportunities to enhance operational efficiency, improve occupational safety, and support sustainable management practices. This study explored AR's potential in forestry through qualitative interviews with a diverse range of stakeholders, including forestry professionals and AR experts from multiple countries. The interviews, analyzed using qualitative content analysis, revealed a wide range of AR applications—spanning forest inventory, silvicultural operations, disaster management, logistics, and stakeholder communication. Key findings highlighted AR's ability to optimize processes such as real-time hazard detection, automated forest inventory, and interactive data visualization. The study also underscored AR's role in improving occupational safety, reducing errors, and supporting decision-making. Technologies such as Mixed Reality smart glasses integrated with GPS and Real-Time Kinematic systems were identified as essential for achieving the precision required. However, the study acknowledged barriers to implementation, including high acquisition costs, limited device durability, and user resistance due to discomfort and device complexity. Recommendations include the development of user-friendly applications featuring voice-controlled interfaces and modular visualization modes to improve usability and prevent information overload. Despite current limitations, AR holds potential to transform forestry by streamlining workflows, reducing environmental impact, and enhancing occupational safety. This research offers insights for AR software developers, hardware manufacturers, and forestry stakeholders, providing a roadmap for innovation and implementation. By overcoming identified barriers and leveraging AR's capabilities, forestry could achieve substantial improvements in efficiency and sustainability.