System and method for performing a forest inventory

A system for performing a forest inventory, comprising:

• a display;
• a user interface;
• means for determining location;
• means for measuring distance;
• a camera;
• non-transitory computer readable memory;
• and
• a controller in communication with the display, the user interface, the means for determining location, the means for measuring distance, the camera and the non-transitory computer readable memory, the controller being configured for:
• recording a digital image of a tree and a surrounding region with the camera, wherein the surrounding region includes at least a ground surface, and wherein the digital image of the tree and the surrounding region is stored in the non-transitory computer readable memory;
• displaying the digital image of the tree and the surrounding region to a user on the display;
• overlaying a vertical line on the digital image of the tree and the surrounding region;
• the user positioning the camera such that the vertical line is overlayed on the tree between edges thereof and such that a lower end of the vertical line overlays an intersection between a bottom of the tree and the ground surface;
• identifying and localizing the edges of the tree in the digital image of the tree and the surrounding region;
• measuring a distance between the camera and the tree using the means for measuring distance;
• measuring a virtual distance between the edges of the tree displayed in the digital image;
• converting the virtual distance into a diameter of the tree;
• determining a location of the tree using the means for determining location;
• and
• virtually tagging the tree in the digital image with a virtual tag including data representative of the diameter of the tree and the location of the tree.