Extended reality applications in forest management and operations : a review

Abstract

This review examines integration of extended reality (XR) technologies – virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) applications, and mixed reality (MR) – in forest management and operations. We synthesize XR applications across key forestry domains: harvesting, inventory and mapping, fire management, biodiversity monitoring, training, and stakeholder engagement. Reviewing 65 studies spanning 2014–2024 (especially 2020–2024) revealed a sharp increase in XR forestry research after 2019: VR, which is easily deployed in controlled settings, has dominated (approximately 72% of studies), while AR (approximately 23%) is growing as mobile/wearable technologies improve. We analyze technological enablers (hardware – e.g. headsets, drones, mobile devices – and software platforms – e.g. game engines) and discuss human factors (usability, user acceptance). Key challenges include technical limitations (e.g. accurate spatial alignment under the forest canopy, data interoperability, device ruggedness) and environmental and organizational constraints (connectivity in remote areas, costs, user training needs). We highlight emerging trends – integration of artificial intelligence (AI) for data processing, development of forest digital twins, multi-user collaborative XR – as pathways to enhance XR capabilities in forestry. We underscore XR’s transformative potential to advance precision forestry and sustainable management through immersive visualization, interactive scenario simulation, and improved decision support, and conclude with recommendations to improve XR accuracy, efficiency, and adoption.