I am looking for a forestry management software that uses lidar for timber estimation.

Several advanced forestry management and point-cloud processing software platforms leverage LiDAR data to estimate timber volume , map forest structure, and automate inventory workflows . Because LiDAR data can be captured from the air (ALS), drones (UAV), or the ground (TLS/SLAM), different software options cater to specific field setups.lidarpayload.com+2

The top software solutions designed for LiDAR-based timber estimation include:

1. Dedicated Point Cloud & AI Analytics Software

• GreenValley International LiDAR360
  • How it works: A professional-grade 3D point cloud processing software that features a dedicated TLS Forest and ALS Forest toolbox.
  • Timber Estimation Capabilities: It automates tree segmentation, isolates individual tree IDs, and measures tree height alongside Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) . This data is used to directly calculate standing timber volume and plot out biomass or carbon stocks.inertiallabs.com+2
• Lidarvisor
  • How it works: A cloud-based, AI-driven forestry platform built specifically for analyzing individual tree metrics from uploaded .LAS or .LAZ LiDAR files.
  • Timber Estimation Capabilities: Features an automated workflow that classifies the point cloud, extracts canopy layers, and generates inventory reports outlining individual tree locations, crown dimensions, and stand-level timber volume.lidarvisor.com
• AID-FOREST
  • How it works: A fully automatic, AI-based software designed to process massive LiDAR point clouds.
  • Timber Estimation Capabilities: It boasts a high tree-detectability rate (over 97%) even in dense canopy environments and yields statistically unbiased stem volume estimations.sciencedirect.com

2. Terrestrial & Mobile LiDAR Mobile Apps (For In-Field Estimation)

If you prefer to capture and calculate timber metrics directly on the ground using mobile devices or handheld scanners:

• Arboreal Forest
  • How it works: A mobile application that leverages the built-in LiDAR sensors on newer iPhones and iPads.
  • Timber Estimation Capabilities: By scanning a chosen sample plot, the app measures tree height and distance to automatically calculate basal area, tree density, and timber volume right in the field.academic.oup.com
• ForestScanner
  • How it works: A free, mobile application for iPhone/iPad LiDAR sensors.
  • Timber Estimation Capabilities: Uses real-time instance segmentation and circle fitting to estimate stem diameters and map tree coordinates as you walk through a plot. (Note: Raw data usually requires exporting to a secondary tool for final volume summation).besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com+1

Summary Comparison

To help narrow down the best platform for your workflow, could you let me know:

• What method of LiDAR capture are you planning to use? (e.g., drone/UAV, aerial flyovers, or handheld/backpack ground scanners)
• Do you prefer a desktop/cloud processor for large tracts of land, or a mobile field app for quick cruising and sample plots?

Yes. There are several options, but they fall into two categories: full forest-management systems that can consume LiDAR-derived inventory, and LiDAR-first tools that actually estimate individual trees/timber volume.

Strong options to investigate

• Remsoft — AFRIDS + Stratus

• AFRIDS is specifically designed for LiDAR forest inventory, using remote sensing, forest biometrics and AI to estimate metrics such as volume and basal area across harvest or management areas.Remsoft+1

• Stratus is the broader forest-management platform for inventory, spatial data, silviculture, harvesting, planning and budgeting, and can use LiDAR-enhanced forest inventory data.Remsoft

• Best fit if: you want LiDAR inventory integrated into a larger operational forest-management system.

• remsoft.com

• Clear Timber Analytics — Forest Insights

• Uses airborne LiDAR and machine learning to identify individual trees and calculate DBH, height, canopy size and volume. It can provide tree-level GIS layers and inventory data for downstream management systems.Clear Timber+1

• Best fit if: your primary requirement is turning LiDAR point clouds into a detailed tree/timber inventory.

• cleartimber.com

• forestum.ai

• Combines drone imagery with LiDAR to produce species, tree location, height, DBH and timber volume data, with GIS/GeoJSON outputs.Kindwise

• Best fit if: you're interested in drone-based LiDAR and individual-tree timber estimation.

• FlyPix AI

• Accepts LiDAR along with aerial, drone and satellite imagery. Its forestry workflow can delineate stands, count stocking and estimate yield, then export the resulting GIS layers.Flypix

• Best fit if: you want a relatively flexible, no-code remote-sensing platform rather than a traditional forestry FMS.

• flypix.ai

• Lidarvisor

• A LiDAR-specific workflow that extracts individual tree tops/crowns and produces forest inventory outputs. It supports timber-volume workflows and exports tree-level data for use in GIS/forest-management software.Lidarvisor

• Best fit if: you already have LAS/LAZ data and want a straightforward LiDAR-to-inventory pipeline.

• ArborMapper

• Focuses on tree-level inventory from LiDAR, automatically identifying and measuring individual trees across plantations, natural forests and public lands.ArborMapper

• Best fit if: individual-tree measurement is more important than broader operational management.

One important distinction

If by "timber estimation" you mean merchantable timber volume by species, DBH/diameter class and product class, rather than simply canopy volume or biomass, I'd focus the evaluation on Remsoft AFRIDS, forestum.ai, Clear Timber Analytics, and specialized stem-level LiDAR systems. For example, Agcopter describes an aerial-LiDAR inventory that produces individual-tree DBH, height and product class, along with stand-level stock tables.Agcopter

If you tell me (1) approximate acreage, (2) whether your LiDAR is drone, aircraft, or terrestrial, (3) forest type/location, and (4) whether you need merchantable volume, biomass, or both, I can narrow this down to the most suitable 3–5 systems and compare pricing, LiDAR requirements, accuracy, GIS integration, and timber-volume capabilities.

Yes. If your main requirement is LiDAR-based timber estimation, there are several strong options, but they fall into two categories: software platforms you operate yourself and LiDAR inventory services that deliver the estimates for you.

Best matches

• Remsoft AFRIDS — probably the strongest fit if you want a professional forest-management/inventory platform. AFRIDS is a web-based system built around LiDAR forest inventories and can estimate metrics such as standing volume and basal area for harvest areas or custom polygons. It integrates with Esri ArcGIS and is part of Remsoft's broader forest-management suite.Remsoft+2
• ArborMapper — particularly interesting if you want individual-tree inventory from LiDAR. It uses LiDAR and AI to identify and measure trees and supports drone and backpack LiDAR, including difficult closed-canopy environments.ArborMapper+1
• TreeDetect — a cloud-based option where you upload LiDAR point clouds and receive an interactive forest inventory. It reports tree count, height, diameter, crown width, basal area, canopy cover, and gross wood volume.TreeDetect+1
• Clear Timber Analytics – Forest Insights — focused heavily on tree-level LiDAR analytics. Its higher-tier offering includes DBH, stem length, crown volume, timber-quality information and timber valuation/harvest planning.Clear Timber Analytics+1
• Tesera HRIS — better suited to larger organizations needing a high-resolution forest inventory program. It combines LiDAR, satellite imagery, ground plots and machine learning to produce enhanced and individual-tree inventories.TESERA SYSTEMS+1
• FlyPix AI — a more general-purpose, no-code geospatial platform that accepts LiDAR along with aerial, satellite and multispectral imagery. It can delineate stands, estimate yield and export GIS layers.Flypix+1

One important distinction

If you're looking for something specifically for timber cruising / timber sale appraisal, rather than simply mapping forests, I'd narrow the list to AFRIDS, ArborMapper, TreeDetect, and Clear Timber Analytics.

For example, if you have 100–10,000 acres of forest and an existing airborne LiDAR dataset, the ideal workflow would be:

LiDAR → individual trees/stands → DBH & height → species/model → merchantable volume → $ timber value → harvest planning

Not every LiDAR product goes all the way through that chain. Some primarily produce tree detection and canopy metrics, while others actually estimate merchantable timber volume/value.

If you tell me (1) approximate acreage, (2) whether you already have LiDAR data, (3) forest type/location, and (4) whether you need merchantable volume by species/product, I can narrow this down to the 3 best systems and compare pricing, accuracy, inputs, outputs, and GIS integration.

When looking for forestry software that leverages LiDAR for timber estimation, inventory, and volume calculations, options generally fall into two categories: specialized LiDAR point-cloud processing tools with dedicated forestry modules and enterprise forest management platforms that ingest LiDAR-derived metrics.

The top software options specifically utilized for LiDAR-based timber and biomass estimation include:

• LiDAR360 (Forestry Module) : Widely considered an industry standard for processing forest point clouds. It features advanced individual tree detection and segmentation . It allows you to extract parameters like tree height, diameter at breast height (DBH), crown diameter, and trunk/timber volume. It includes robust biomass calculation models, supporting regional databases (like North America's NBELL) or custom allometric formulas. You can view pricing and details via 3dmappingtools.com LiDAR360 Forestry Module.[1]youtube.com
• FJD Trion Model (Forestry Module) : A specialized extension designed to process LiDAR point clouds for forestry professionals. It automates tree segmentation, extracts heights and crown widths, and streamlines biomass and timber volume assessment workflows directly from scanned datasets. You can evaluate license options and specs through Precision 3D Works FJD Trion Forestry Software.[1]
• CloudCompare (withanimation/plugins orจักr/Forestry tools) : An open-source 3D point cloud editing and processing software. While it isn't an out-of-the-box commercial "forest management" system, many remote sensing foresters use it alongside custom plugins for canopy height models (CHM) and biomass/volume estimation.
• Enterprise GIS / Inventory Integrations (e.g., Esri ArcGIS Pro with Image Analyst / Aerial LiDAR workflows) : Many large timberland owners use standard enterprise GIS platforms where airborne LiDAR data (ALS) is processed into raster-based canopy height models and calibrated with ground plot data (via Area-Based Approaches or Individual Tree Detection) to map timber volume across vast estates.

To help narrow down the best fit, could you tell me:

• Are you working with airborne LiDAR (ALS) for large-scale tracts or terrestrial/mobile LiDAR (TLS/MLS) for plot-level/individual tree cruising?
• Do you need an all-in-one forest management database (for billing, growth modeling, and operational planning), or strictly a point cloud analysis tool for volume extraction?

When looking for forestry software that leverages LiDAR for timber estimation, inventory, and single-tree or canopy metrics, options generally fall into dedicated LiDAR point-cloud processors with forestry extensions, or enterprise GIS/forestry platforms that ingest LiDAR-derived metrics.

Here are the top industry software options designed or commonly used for LiDAR-based timber and forest inventory estimation:

• LiDAR360 (Forestry Module) : Widely recognized as one of the leading dedicated point-cloud processing packages for forestry. Its forestry module includes smart individual tree segmentation, automated ground point classification, and rich parameter extraction (such as tree height, crown diameter, DBH, canopy volume, and trunk/timber volume estimates).[1]
• GeoCue LP360 (with AI Forestry) : A professional-grade LiDAR and drone point-cloud processing software that features dedicated geospatial and AI-driven forestry classification extensions. It is built for handling large aerial or UAV LiDAR datasets to extract vegetation metrics and structural forest inventories.[1][2]
• FJD Trion Model (Forestry Module) : A specialized extension tailored for woodland management, biomass assessment, and timber surveying. It offers automated tree detection, segmentation, and parameter extraction (height, crown width, and distribution) straight from point clouds.[1]
• CloudCompare (with 3DFIN / Treeiso plugins) : For a flexible or open-source approach, CloudCompare is a robust 3D point cloud analysis tool heavily relied upon by researchers and forestry professionals. Using specialized plugins like 3DFIN , users can process terrestrial or drone LiDAR scans to estimate structural attributes like DBH and volume.
• Enterprise GIS Platforms (ArcGIS Pro / QGIS) : While they are general GIS environments rather than out-of-the-box timber estimators, advanced foresters use ArcGIS Pro (with the Image Analyst/3D Analyst extension) or QGIS (coupled with WhiteboxTools or LASTools) to model canopy height models (CHMs), run area-based LiDAR regressions, and compute wall-to-wall timber volume estimations across large tracts.

To help narrow down the best fit, could you tell me:

• Are you capturing LiDAR via drone (UAV), airborne (airplane), or terrestrial (TLS/handheld)?
• Are you looking for individual tree-level metrics or an area-based statistical approach for a whole forest stand?

If you are looking for forestry management software that uses LiDAR for timber estimation, there are several strong options. The best fit depends on whether you need tree-level measurements, stand-level inventory, harvest planning, or a full forest management system.

Software / Platform	Best for	LiDAR capabilities
Remsoft AFRIDS	Large forest owners, agencies, timber planning	Web-based LiDAR forest inventory analysis; estimates metrics such as volume and basal area and integrates with GIS workflows.remsoft.com
Forsite ForestView	Digital forest inventories and operational planning	Combines LiDAR, imagery, field plots, and machine learning to produce tree-level and stand-level outputs including height, diameter, volume, and product potential.forsitegeo.com+1
Arbonaut Forest Inventories	Large-scale forest inventory	Uses LiDAR modeling for tree height, diameter estimates, crown dimensions, volume, biomass, and stand-level datasets.arbonaut.com+1
ArborMapper	Tree-by-tree inventory	Converts LiDAR point clouds into individual tree inventories with measurements and GIS-ready outputs.arbormapper.com
Clear Timber Analytics Forest Insights	Timber inventory and harvest planning	Uses high-resolution LiDAR and AI to analyze individual trees, including height, DBH, crown size, and volume.cleartimber.com+1
Forestum.ai	Drone/LiDAR-based timber assessment	Produces tree location, species, height, DBH, and timber volume estimates from drone imagery and LiDAR workflows.www.kindwise.com+1
Treemetrics ForestHQ	Detailed inventory and timber valuation	Supports LiDAR-derived 3D tree profiles and volume/product estimation workflows.docs.foresthq-en.treemetrics.com

My shortlist by use case

For a timber company managing thousands of acres

• Remsoft AFRIDS
• Forsite ForestView
  Good for integrating inventory, GIS, harvest planning, and enterprise workflows.forsitegeo.com+1

For accurate per-tree timber estimates

• ArborMapper
• Arbonaut
• Clear Timber Analytics
  These focus more on individual tree detection and measurements.arbormapper.com

For a private woodland owner or consulting forester

• A LiDAR inventory service may be more practical than buying a full platform. Many providers can process existing airborne or drone LiDAR and deliver GIS layers, volume estimates, and reports.www.kindwise.com+1

When evaluating vendors, I would ask specifically:

1. Does it estimate merchantable timber volume (not just canopy height)?
2. Does it provide species-level estimates?
3. Does it output DBH, basal area, stems/acre, board feet, cubic volume, or tons?
4. Can it import your existing LAS/LAZ LiDAR point clouds?
5. Can it export to ArcGIS/QGIS shapefiles or GeoJSON?

If you tell me your country/region, acreage size, forest type (pine, hardwood, mixed, plantation, etc.), and whether you already have LiDAR data, I can narrow this to the best 2–3 options.

Yes. There are several good options, but they fall into two different categories: true LiDAR-based forest inventory and traditional timber-cruising software that can work alongside LiDAR/GIS data.

Strong LiDAR-focused options

• Arbonaut — One of the more established choices for large-scale LiDAR forest inventory. It uses LiDAR-based modeling from stand-level estimates up to individual-tree/crown inventories and is designed for very large areas.Arbonaut+1
• Clear Timber Analytics — Particularly interesting if your goal is tree-level timber volume estimation. Its Growing Stock Analysis combines airborne LiDAR with machine learning to estimate DBH, height, canopy size, and volume for individual trees.Clear Timber Analytics+1
• Forestum.ai — Uses drone imagery and optionally ground-based LiDAR to produce per-tree species, height, DBH, location, and timber-volume estimates. It also supports harvesting-potential and forest-value assessments.Kindwise+1
• TreeDetect — A more data/analytics-oriented platform that can produce individual-tree inventories from LiDAR, including coordinates, height, DBH, crown diameter, gross volume, basal area, and species, with Excel/GeoJSON outputs.TreeDetect Documentation

Traditional forest-management software

If you already have LiDAR data and want a complete forest-management/timber-cruising system, I'd also look at:

• Forest Metrix Pro — Mature timber-cruising and forest-inventory software with field collection, mapping, product specifications, calculations and reporting.ForestMetrix+1
• TCruise — Designed around cruise design, plot/tree data collection, timber-inventory processing and reporting, with GPS and ArcGIS compatibility.Wherwood
• Assisi — More oriented toward forest management planning, inventory, growth projection and harvest-scenario modeling.Assisi Software+1

What I'd recommend

If what you mean is:

“I have airborne/drone LiDAR over a timber property and want software that tells me how many trees I have, species, DBH, height, merchantable volume/MBF, and ultimately what I could harvest.” I'd start with Clear Timber Analytics, Arbonaut, Forestum.ai, and TreeDetect rather than conventional cruise software. These are much closer to a LiDAR → individual trees → timber volume workflow.Clear Timber Analytics+3

If you tell me (1) the approximate acreage, (2) whether your LiDAR is drone, aircraft, or mobile/phone LiDAR, (3) your location/state, and (4) whether you need MBF/board-foot timber value or just cubic volume, I can narrow this down to the 3 best systems and compare pricing, LiDAR requirements, accuracy, GIS capabilities, and timber-cruise outputs.