Assistant Research Professor Adrián Pascual at the Department of Geographical Sciences has been awarded the Outstanding Doctoral Research Award from the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (iUFRO). Pascual's doctoral research, conducted at the University of Eastern Finland, focused on integrating ALS-based forest inventory with dynamic treatment units (DTUs), challenging traditional fixed management unit concepts.

According to iUFRO, "This is the first study that integrates forest inventory supported by lidar data to management planning methods based on spatial optimizations to create management units." 

Pascual's work introduces a more flexible approach to forest planning, taking into account spatial and temporal dynamics. Utilizing lidar data, his methodology presents promising applications, particularly in the Mediterranean region, for improving sustainable resource management practices.

“Receiving the ODRA is definitely stamina to my efforts to apply decision-making models for conservation science and operations, and on fostering spaceborne and airborne lidar to support relevant stakeholders and exciting missions such our  own, the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission, the most exciting mission in NASA’s history for forests ecosystems," said Pascual.