Joint international workshop on ”Application of Drones in Land and Biodiversity Monitoring” held in Taiwan on June 24-26th 2025 by Feng CHia University and CNR-Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research.
Feng Chia University and the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) have long collaborated, accumulating fruitful academic and research achievements and establishing a strong collaborative understanding. On December 3, 2024, Feng Chia University and CNR-DSSTTA signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly establish the CNR-DSSTTA@FCU International Innovation Platform, strengthening diverse connections between academia, practice, and international networks. This year, Feng Chia University and CNR further deepened the collaboration, building upon the transnational network established over the past eight years by Distinguished Professor Chen-Yeon Chu from the Master Program of Green Energy Science and Technology, Feng Chia University. This enhanced partnership brought to a joint international workshop focused on ” Application of Drones in Land and Biodiversity Monitoring”.
The workshop, held at Feng Chia University from June 24 to 26, 2025, is part of a scientific and technological cooperation and exchange program funded by a bilateral agreement with the National Science Council. Hosted by Dr. Alessandro Mei of the Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (IIA) of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR), and Professor Yung-Chung Chuang of the Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Information, Feng Chia University, the symposium focused on the application and development of advanced environmental monitoring technologies. In addition to Dr. Mei, visiting CNR members included Dr. Alfonso Ragazzo of the Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (IIA) and Dr. Gaia Laurin of the Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET) of the CNR. After arriving at the university on June 24th, the three researchers, accompanied by Dean Tsu-Wang Shen of the College of Information and Electrical Engineering and faculty members from the Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Information, visited the Gong-Shan Building on the new campus; the Geographic Information Systems Research Center and the Construction and Disaster Prevention Research Center in the College of Construction and Development; and the ROSO Robotic Construction Laboratory in the School of Architecture, where a robotic arm was demonstrated. The fascinating experiences left a deep impression on the visiting scholars.
On June 25th, the workshop was honored to have Vice President Shwu-Ting Lee deliver the opening remarks, expressing her expectations and encouragement regarding the “Rural Carbon Reduction- Green Harmonious Energy Linking International Sustainable Public Welfare Action” cooperation plan, signed by both sides in 2024. The overall agenda focused on in-depth discussions on ten research topics proposed by scholars from both Taiwan and Italy. These included sharing internationally advanced topics such as remote sensing and drone technology applied to vegetation structure mapping, soil heterogeneity surveys, land degradation monitoring, coastal erosion analysis, urban forest monitoring, forest carbon storage estimation, precision agriculture and sensitive crop yield estimation, and remote sensing estimation of forest net primary productivity. Professor Yung-Chung Chuang, Associate Professor Yi-Shiang Shiu, Associate Professor Feng-Cheng, Lin, Associate Professor Jhe-Syuan Lai, and Associate Professor Song-Yue Yang presented their latest research findings and engaged in in-depth discussions with Italian scholars and attendees. The attendees expressed deep appreciation and benefited greatly from the event. Dean Jau-Ming Su of the College of Construction and Development hosted a banquet for the distinguished guests that evening, creating a harmonious and enjoyable atmosphere.
On June 26th, Professor Yung-Chung Chuang led a group of Italian scholars on a tour exploring Taiwan’s ecological environment. In addition to visiting the experimental forest and forest beekeeping industry at the Lian-Hua-Chi Research Center of the Forestry Research Institute, the event also featured a demonstration of ground-based LiDAR measurement in forests by co-organizer Chung Hsing Surveying Company Limited (CHS Co., Ltd). This enriching itinerary not only enabled the Italian scholars to quickly gain a better understanding of Taiwan’s environment, but also facilitated the continued development of in-depth and long-term industry-university-research collaborations between Feng Chia University and the National Research Council of Italy (CNR).