Using Drones to Protect Forests: How Team Forestability Took on Wildfire Risk

Team Forestability built a drone-powered solution to help stop tree infestations before they spark wildfires.
Four people stand in front of projected screens, one holding a microphone and gesturing during a presentation.
Four people stand in front of projected screens, one holding a microphone and gesturing during a presentation.
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/rwDRiMPC3h8
Video
August 20, 2025
Several people seated indoors working on laptops, with some standing and conversing nearby at a tech event.

At the BCG Platinion Hackathon 2024, Team Forestability set their sights on a unique and urgent problem: the growing impact of beetle bug infestations on forest health and fire risk.

A small black and white drone flying outdoors with four blurred people in the background.
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/QAg48XnoIX8
Two men sitting at a desk facing a projection screen with code; one wears a hoodie labeled Hackathon.

Their concept combined aerial drone photography, image recognition, and open-source data to identify infected trees. The goal was simple: detect the damage early and prevent it from spreading. The team trained their model to recognize key indicators—color, shape, and location—then built a tool that could flag high-risk trees for removal.

It wasn’t just the idea that impressed. It was the team itself: a mix of developers, designers, and business minds who came together to solve a challenge that sits at the intersection of technology and climate.

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As we gear up for the BCG Platinion Hackathon 2025, we’re looking for people ready to build real solutions to real problems. This year’s theme is the Future of Education & Learning—how we teach, grow, and stay curious in a changing world.

If you’re ready to code for impact, now’s the time. Apply here.

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Phil Gerrard

Manager Director
London, United Kingdom

Tom is an Engineering Lead based in the London office. He has vast experience delivering products and services with a human centered approach – including artificial intelligence solutions at scale and new startup ventures across a wide range of industries. Covering topics ranging from privacy enhancing AI to digital consortium design, he brings expertise in open innovation’s evolving role in solving high impact issues such as climate action, healthcare and online privacy.

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