Prof. Dr. Thomas Purfürst
© ThomasPurfürst
Mr Prof. Dr. Thomas Purfürst
Send encrypted email via the SecureMail portal (for TUD external users only).
Project and core research areas
- Digitalization in forestry, Forest 4.0
- Optimization, integration of new potentials and decision support for the entire forestry value chain
- Evaluation and optimization of technological consequences of actions in the forest
- Optimization of processes and process stages
- Interaction between humans and their forestry activities
Current publications
Purfürst, T. Evaluation of Static Autonomous GNSS Positioning Accuracy Using Single-, Dual-, and Tri-Frequency Smartphones in Forest Canopy Environments. Sensors 2022, 22, 1289. https://doi. org/10.3390/s22031289
Purfürst, T. The Permanent German Forest Rescue Point System-Concept, Geographical Analysis, and Optimization. Forests 2022, 13, 197. https://doi. org/10.3390/f13020197
de Miguel-Díez F, Guigue P, Pettenkofer T, Tolosana-Esteban E, Purfürst T, Cremer T(2022) Development and evaluation of a novel 3D simulation software for modeling wood stacks. PLoS ONE 17(3): e0264414. https://doi. org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264414
Felipe de Miguel-Díez, Tim Pettenkofer, Evelyn Wallor, Eduardo Tolosana-Esteban, Thomas Purfürst & Tobias Cremer(2022) Influence of log and stack parameters on the conversion factors for Norway Spruce wood stacks using a 3D simulation model, International Journal of Forest Engineering, DOI: 10.1080/14942119.2022.2038023
de Miguel-Díez, F.; Tolosana-Esteban, E.; Purfürst, T.; Cremer, T. Analysis of the Influence That Parameters Crookedness and Taper Have on Stack Volume by Using a 3D-Simulation Model of Wood Stacks. Forests 2021, 12, 238. https://doi.org/10.3390/f12020238
Education
2019 Habilitation at the TUD Dresden University of Technology in the field of forest technology (venia legendi), "Driving on forest soils - cause, effect, localization, digital documentation and data management"
2009-2010 Studies Geographical Information Science & Systems, Paris Lodron University Salzburg, degree: M.Sc. GIS
2009 Doctorate at the TUD Dresden University of Technology, Chair of Forest Technology, Dr. rer. silv., "The influence of humans on the performance of harvester systems" (summa cum laude)
1997-2003 Study of Forestry, TUD Dresden University of Technology, degrees: B.Sc. forestry, M.Sc. forestry
Professional career
since 09/2025: Chair of Digitized Forestry Processes and Systems, TUD Dresden University of Technology
11/2019-08/2025: Head of Chair of Forest Process Engineering, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg
01/2019-09/2019 Head of the Forest Geoinformation Department at the Landesforst Mecklenburg-Vorpommern AöR
2013-2018 Forest GIS specialist, project manager at the Bavarian State Forests AöR
2008-2011 Research Assistant at the Chair of Forest Technology, TUD Dresden University of Technology
2008 Research stay at the Institute of Forest Planning and Forest Engineering, Swedish Agricultural University Umeå, Sweden
2004-2013 Freelance work: Individual Software and Science
2003-2007 Research Associate at the Chair of Forest Technology, TUD Dresden University of Technology
1996-1997 Civilian service
Thomas Purfürst on ResearchGate