Visualize face-notch geometry for safer felling. Visualize face-notch geometry for safer felling.

For many years, felling in forestry has relied largely on
hands-on feel and experience.
As the workforce changes, helping people learn and improve these skills has become a major challenge.

Through its car manufacturing, Toyota has accumulated a wide range of technical expertise, and it is also a company that has been engaged in forest conservation activities for many years.

Could we leverage this expertise to support learning safe felling techniques?

This laser-mapping tool uses optical and laser
technologies, and has been tested and refined in multiple iterations in collaboration with Kochi Prefectural Forestry College.

Learn more about
Toyota's forest initiatives

Benefits

The starting point of safe felling is a precise face notch.
Just as carpenters use laser levels to establish reference lines, this tool brings accurate reference lines to forestry sites.

BENEFIT
01

Understand face-notch geometry at a glance
BENEFIT
02

Enables visual instruction in felling techniques
BENEFIT
03

Visualizing habitual tendencies in chainsaw work
BENEFIT
04

Horizontal reference can be identified
even on sloped mountain terrain
BENEFIT
05

Can also be used in combination
with slope platforms for felling practice

Face notch shape can be intuitively understood

For beginners, understanding the three-dimensional shape of the face notch is difficult, but because the geometry is drawn directly onto the trunk, they can intuitively grasp the image.

Enables visual instruction
in felling techniques

Because instructors can visually share the face-notch shape, which is difficult to explain with words alone, with their students, they can teach correct chainsaw techniques more clearly.

Visualizing habitual tendencies
in chainsaw work

By comparing the cut marks from your chainsaw work with the ideal face-notch shape, you can recognize your own habitual tendencies. It can be used for self-checks by beginners as well as experienced operators aiming to improve their skills.

Horizontal reference
can be identified
even on sloped mountain terrain

Even on sloped terrain, it supports felling by projecting an accurate horizontal line without relying on human perception.

Can also be used in combination
with slope platforms
or felling practice

Even in training environments that use slope platforms for felling practice, installing the laser-mapping tool outside the platform
makes it possible to learn techniques using both in combination.

Rental

Product

Overview diagram showing each part of the laser-mapping tool and the felling direction

The illustration shows the prototype as of January 2026. Further improvements are planned.

Dimensions and Weight

Laser-mapping tool main unit: approx. 162 mm × 155 mm × 71 mm, approx. 680 g
Detachable V-shaped attachment: rod extension range approx. 34 mm-298 mm, approx. 385 g

Laser class

Laser class: 3R (JIS C 6802; IEC/EN equivalent to be confirmed for Europe)
Wavelength: 520 nm (green) for Japan, 635 nm (red) for Europe

Safety mechanisms

Automatic OFF function with timer
Automatic OFF function with shock detection

Power supply

Power bank (a typical 3,000 mAh or larger unit will last for several days)
Please connect your own power bank to the unit's USB-C port and use it.

Usage

Supports trunk diameters from 20 to 70 cm.
Install at a distance of 1-2 m from the trunk (use a tripod on level ground, or fix it to a survey pole (range pole) in the forest).
Use the detachable V-shaped attachment to align the laser-mapping tool main unit with the felling direction determined by the operator.
Use the built-in optical zoom mechanism in the main unit to enlarge or reduce the projected geometry to match the trunk width.

Precautions for Use

As this unit is a prototype, it offers only basic water and dust resistance (it can withstand water droplets on the housing surface).
In environments where direct sunlight hits the face notch area, the laser light may be difficult to see, so please create shade around the notch area when using the tool.

Explanation of the projected geometry

Specifications may change without prior notice as we continue to improve the product.

Pricing

This product is available by rental only.

12months
（1year）

€1,800 （per unit, excluding VAT）

*Trial pricing. Prices may change before official launch.

*Shipping from Japan to Europe is included in the rental price above. Return shipping from Europe to Japan is to be borne by the customer.

*The rental fee must be paid in advance at the time of application.

Process

Rentals are currently available only in Japan. We are exploring future availability in Germany and Austria.
This product is offered as a tool for professionals involved in forestry in their work, such as forestry education institutions and chainsaw instructors.

*This tool is intended for professional use in forestry and is not available to individual consumers. Thank you for your understanding.

01 Receive inquiries
by email
02 Confirm details
and schedule
03 Rental application /
Payment
04 Shipment of
equipment
and
start of rental
05 Return of equipment

As this project is an initial trial, only a limited number of prototypes are available,
and we may not be able to accommodate all requests even within Japan.
Thank you for your understanding.(For the time being, the product will be available only in Japan.)

Rental

Reviews

We would like to share comments from forestry education institutions who are among the first to trial this tool.

Kochi Prefectural Forestry College

Laser-mapping is the ideal device for visualizing and accurately reproducing the face-notch geometry during felling. Simply working along the projected lines enables precise cutting. Because of its high reproducibility, we also use it at our school to standardize safe felling right from the initial stages of training.

Kagawa Prefectural Agricultural College

We use the laser-mapping tool in practical training where students learn tree-felling skills. For students performing felling work for the first time, having the face notch and back cut displayed on the trunk makes it easier for them to visualize the face cut and back cut, leading to smoother skills acquisition.

Nagano Prefectural College of Forestry

Even students with limited felling experience were able to align their cuts accurately, because they could visualize in three dimensions the line along which to guide the chainsaw bar. I believe that if beginners, especially in educational settings, use this device from the early stages of learning, they can acquire skills efficiently without developing bad habits.

Shizuoka Professional University
of Agriculture

We used the tool in basic felling training for our junior college students. When making the bottom cut of the face notch, having them follow the laser rather than placing a level on the guide bar made it easier to keep the chainsaw horizontal. It helps them learn the correct posture through bodily experience, and I felt it is a very good training aid for beginners.