Jim O'Hehir

Dr Jim O'Hehir

General Manager, Forestry Centre of Excellence

School of Agriculture, Food and Wine

College of Science

Jim O’Hehir took up the position in April 2018 of General Manager Forest Research at Forest Research Mount Gambier. Previously working as the General Manager, Planning and Development for ForestrySA, Jim has a wealth of experience in forestry, wood production and environmental management. Having over 30 years’ experience in the South Australian plantation forest industry, Jim has significant insight into the contemporary issues and solutions needed by the Australian forest industry.
UniSA is undertaking nine forest research projects under the National Institute for Forest Products Innovation program worth $5.2M. These projects cover a broad range of topics including: characterising softwood sawn products; solutions for optimising the use of remote sensed data; developing best practice fatigue guidelines; wearable sensors for health and safety monitoring; improved wildlife detection; plantation water use and licencing; automated bushfire fire detection and forest health and biosecurity systems. UniSA also undertakes consultancy services for the forest industry.
Jim’s special interest area is in plantation growth and yield management, including long term sustainability, growth, yield, modelling and plantation water use. He has facilitated a number of national research projects and worked on the development of various modelling projects for predicting pine thinning and fertiliser growth and yield responses.He has also published papers, chaired seminars and workshops and presented at conferences both internationally and locally. Jim has qualifications in forest science, including a Bachelor of Science (Forestry) from ANU and a Master of Forest Science and PhD from the University of Melbourne.

Year Citation
2025 O'Keeffe, S., Thomas, B., O'Hehir, J., Rombouts, J., Balasso, M., & Cunningham, A. (2025). Leveraging open-source tools to analyse ground-based forest LiDAR data in South Australian forests. Remote Sensing, 17(11, article no. 1934), 1-28.
DOI
2024 Meng, L., O'Hehir, J., Gao, J., Peters, S., & Hay, A. (2024). A theoretical framework for improved fire suppression by linking management models with smart early fire detection and suppression technologies. Journal of Forestry Research, 35(1, article no. 86), 1-13.
DOI
2024 Luo, L., Gao, Y., Regan, C. M., Summers, D. M., Connor, J. D., O'Hehir, J., . . . Chow, C. W. K. (2024). Emissions offset incentives, carbon storage and profit optimization for Australian timber plantations. Forest Policy and Economics, 159(139814), 1-12.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3
2024 Lu, S., Jones, E., Zhao, L., Sun, Y., Qin, K., Liu, J., . . . Peters, S. (2024). Onboard AI for Fire Smoke Detection Using Hyperspectral Imagery: An Emulation for the Upcoming Kanyini Hyperscout-2 Mission. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, 17, 9629-9640.
DOI Scopus8 WoS7
2023 Finn, A., Peters, S., Kumar, P., & O'Hehir, J. (2023). Automated georectification, mosaicking and 3D point cloud generation using UAV-based hyperspectral imagery observed by line scanner imaging sensors. Remote Sensing, 15(18), 1-23.
DOI Scopus7 WoS2
2022 Finn, A., Kumar, P., Peters, S., & O'Hehir, J. (2022). Unsupervised spectral-spatial processing of drone imagery for identification of pine seedlings. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 183, 363-388.
DOI Scopus15 WoS14
2022 Myers, B. R., Jones, E. G., O’Hehir, J., & Lawson, J. (2022). Setback distance and management for wetlands in plantation forests–a review of policy and practice in Australia and New Zealand. Australian Forestry, 85(2), 60-70.
DOI
2022 Gao, J., O'Hehir, J., Rameezdeen, R., Chow, C., & Yang, A. (2022). Artificial intelligence-based image processing for hazard identification in forestry operations-а sawmill case study. Forestry Ideas, 28(2), 434-445.
2021 Luo, L., O'Hehir, J., Regan, C. M., Meng, L., Connor, J. D., & Chow, C. W. K. (2021). An integrated strategic and tactical optimization model for forest supply chain planning. Forest Policy and Economics, 131(102571), 1-12.
DOI Scopus17 WoS15
2021 Peters, S., Liu, J., Bruce, D., Li, J., Finn, A., & O’Hehir, J. (2021). Research note: cost-efficient estimates of Pinus radiata wood volumes using multitemporal LiDAR data. Australian Forestry, 84(4), 206-214.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4
2020 Nirola, R., Saint, C., Hehir, J. O., & Liu, J. (2020). Merchantable wood volume response of P. radiata D. Don post thinned plots on coated and uncoated urea fertilizers. Banko Janakari, 30(2), 36-47.
DOI

Year Citation
2025 Dorrian, J., Agostini, A., Hadlum, B., Chandrakumar, D., O'Hehir, J., Chow, C., . . . Ahn, J. (2025). Development of best-practice fatigue management for the Australian Forestry Industry. Australia: National Institute for Forest Products Innovation.
2024 Younger, J., Turner, D., Lucieer, A., Finn, A., Andriolo, S., Peters, S., & OHehir, J. (2024). Geospatial Positioning and Fusion: is real-time sub-metre, accuracy operationally feasible in forestry environments?. Australia: FWPA.
2024 Finn, A., O'Hehir, J., Schebella, D., & Jenkin, B. (2024). Multispectral assessment of treatments for tillage and forestry harvesting residues: Corporate body:National Institute for Forest Products Innovation (NIFPI) commissioning body. Australia: National Institute for Forest Products Innovation (NIFPI).
DOI
2024 Finn, A., Younger, J., Peters, S., OHehir, J., Lucieer, A., & Turner, D. (2024). 3D Point Cloud Fusion Using Aerial and Terrestrial Laser Scanning. Australia: FWPA.
2023 Peters, S., Lu, S., Jones, E., Liu, J., Li, J., OHehir, J., . . . Oliver, S. (2023). Energy efficient onboard AI for early fire-smoke detection. Australia: SmartSat CRC.
2023 Finn, A., Peters, S., OHehir, J., Lucieer, A., & Turner, D. (2023). Design of Canopy Scenarios and Identification of Trial Sites and Procedures. Australia: NIFPI.
2023 Finn, A., Peters, S., OHehir, J., Lucieer, A., & Turner, D. (2023). Geospatial positioning and fusion: is real-time sub-metre, accuracy operationally feasible in forestry environments? Systems analysis and benchmarking of grower needs. Australia: FWPA.

  • Green Triangle Forest Health and Biosecurity Program, Australian Bluegum Plantations, 13/02/2025 - 01/11/2029

  • Transforming future softwood productivity through optimal site-specific silviculture - PhD stipend - Thuy Thi Phuong Vu, McGrath Forestry Services Pty Ltd, 05/05/2025 - 05/05/2029

  • Integrating APSIM into resource management systems for estate wood flows and valuations that account for climate change, Forest and Wood Products Australia, 21/06/2024 - 01/06/2028

  • Koala Detection using Biologically Inspired Vision, Forest and Wood Products Australia, 18/06/2024 - 31/05/2027

  • Future Lightweight Timber Framing: Productivity, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, 24/02/2025 - 12/12/2026

  • Assessment of current best practice techniques for handling pesticides in forestry applications, Forest and Wood Products Australia, 15/06/2023 - 31/07/2026

  • NIFPI Project , SA Dept of Primary Industries and Regions, 31/03/2023 - 30/06/2026

  • On-orbit evaluation and demonstration of energy-efficient fire smoke detection on the Kanyini and the Phi-Sat-2 CubeSat during 2025 and 2026 fire season using HS2 imagery and onboard AI., SmartSat CRC, 18/12/2024 - 18/04/2026

  • Operational Transition of PINT Software, Forest and Wood Products Australia, 01/01/2024 - 01/03/2026

  • Intelligent Image-based Hazard Identification System for Worker Safety in Forestry Operations, Forest and Wood Products Australia, 21/06/2024 - 31/12/2025

  • Addressing the safety risks of multiple in-cab “driver assist” devices in the Australian Forestry Industry, Forest and Wood Products Australia, 30/07/2025 - 01/12/2025

  • Weed Identification Using Remote Sensing, Forest and Wood Products Australia, 05/06/2023 - 30/09/2025

  • A development program for future revision of AS/NZS 4063.1:2010 Characterization of structural timber Part 1: Test methods, Forest and Wood Products Australia, 06/06/2023 - 30/06/2025

  • Plantation water use and environmental asset management in plantation forests, Forest and Wood Products Australia, 05/06/2023 - 21/06/2025

  • Enhancing softwood and hardwood plantations site productivity and subsequent operational efficiency by use of an innovative clean-row establishment system, Forest and Wood Products Australia, 06/06/2023 - 15/03/2025

  • Green Triangle Forest Health and Biosecurity Program, Australian Bluegum Plantations, 02/05/2022 - 31/12/2024

  • Characterising utility performance and in-grade properties of solid structural timber recovered from radiata pine T2, top logs, and core wood, Forest and Wood Products Australia, 01/09/2023 - 15/11/2024

  • Cwth: Optimising the management of plantation, water and environmental assets, Forest and Wood Products Australia, 01/03/2019 - 15/12/2022

  • Ind: Optimising the management of plantation, water and environmental assets, OneFortyOne Plantations, 01/03/2019 - 15/12/2022

Courses I teach

  • SCSTM 90014 Executive Certificate in Plantation Silviculture SC (2025)

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