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Measuring plant biomass remotely using drones in arid landscapes
Justin A McCann1,2, David A Keith1, Richard T Kingsford1
1Centre for Ecosystem Science School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences UNSW Sydney New South Wales Australia.
Ecology and Evolution
|May 23, 2022
Summary
Unmanned aerial system (drone) volume estimation offers a non-destructive method for assessing plant biomass, proving more accurate than simple measurements for some species. This technology aids ecological research and ecosystem monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Botany
- Remote Sensing
Background:
- Accurate plant biomass measurement is crucial for ecological and evolutionary studies.
- Traditional methods involve destructive sampling or less precise allometric measurements.
- Non-destructive methods are needed for efficient, large-scale ecological assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of drone-based volume estimation as a non-destructive method for assessing shrub biomass.
- To compare the accuracy and time efficiency of drone measurements against traditional dimension measurements and laboratory biomass analysis.
- To assess the applicability of the drone method across different Australian plant species with varying canopy structures.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a low-cost unmanned aerial system (drone) for rapid, non-destructive data collection.
- Estimated plant volume using drone-derived data and compared it with biomass derived from laboratory analysis.
- Measured sampling time for both drone and simple dimension measurement methods.
- Focused on three ecologically significant Australian species: porcupine grass (Triodia scariosa), Queensland bluebush (Chenopodium auricomum), and lignum (Duma florulenta).
Main Results:
- Drone-based volume estimation was more accurate than simple dimension measurements for porcupine grass and Queensland bluebush.
- The drone method was less accurate for lignum due to its sparse canopy and camouflage.
- Drone data collection and analysis were more time-consuming than simple dimension measurements, with potential for improvement through automation.
Conclusions:
- Drone-based biomass estimation shows significant potential for non-destructive, large-scale ecological monitoring of certain plant species.
- The method's effectiveness is influenced by plant species' physical characteristics, particularly canopy structure.
- Further automation can enhance the efficiency of drone-based ecological surveys, aiding complex ecological and evolutionary research.
