ExtSpecR: An R Package and Tool for Extracting Tree Spectra from UAV-Based Remote Sensing

Area of Science:

• Forestry
• Remote Sensing
• Plant Phenomics

Background:

• Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing is crucial for high-throughput phenomics in forestry.
• Individual tree detection and spectral data extraction from UAV imagery are challenging and often manual.
• Existing software solutions lack widespread adoption in forestry research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce ExtSpecR, an open-source tool for spectral extraction from single trees using UAV data.
• To provide an easy-to-use, interactive web application for forestry researchers.
• To simplify and accelerate the extraction of spectral and spatial features from UAV-based imagery.

Main Methods:

• Development of ExtSpecR, an open-source tool with an interactive web application.
• Implementation of automated single tree detection and annotation functionalities.
• Integration of interactive dashboards for maximizing data quality and feature extraction.

Main Results:

• ExtSpecR significantly reduces the time and effort required for single tree detection and spectral data annotation.
• The tool simplifies the entire process of spectral and spatial feature extraction from UAV imagery.
• Interactive dashboards enhance the quality of information derived from UAV data.

Conclusions:

• ExtSpecR promotes the practical application of UAV remote sensing in forest ecology and tree breeding research.
• The tool facilitates a deeper understanding of the relationships between tree growth and physiological traits.
• ExtSpecR is poised to increase the adoption and utility of UAV data in forestry research.