Open-Source Processing and Analysis of Aerial Imagery Acquired with a Low-Cost Unmanned Aerial System to Support Invasive Plant Management
Remote sensing by Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) is a dynamic evolving technology. UAS are particularly useful in environmental monitoring and management because they have the capability to provide data at high temporal and spatial resolutions. Moreover, data acquisition costs are lower than those of...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2017-07-01
|
Series: | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fenvs.2017.00044/full |
id |
doaj-d4d570d9e1b946b4ace5324121c344da |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-d4d570d9e1b946b4ace5324121c344da2020-11-24T23:16:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2017-07-01510.3389/fenvs.2017.00044266036Open-Source Processing and Analysis of Aerial Imagery Acquired with a Low-Cost Unmanned Aerial System to Support Invasive Plant ManagementJan R. K. Lehmann0Torsten Prinz1Silvia R. Ziller2Jan Thiele3Gustavo Heringer4João A. A. Meira-Neto5Tillmann K. Buttschardt6Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of MuensterMuenster, GermanyInstitute for Geoinformatics, University of MuensterMuenster, GermanyThe Horus Institute for Environmental Conservation and DevelopmentFlorianópolis, BrazilInstitute of Landscape Ecology, University of MuensterMuenster, GermanyLaboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Plants, Universidade Federal de ViçosaViçosa, BrazilLaboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Plants, Universidade Federal de ViçosaViçosa, BrazilInstitute of Landscape Ecology, University of MuensterMuenster, GermanyRemote sensing by Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) is a dynamic evolving technology. UAS are particularly useful in environmental monitoring and management because they have the capability to provide data at high temporal and spatial resolutions. Moreover, data acquisition costs are lower than those of conventional methods such as extensive ground sampling, manned airplanes, or satellites. Small fixed-wing UAS in particular offer further potential benefits as they extend the operational coverage of the area under study at lower operator risks and accelerate data deployment times. Taking these aspects into account, UAS might be an effective tool to support management of invasive plant based on early detection and regular monitoring. A straightforward UAS approach to map invasive plant species is presented in this study with the intention of providing ready-to-use field maps essential for action-oriented management. Our UAS utilizes low-cost sensors, free-of-charge software for mission planning and an affordable, commercial aerial platform to reduce operational costs, reducing expenses with personnel while increasing overall efficiency. We illustrate our approach using a real example of invasion by Acacia mangium in a Brazilian Savanna ecosystem. A. mangium was correctly identified with an overall accuracy of 82.7% from the analysis of imagery. This approach provides land management authorities and practitioners with new prospects for environmental restoration in areas where invasive plant species are present.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fenvs.2017.00044/fullAcacia mangiumdroneinvasive alien speciesMussunungaRPASremote sensing |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Jan R. K. Lehmann Torsten Prinz Silvia R. Ziller Jan Thiele Gustavo Heringer João A. A. Meira-Neto Tillmann K. Buttschardt |
spellingShingle |
Jan R. K. Lehmann Torsten Prinz Silvia R. Ziller Jan Thiele Gustavo Heringer João A. A. Meira-Neto Tillmann K. Buttschardt Open-Source Processing and Analysis of Aerial Imagery Acquired with a Low-Cost Unmanned Aerial System to Support Invasive Plant Management Frontiers in Environmental Science Acacia mangium drone invasive alien species Mussununga RPAS remote sensing |
author_facet |
Jan R. K. Lehmann Torsten Prinz Silvia R. Ziller Jan Thiele Gustavo Heringer João A. A. Meira-Neto Tillmann K. Buttschardt |
author_sort |
Jan R. K. Lehmann |
title |
Open-Source Processing and Analysis of Aerial Imagery Acquired with a Low-Cost Unmanned Aerial System to Support Invasive Plant Management |
title_short |
Open-Source Processing and Analysis of Aerial Imagery Acquired with a Low-Cost Unmanned Aerial System to Support Invasive Plant Management |
title_full |
Open-Source Processing and Analysis of Aerial Imagery Acquired with a Low-Cost Unmanned Aerial System to Support Invasive Plant Management |
title_fullStr |
Open-Source Processing and Analysis of Aerial Imagery Acquired with a Low-Cost Unmanned Aerial System to Support Invasive Plant Management |
title_full_unstemmed |
Open-Source Processing and Analysis of Aerial Imagery Acquired with a Low-Cost Unmanned Aerial System to Support Invasive Plant Management |
title_sort |
open-source processing and analysis of aerial imagery acquired with a low-cost unmanned aerial system to support invasive plant management |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Environmental Science |
issn |
2296-665X |
publishDate |
2017-07-01 |
description |
Remote sensing by Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) is a dynamic evolving technology. UAS are particularly useful in environmental monitoring and management because they have the capability to provide data at high temporal and spatial resolutions. Moreover, data acquisition costs are lower than those of conventional methods such as extensive ground sampling, manned airplanes, or satellites. Small fixed-wing UAS in particular offer further potential benefits as they extend the operational coverage of the area under study at lower operator risks and accelerate data deployment times. Taking these aspects into account, UAS might be an effective tool to support management of invasive plant based on early detection and regular monitoring. A straightforward UAS approach to map invasive plant species is presented in this study with the intention of providing ready-to-use field maps essential for action-oriented management. Our UAS utilizes low-cost sensors, free-of-charge software for mission planning and an affordable, commercial aerial platform to reduce operational costs, reducing expenses with personnel while increasing overall efficiency. We illustrate our approach using a real example of invasion by Acacia mangium in a Brazilian Savanna ecosystem. A. mangium was correctly identified with an overall accuracy of 82.7% from the analysis of imagery. This approach provides land management authorities and practitioners with new prospects for environmental restoration in areas where invasive plant species are present. |
topic |
Acacia mangium drone invasive alien species Mussununga RPAS remote sensing |
url |
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fenvs.2017.00044/full |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT janrklehmann opensourceprocessingandanalysisofaerialimageryacquiredwithalowcostunmannedaerialsystemtosupportinvasiveplantmanagement AT torstenprinz opensourceprocessingandanalysisofaerialimageryacquiredwithalowcostunmannedaerialsystemtosupportinvasiveplantmanagement AT silviarziller opensourceprocessingandanalysisofaerialimageryacquiredwithalowcostunmannedaerialsystemtosupportinvasiveplantmanagement AT janthiele opensourceprocessingandanalysisofaerialimageryacquiredwithalowcostunmannedaerialsystemtosupportinvasiveplantmanagement AT gustavoheringer opensourceprocessingandanalysisofaerialimageryacquiredwithalowcostunmannedaerialsystemtosupportinvasiveplantmanagement AT joaoaameiraneto opensourceprocessingandanalysisofaerialimageryacquiredwithalowcostunmannedaerialsystemtosupportinvasiveplantmanagement AT tillmannkbuttschardt opensourceprocessingandanalysisofaerialimageryacquiredwithalowcostunmannedaerialsystemtosupportinvasiveplantmanagement |
_version_ |
1725587783647494144 |