UAS-based imagery and photogrammetric processing for tree height and crown diameter extraction

ABSTRACT

Advances in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) allowed them to become both flexible and cost-effective. When combined with computer vision data processing techniques they are a good way to obtain high-resolution imagery and 3D information. As such, UAS can be advantageous both for agriculture and forestry areas, where the need for data acquisition at specific times and within a specific time frame is crucial, enabling the extraction of several measurements from different crop types. In this study a low-cost UAS was used to survey an area mainly composed by chestnut trees (Castanea sativa Mill.). Flights were performed at different heights (ranging from 30 to 120 m), in single and double grid flight patterns, and photogrammetric processing was then applied. The obtained information consists of orthophoto mosaics and digital elevation models which enable the measurement of individual tree's parameters such as tree crown diameter and tree height. Results demonstrate that despite its lower spatial resolution, data from single grid flights carried out at higher heights provided more reliable results than data acquired at lower flight heights. Higher number of images acquired in double grid flights also improved the results. Overall, the obtained results are encouraging, presenting a R² higher than 0.9 and an overall root mean square error of 44 cm.

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Index Terms

• Applied computing

  • Physical sciences and engineering

    • Earth and atmospheric sciences

      • Environmental sciences

• Information systems

  • Information systems applications

    • Decision support systems

      • Data analytics

    • Spatial-temporal systems

      • Geographic information systems