Drone applications in Forestry APEC/APFL forum, February 2017

A bit about us… Steve Ayling Surveyor, GIS & Mapping Consultant, UAV Controller Peter Banyard Chief UAV Controller, UAV Maintenance Controller, GIS & Research Forester

Promotional Image – PF Olsen, First Ship

Use of drones in forestry:

Use of drones in forestry: Stocking counts – Automated count of individual tree stems per plot Decision making tool for coppice vs replant, accurate forecast for contractor payments, data to back up decision making.

Stocking Counts - example

Use of drones in forestry: Stocking counts – Automated count of individual tree stems per plot Canopy height models – Individual tree height analysis (min, max, average) With stocking and height data we are 2/3 of the way to accurate yield estimations, so we are keen to develop the relationship that stocking/height and LAI have on yield and if this can be used as an estimating tool.

Canopy Height Model- example

Use of drones in forestry: Stocking counts – Automated count of individual tree stems per plot Canopy height models – Individual tree height analysis (min, max, average) Density map – Heatmap of number of stems per hectare Visual colour ramp map to highlight areas of high and low stocking and therefore can be used to map out areas in the field to replant/terminate etc. Also handy for mapping out areas with large weeds, i.e. extra high stocking in inter-rows.

Density Map - example

Use of drones in forestry: Stocking counts – Automated count of individual tree stems per plot Canopy height models – Individual tree height analysis (min, max, average) Density map – Heatmap of number of stems per hectare LAI – Leaf Area Index calculation Generally the more leaf mass, the more the tree is going to grow, so this gives us another indicator to predict yield.

LAI– example (LAI = leaf area m2/ ground area m2) LAI = 85,260m²/38,333m² = 2.2

Use of drones in forestry: Stocking counts – Automated count of individual tree stems per plot Canopy height models – Individual tree height analysis (min, max, average) Density map – Heatmap of number of stems per hectare LAI – Leaf Area Index calculation NDVI – Normalised Difference Vegetation Index

NDVI – formula

This formula was constructed based on the basic principle that plants reflect a lot of light in the near infrared band where most non plant objects do not reflect this light…the key to all this! When plants becomes dehydrated or stressed they reflect less near infrared light, but the same amount in the visible range. When we combine these two types of information we can then visually differentiate not only between what is plant and non plant but also which are healthy and unhealthy.

Use of drones in forestry: Stocking counts – Automated count of individual tree stems per plot Canopy height models – Individual tree height analysis (min, max, average) Density map – Heatmap of number of stems per hectare LAI – Leaf Area Index calculation NDVI – Normalised Difference Vegetation Index Vegetation profile – Plant health & profile monitoring An excellent tool for monitoring vegetation growth over time, great for FSC brownie points.

Vegetation profile – example

Use of drones in forestry: Stocking counts – Automated count of individual tree stems per plot Canopy height models – Individual tree height analysis (min, max, average) Density map – Heatmap of number of stems per hectare LAI – Leaf Area Index calculation NDVI – Normalised Difference Vegetation Index Vegetation health profile – Plant health & profile monitoring Invasive weed detection – e.g. Sydney Wattle survey

Invasive weed detection – e.g. Sydney Wattle survey

Use of drones in forestry : Stocking counts – Automated count of individual tree stems per plot Canopy height models – Individual tree height analysis (min, max, average) Density map – Heatmap of number of stems per hectare LAI – Leaf Area Index calculation NDVI – Normalised Difference Vegetation Index Vegetation health profile – Plant health & profile monitoring Invasive weed detection – e.g. Sydney Wattle survey Insect Surveillance- Insect egg counts in canopy/ crop health NDVI We are keen to monitor the relationship between Insect numbers/ damage and NDVI tree health in plantations.

Use of drones in forestry : Stocking counts – Automated count of individual tree stems per plot Canopy height models – Individual tree height analysis (min, max, average) Density map – Heatmap of number of stems per hectare LAI – Leaf Area Index calculation NDVI – Normalised Difference Vegetation Index Vegetation health profile – Plant health & profile monitoring Invasive weed detection – e.g. Sydney Wattle survey Insect Surveillance- Insect egg counts in canopy/ crop health NDVI Crop scouting – FPV feed for quick assessment of crop A quick and cheaper way of obtaining an overall feel of what's going on in the plantation, and easily identify weak areas that may require a full grid survey.

Crop scouting – example

Use of drones in forestry: Stocking counts – Automated count of individual tree stems per plot Canopy height models – Individual tree height analysis (min, max, average) Density map – Heatmap of number of stems per hectare LAI – Leaf Area Index calculation NDVI – Normalised Difference Vegetation Index Vegetation health profile – Plant health & profile monitoring Invasive weed detection – e.g. Sydney Wattle survey Insect Surveillance- Insect egg counts in canopy/ crop health NDVI Crop scouting – FPV feed for quick assessment of crop Stockpile reconciliations – Woodchip stockpiles, gravel stockpiles, log/ biomass etc.

Stockpile volumes

Use of drones in forestry: Stocking counts – Automated count of individual tree stems per plot Canopy height models – Individual tree height analysis (min, max, average) Density map – Heatmap of number of stems per hectare LAI – Leaf Area Index calculation NDVI – Normalised Difference Vegetation Index Vegetation health profile – Plant health & profile monitoring Invasive weed detection – e.g. Sydney Wattle survey Insect Surveillance- Insect egg counts in canopy/ crop health nNDVI Crop scouting – FPV feed for quick assessment of crop Stockpile reconciliations – Port woodchip tonnages, gravel stockpiles, log volumes etc. Precision forestry – Output of accurate data to variable rate machinery

Precision Forestry– Variable Rate Technology NDVI map - crop health from multispectral camera Weed and insect infestations/damage Upload Data- transferred to variable rate machinery Application- Rates altered for maximum efficiency Financial, environmental & safety benefits- less chemical costs, FSC tick, resistance, less offsite movement, less chemical exposure

Use of drones in forestry: Stocking counts – Automated count of individual tree stems per plot Canopy height models – Individual tree height analysis (min, max, average) Density map – Heatmap of number of stems per hectare LAI – Leaf Area Index calculation NDVI – Normalised Difference Vegetation Index Vegetation health profile – Plant health & profile monitoring Invasive weed detection – e.g. Sydney Wattle survey Insect Surveillance- Insect egg counts in canopy/ crop health NDVI Crop scouting – FPV feed for quick assessment of crop Stockpile reconciliations – Port woodchip tonnages, gravel stockpiles, log volumes etc. Precision forestry – Output of accurate data to variable rate machinery Fire management– Post burn scare mapping, thermal cameras for hot spot detection, enhanced safety etc

Drone technology cost benefits & efficiency improvements : Reduced field hours and cost of personnel and vehicles required to conduct traditional assessments, such as stocking counts, tree height measuring. Automated analysis and post processing methodology that is repeatable and non subjective Multiple outcomes and workflows from digital data captured in a single flight Visual, georeferenced true to scale, high resolution environmental snap shot of plantation/property at a known point in time Multispectral capability that will allow for precision fertiliser and pesticide application Accuracy and consistency of stockpile reconciliation volumes and tonnages Traditional use of photo points made redundant and incorporated into aerial flights Cost of coppice pruning changes per stocking on sliding scale, knowing exactly how much to pay contractors Safety and environmental benefits such as weed and disease spread, trips and falls etc.

Thank you