1. Drone applications in Forestry APEC/APFL forum, February 2017

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

3. Promotional Image – PF Olsen, First Ship

4. Use of drones in forestry:

5. 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.

6. Stocking Counts - example

7. 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.

8. Canopy Height Model- example

9. 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.

10. Density Map - example

11. 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.

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

13. 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

14. NDVI – formula

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. Vegetation profile – example

18. 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

19. Invasive weed detection – e.g. Sydney Wattle survey

20. 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.

23. 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.

24. Crop scouting – example

25. 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.

26. Stockpile volumes

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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.

31. Thank you