Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with Thermal Imaging for Automating Water Status in Vineyard

Thermal imaging is utilized as a technique in agricultural crop water management due to its efficiency in estimating canopy surface temperature and the ability to predict crop water levels. Thermal imaging was considered as a beneficial integration in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for agricultural and civil engineering purposes with the reduced weight of thermal imaging systems and increased resolution. When implemented on-site, this technique was able to address a number of difficulties, including estimation of water in the plant in farms or fields, while considering officially induced variability or naturally existing water level. The proposed effort aims to determine the amount of water content in a vineyard using the high-resolution thermal imaging. This research work has developed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that is particularly intended to display high-resolution images. This approach will be able to generate crop water stress index (CWSI) by utilizing a thermal imaging system on a clear-sky day. The measured values were compared to the estimated stomatal conductance (sg) and stem water (s) potential along the Vineyard at the same time. To evaluate the performance of the proposed work, special modelling approach was used to identify the pattern of variation in water level. Based on the observation, it was concluded that both ‘sg’ and ‘s’ value have correlated well with the CWSI value by indicating a great potential to monitor instantaneous changes in water level. However, based on seasonal changes in water status, it was discovered that the recorded thermal images did not correspond to seasonal variations in water status.

Download Full-text

Simplified Evaluation of Cotton Water Stress Using High Resolution Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Thermal Imagery

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs11030267 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 267 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Jiang Bian ◽

Zhitao Zhang ◽

Junying Chen ◽

Haiying Chen ◽

Chenfeng Cui ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Stress ◽

High Resolution ◽

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ◽

Canopy Temperature ◽

Reference Temperature ◽

Mild Stress ◽

Crop Water ◽

Aerial Vehicle ◽

Irrigation Treatments ◽

Crop Water Stress

Irrigation water management and real-time monitoring of crop water stress status can enhance agricultural water use efficiency, crop yield, and crop quality. The aim of this study was to simplify the calculation of the crop water stress index (CWSI) and improve its diagnostic accuracy. Simplified CWSI (CWSIsi) was used to diagnose water stress for cotton that has received four different irrigation treatments (no stress, mild stress, moderate stress, and severe stress) at the flowering and boll stage. High resolution thermal infrared and multispectral images were taken using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle remote sensing platform at midday (local time 13:00), and stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rate (tr), and cotton root zone soil volumetric water content (θ) were concurrently measured. The soil background pixels of thermal images were eliminated using the Canny edge detection to obtain a unimodal histogram of pure canopy temperatures. Then the wet reference temperature (Twet), dry reference temperature (Tdry), and mean canopy temperature (Tl) were obtained from the canopy temperature histogram to calculate CWSIsi. The other two methods of CWSI evaluation were empirical CWSI (CWSIe), in which the temperature parameters were determined by measuring natural reference cotton leaves, and statistical CWSI (CWSIs), in which Twet was the mean of the lowest 5% of canopy temperatures and Tdry was the air temperature (Tair) + 5 °C. Compared with CWSIe, CWSIs and spectral indices (NDVI, TCARI, OSAVI, TCARI/OSAVI), CWSIsi has higher correlation with gs (R2 = 0.660) and tr (R2 = 0.592). The correlation coefficient (R) for θ (0–45 cm) and CWSIsi is also high (0.812). The plotted high-resolution map of CWSIsi shows the different distribution of cotton water stress in different irrigation treatments. These findings demonstrate that CWSIsi, which only requires parameters from a canopy temperature histogram, may potentially be applied to precision irrigation management.

Download Full-text

Estimation of crop water stress in a nectarine orchard using high-resolution imagery from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

Weber, T., McPhee, M.J. and Anderssen, R.S. (eds) MODSIM2015, 21st International Congress on Modelling and Simulation ◽

10.36334/modsim.2015.f12.park ◽

2015 ◽

Keyword(s):

Water Stress ◽

High Resolution ◽

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ◽

Crop Water ◽

High Resolution Imagery ◽

Aerial Vehicle ◽

Crop Water Stress

Download Full-text

A Newly Developed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Imagery Based Technology for Field Measurement of Water Level

Water ◽

10.3390/w11010124 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 124 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ang Gao ◽

Shiqiang Wu ◽

Fangfang Wang ◽

Xiufeng Wu ◽

Peng Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Level ◽

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ◽

Image Recognition ◽

Field Measurement ◽

Correction Method ◽

Water Levels ◽

Parameter Calibration ◽

Statistical Parameters ◽

Aerial Vehicle ◽

Measuring Section

Field measurement of water level is important for water conservancy project operation and hydrological forecasting. In this study, we proposed a new measuring technique by integrating the advantages of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry and image recognition technology. Firstly, the imagery of water fluctuation process was captured by an UAV airborne camera, and water surface line in the imagery was recognized and extracted using image recognition technology. Subsequently, successive water levels at a measuring section were calculated by parameter calibration. Statistical parameters of water levels, such as maximum, average, and minimum values during the capturing period were also calculated. Additionally, we introduced a correction method to offset the error caused by UAV drift. The newly proposed method was tested in field measurement for Miaowei hydropower station, China, and the results showed that the method is reliable and adoptable.

Download Full-text

Adaptive Estimation of Crop Water Stress in Nectarine and Peach Orchards Using High-Resolution Imagery from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs9080828 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 828 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Suyoung Park ◽

Dongryeol Ryu ◽

Sigfredo Fuentes ◽

Hoam Chung ◽

Esther Hernández-Montes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Stress ◽

High Resolution ◽

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ◽

Adaptive Estimation ◽

Crop Water ◽

High Resolution Imagery ◽

Aerial Vehicle ◽

Crop Water Stress

Download Full-text

Mapping crop water stress index in a ‘Pinot-noir’ vineyard: comparing ground measurements with thermal remote sensing imagery from an unmanned aerial vehicle

Precision Agriculture ◽

10.1007/s11119-013-9334-5 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 361-376 ◽

Cited By ~ 156

Author(s):

J. Bellvert ◽

P. J. Zarco-Tejada ◽

J. Girona ◽

E. Fereres

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Water Stress ◽

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ◽

Pinot Noir ◽

Stress Index ◽

Crop Water ◽

Crop Water Stress Index ◽

Water Stress Index ◽

Aerial Vehicle ◽

Crop Water Stress

Download Full-text

Assessing the Water-Stress Baselines by Thermal Imaging for Irrigation Management in Almond Plantations under Water Scarcity Conditions

Water ◽

10.3390/w12051298 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 1298

Author(s):

Saray Gutiérrez-Gordillo ◽

Iván Francisco García-Tejero ◽

Víctor Hugo Durán Zuazo ◽

Amelia García Escalera ◽

Fernando Ferrera Gil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Stress ◽

Thermal Imaging ◽

Water Status ◽

Irrigation Management ◽

Irrigation Treatment ◽

Canopy Temperature ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

Stress Index ◽

Crop Water ◽

Crop Water Stress Index

This work examines the use of thermal imaging to determine the crop water status in young almond trees under sustained deficit irrigation strategies (SDIs). The research was carried out during two seasons (2018–2019) in three cultivars (Prunus dulcis Mill., cvs. Guara, Lauranne, and Marta) subjected to three irrigation treatments: a full irrigation treatment (FI) at 100% of irrigation requirements (IR), and two SDIs that received 75% and 65% of the IR, respectively. Crop water monitoring was done by measurements of canopy temperature, leaf water potential (Ψleaf), and stomatal conductance. Thermal readings were used to define the non-water-stress baselines (NWSB) and water-stress baselines (WSB) for each treatment and cultivar. According to our findings, Ψleaf was the most responsive parameter to reflect differences in almond water status. In addition, NWSB and WSB allowed the determination of the crop water-stress index (CWSI) and the increment of canopy temperature (ITC) for each SDI treatment, obtaining threshold values of CWSI (0.12–0.15) and ITC (~1 °C) that would ensure maximum water savings by minimizing the effects on yield. The findings highlight the importance of determining the different NWSB and WSB for different almond cultivars and its potential use for proper irrigation scheduling.

Download Full-text

New method for tree stands parameters determination using high resolution images done by unmanned aerial vehicle

Известия СПбЛТА ◽

10.21266/2079-4304.2016.215.6-18 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

А.С. Алексеев ◽

А.А. Никифоров ◽

А.А. Михайлова ◽

М.Р. Вагизов

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ◽

New Method ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Special Treatment ◽

Resolution Image ◽

Growing Stock ◽

High Resolution Image ◽

Aerial Vehicle ◽

Area Unit

В связи со старением информационных материалов о состоянии лесов существует потребность в разработке новых методов таксации древостоев, основанных на применении последних научно-технических достижений в области теории структуры и продуктивности древостоев, дистанционных методов изучения лесов, информационных и ГИС технологий. В статье приведены результаты разработки и проверки нового метода определения таксационных характеристик сомкнутых насаждений на основе правила 3/2 и подобных ему правил Хильми и Рейнеке, с одной стороны, и определения числа деревьев на единице площади по снимку сверх высокого разрешения, полученного с помощью БПЛА, с другой. С теоретической точки зрения эта зависимости величин запаса, средней высоты и среднего диаметра от числа стволов на единице площади относятся к классу аллометрических связей, очень часто встречающихся при количественном описании соотношений частей биологических систем разных уровней иерархии, от организмов до экосистем. Параметры аллометрических зависимостей запаса, средних высоты и диаметра от числа стволов на единице площади были определены для основных лесообразующих пород по данным таблиц хода роста нормальных (полных) древостоев с теоретическим показателем степени и затем использованы для расчетов. Число деревьев на единице площади определялось по снимку с разрешением 7,13 см/пиксель, полученному с помощью 4-роторной платформы. Обработка материалов аэрофотосъемки была выполнена в специализированной фотограмметрической системе Agisoft Photoscan. В результате были получены ортофотоплан и цифровая модель поверхности крон деревьев на изучаемую территорию с определением их высот. Для автоматизированной обработки полученных изображений с целью получения значений числа деревьев на единицу площади был создан специализированный скрипт на языке Java. Погрешности определения таксационных характеристик древостоев предлагаемым методом не выше установленных действующими нормативными материалами. Every time there is a demand for new innovative methods of forest resources estimation based on last achievements in theoretical science, remote sensing methods, information and GIS-technologies. In the paper are presented a new method and the results of its application to forest stands growing stock, mean height and diameter determination. The method is based on rule 3/2 and similar Reineke and Hilmy rules, on one hand and high resolution image made by unmanned aerial vehicle, which used for determination of number of trees per area unit, on other. The above rules are well known in quantitative biology as an allometric and widely used for description of different kind of relations in biological systems of various scale: from organisms to ecosystems. Parameters of above allometric relationships between growing stock, mean height and diameter and stems density per area unit was determine on the base of full stock growth and yield tables for main tree species and after used for experimental calculations. The number of trees per area unit was determined after special treatment of high resolution image made by unmanned flying machine. The growing stock, mean height and diameter determined by suggested method was compared with the data of regular forest inventory. Comparison gives positive result and method may be recommended for further development.

Download Full-text

Monitoring Crop Water Status and Irrigation Needs Using Multispectral Airborne Sensors

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.30.4.905d ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 905D-905

Author(s):

Thomas R. Clarke ◽

M. Susan Moran

Keyword(s):

Water Stress ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Water Status ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Stress Index ◽

Crop Water ◽

Vegetative Cover ◽

Crop Water Stress Index ◽

Water Stress Index ◽

Subsurface Drip

Water application efficiency can be improved by directly monitoring plant water status rather than depending on soil moisture measurements or modeled ET estimates. Plants receiving sufficient water through their roots have cooler leaves than those that are water-stressed, leading to the development of the Crop Water Stress Index based on hand-held infrared thermometry. Substantial error can occur in partial canopies, however, as exposed hot soil contributes to deceptively warm temperature readings. Mathematically comparing red and near-infrared reflectances provides a measure of vegetative cover, and this information was combined with thermal radiance to give a two-dimensional index capable of detecting water stress even with a low percentage of canopy cover. Thermal, red, and near-infrared images acquired over subsurface drip-irrigated cantaloupe fields demonstrated the method's ability to detect areas with clogged emitters, insufficient irrigation rate, and system water leaks.

Download Full-text