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Crop Height Monitoring Using a Consumer-Grade Camera and UAV Technology

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PFG – Journal of Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Recent advances in the ability to capture high spatial resolution images by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have shown the potential of this technology for a wide range of application including exploring the effects of different external stimuli when monitoring environmental and structural variables. In this paper, we show the application of UAV technology for crop height monitoring and modelling to provide quantitative crop growth data and demonstrate the remote sensing and photogrammetric capabilities of the technology to the farming industry. This study was carried out in a field trial involving a combination of six wheat varieties and three different fungicide treatments. The UAV imagery of the field trial site was captured on five occasions throughout crop development. These were used to create digital surface models from which crop surface models (CSMs) were extracted for the cropped areas. Crop heights are estimated from the photogrammetric derived CSMs and are compared against the reference heights captured using Real-Time Kinematic Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to validate the CSMs. Furthermore, crop growth differences among varieties are analysed; and crop height correlations with grain yield as well as with independently estimated vegetation indices are evaluated. These evaluations show that the technology is suitable (with average bias range 2–10 cm depending on wind conditions relative to GNSS height) and has potential for quantitative and qualitative monitoring of canopy and/or crop height and growth.

Zusammenfassung

Überwachung von Getreidehöhen mit einer handelsüblichen Kamera und UAV Technologie. Jüngste Fortschritte bei der Erfassung von Bildern mit hoher Auflösung durch unbemannte Luftfahrzeuge (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, UAV) haben das Potenzial dieser Technologie für einen breiten Anwendungsbereich aufgezeigt, einschließlich der Untersuchung der Auswirkungen verschiedener externer Reize bei der Überwachung von Umgebungs- und Strukturvariablen. In diesem Artikel zeigen wir die Anwendung der UAV-Technologie zur Überwachung und Modellierung von Getreidehöhen, um quantitative Getreidewachstumshöhen bereitzustellen und die Fernerkundungs- und photogrammetrische Fähigkeiten der Technologie für die Landwirtschaft zu demonstrieren. Diese Studie wurde in einem Feldversuch mit einer Kombination von sechs Weizensorten und drei verschiedenen Pilzbehandlungen durchgeführt. Die UAV-Bilder des Feldversuchsgeländes wurden während der gesamten Ernteentwicklung fünfmal aufgenommen. Diese Bilder wurden verwendet, um digitale Oberflächenmodelle (Digital Surface Models - DSMs) zu erstellen, aus denen Getreideoberflächenmodelle (Crop Surface Models - CSMs) für die Versuchsflächen extrahiert wurden. Die Erntehöhen werden aus den photogrammetrisch abgeleiteten CSMs geschätzt und mit den Referenzhöhen verglichen, die mit dem Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) mit Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) zur Validierung der CSMs erfasst wurden. Darüber hinaus werden Unterschiede im Pflanzenwachstum zwischen den Sorten analysiert und die Korrelation der Getreidehöhe mit dem Getreideertrag sowie mit unabhängig geschätzten Vegetationsindizes ausgewertet. Diese Auswertungen zeigen, dass die Technologie geeignet ist (mit einem durchschnittlichen Bias-Bereich von 2 bis 10 cm in Abhängigkeit von den Windverhältnissen in Bezug auf die GNSS-Höhe) und das Potenzial zur quantitativen und qualitativen Überwachung der Getreidehöhe und des Wachstums vorhanden ist.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the support provided by Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) for funding the field trial and the purchase of the required equipment. Additionally, we thank Adam Technology (specifically, Jason Birch) and Autonomous Imaging Technology (specifically, Nigel Brown) for their support throughout the project. The authors also thank the anonymous reviewers and the editor for their constructive comments which helped improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia

    D. Belton, P. Helmholz & J. Long

  2. Centre for Crop and Disease Management, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia

    A. Zerihun

Authors
  1. D. Belton
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  2. P. Helmholz
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  3. J. Long
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  4. A. Zerihun
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Correspondence to P. Helmholz.

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Belton, D., Helmholz, P., Long, J. et al. Crop Height Monitoring Using a Consumer-Grade Camera and UAV Technology. PFG 87, 249–262 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41064-019-00087-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41064-019-00087-8

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