Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Detecting Sosnowskyi’s Hogweed (Heracleum Sosnowskyi Manden.) using UAV Survey Data

  • AGRICULTURAL SOIL SCIENCE AND AGROECOLOGY
  • Published:
Russian Agricultural Sciences Aims and scope

Abstract

In recent years, the spread of Sosnowskyi’s hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden.) has expanded significantly both in Russia and abroad, leading to the need to develop reliable methods of monitoring areas of its growth. For these purposes, the feasibility of detecting Sosnowskyi’s hogweed by means of land surveys conducted by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been investigated. The research was carried out on a 70-hectare test key plot in Tver oblast, where Sosnowskyi’s hogweed grows in small batches on abandoned plots near arable fields. The area was photographed on June 30, 2021, during the hogweed’s flowering stage, from a height of 100 m using a DJI Matrice 200 UAV equipped with a Zenmuse X4S gyro-stabilized visible spectral range camera. The resulting color image was split into three channels (R, G, and B). After that, several supervised classifications were performed in order to identify hogweed inflorescences and leaves. Combining the inflorescence and leaf maps resulted in a map of hogweed distribution in the study area. Its accuracy was assessed by a classification error matrix and was found to be over 95%. Therefore, Sosnowskyi’s hogweed plants can be successfully automatically detected using images taken by a UAV with a standard camera during the plants’ flowering stage. In contrast to satellite imagery, in this case the detection algorithm is individual for each UAV image mosaic. The individuality is determined by the specifics of imaging, the type of land cover of the study area (especially the vegetation cover), and the hogweed’s phenophase at the time of survey. The developed algorithm cannot be used on other territories without adaptation. Detection accuracy can be improved by choosing an optimal time for the survey or by using multitemporal images.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+
from $39.99 /Month
  • Starting from 10 chapters or articles per month
  • Access and download chapters and articles from more than 300k books and 2,500 journals
  • Cancel anytime
View plans

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

REFERENCES

  1. Tkachenko, K.G. and Krasnov, A.A., Heracleum sosnowskyi: an environmental problem or a crop of the future? (Review), Byull. Bot. Sada-Inst. Dal’nevost.Otd. Ross. Akad. Nauk., 2018, no. 20, pp. 1–22.

  2. Antipina, G.S. and Shuiskaya, E.A., Seed productivity of the invasive species of Sosnowski’s hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskui Manden.) in Southern Karelia, Uch. Zap. Petrozavodsk. Gos. Univ., Ser.: Estestv. Tekh. Nauki, 2009, vol. 3, no. 99, pp. 23–25.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Prokhorov, V.N., Mishina, M.Yu., Laman, N.A., Rosolenko, S.I., and Timofeeva, I.V., RF Patent 20369, 2016.

  4. Panasenko, N.N., On certain issues of biology and ecology of Sosnowsky’s hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden), Ross. Zh. Biol. Invazii, 2017, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 272–281.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Shirokova, V.A. and Ozerova, N.A., Invasion of the Caucasian endemic Sosnowskyi’s hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi) into river-floodplain ecosystems of the European plain, Grozn. Estestvennonauchn. Byull., 2016, vol. 4, no. 4, pp. 66–78.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Mežaka, A., Zvaigzne, A., and Tripāne, E., Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden. Monitoring in protected areas – a case study in Rēzekne municipality, Latvia, Acta Biol. Univ. Daugavpiliensis, 2016, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 181–189.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Krivosheina, M.G., Ozerova, N.A., and Petrosyan, V.G., Distribution of seeds of the giant hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden.) in the winter period, Russ. J. Biol. Invasions, 2020, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 318–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. The Giant Hogweed Best Practice Manual. Guidelines for the Management and Control of an Invasive Weed in Europe, Nielsen, C., Ravn, H.P., Nentwig, W., and Wade, M., Eds., Hoersholm: Forest and Landscape, 2005.

  9. Bogdanov, V.L., Nikolaev, R.V., and Shmeleva, I.V., Invasion of an ecologically dangerous plant Heracleum sosnowskyi (Manden.) in the European part of Russia, Reg. Ekol., 2011, vols. 1–2, no. 31, pp. 43–52.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Dal’ke, I.V., Zakhozhii, I.G., and Chadin, I.F., Distribution of Heracleum sosnowskyi on the territory of the Syktyvkar city (Komi Republic, Russia) and management of the invasion by the city administration, Vestn. Inst. Biol. Nauchn. Tsentra Ural. Otd. Ross. Akad. Nauk, 2018, vol. 205, no. 3, pp. 2–13.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Bogdanov, V.L., Osipov, A.G., and Garmanov, V.V., Methodology for monitoring of lands contamination by Sosnovsky’s hogweed according to remote sounding data, Izv. S.-Peterb. Gos. Agrar. Univ., 2020, no. 59, pp. 69–74.

  12. Golovko, T.K., Dal’ke, I.V., and Chadin, I.F., Invasive potential of Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden. and control over the distribution of giant hogweed in the agroclimatic zone of the Komi Republic (project of oriented fundamental research of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2012), Vestn. Inst. Biol. Komi Nauchn. Tsentra Ural. Otd. Ross. Akad. Nauk, 2013, no. 4, pp. 18–19.

  13. Afonin, A.N., Luneva, N.N., Li, Yu. S., et al., Ecological-geographical analysis of distribution pattern and occurrence of cow-parsnip (Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden) with respect to area aridity and its mapping in European Russia, Russ. J. Ecol., 2017, vol. 48, pp. 86–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Tkachenko, K.G. and Krasnov, A.A., Heracleum sosnowskyi: an environmental problem or a crop of the future? (Review), Byull. Bot. Sada-Inst. Dal’nevost.Otd. Ross. Akad. Nauk., 2018, no. 20, pp. 1–22.

  15. Rzymski, P., Klimaszyk, P., and Poniedzialek, B., Invasive giant hogweeds in Poland: Risk of burns among forestry workers and plant distribution, Burns, 2015, vol. 41, no. 8, pp. 1816–1822.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Chadin, I.F., Dal’ke, I.V., and Malyshev, R.V., Evaluation of Heracleum sosnowskyi frost resistance after snow cover removal in early spring, Russ. J. Biol. Invasions, 2019, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 83–91.

  17. Müllerova, J., Pergl, J., and Pysek, P., Remote sensing as a tool for monitoring plant invasions: Testing the effects of data resolution and image classification approach on the detection of a model plant species Heracleum mantegazzianum (giant hogweed), Int. J. Appl. Earth Obs. Geoinf., 2013, vol. 25, pp. 55–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Nehrbass, N., Winkler, E., Pergl, J., et al., Emperical and virtual investigation of the population dynamics of an alien plant under the constrains of local carrying capacity: Heracleum mantegazzianum in Czech Republic, Perspect. Plant Ecol., Evol. Syst., 2006, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 253–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Thiele, J. and Otte, A., Invasion patterns of Heracleum mantegazzianum in Germany on the regional and landscape scales, J. Nat. Conserv., 2008, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 61–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Samye opasnye invazionnye vidy Rossii (TOP-100) (The Most Dangerous Invasive Species in Russia (TOP-100)), Dgebuadze, Yu.Yu., Petrosyan, V.G., and Khlyap, L.A., Eds., Moscow: KMK, 2018.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Vinogradova, Yu.K., Maiorov, S.R., and Khorun, L.V., Chernaya kniga flory Srednei Rossii (Chuzherodnye vidy rastenii v ekosistemakh Srednei Rossii) (Black Book of Flora of Central Russia (Non-Native Plant Species in Ecosystems of Central Russia), Moscow: GEOS, 2009.

  22. Panasenko, N.N., Kharin, A.V., Ivenkova, I.M., et al., Distribution of invasive plant species in the Bryansk oblast’: Heracleum sosnowskyi, Ezheg. Nauchno-Issled. Inst. Fundam. Prikl. Issled., 2014, vol. 1, no. 5, pp. 48–50.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Luneva, N.N., Konechnaya, G.Yu., Smekalova, T.N., et al., On status of Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden. on the territory of Russian Federation, Plant Prot. News, 2018, vol. 3, no. 97, pp. 10–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Kondrat’ev, M.N., Budarin, S.N., and Larikova, Yu.S., Physiological and ecological mechanisms of invasive penetration of Sosnowskyi hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden.) in unexploitable agroecosystems, Izv. Temiryazevsk. S-kh. Akad., 2015, no. 2, pp. 36–49.

  25. Ryzhikov, D.M. and Timofeev, A.S., Sosnovsky hogweed monitoring technology with online geoportal support, Materialy 2-i Mezhdunarodnoi konferentsii “Distantsionnoe zondirovanie Zemli—segodnya i zavtra” (Proc. 2nd Int. Conf. “Remote Sensing of the Earth—Today and Tomorrow”), St. Petersburg, 2014. http://conf.rse.geosmis.ru/thesisshow.aspx?page=91& thesis=4639. Cited August 17, 2021.

  26. Ryzhikov, D.M., Heracleum sosnowskyi growth area control by multispectral satellite data, Inf.-Upr. Sist., 2017, vol. 92, no. 6, pp. 43–51.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Rutman, V.V., Kantor, G.Ya., Adamovich, T.A., et al., Identification of the thickets of Hogweed sosnovsky using Earth remote sensing, Materialy 3-i Vserossiiskoi nauchno-prakticheskoi konferentsii s mezhdunarodnym uchastiem “Ekologiya rodnogo kraya: problemy i puti ikh resheniya” (Proc. 3d All-Russian Int. Sci.-Pract. Conf. “Ecology of the Native Land: Problems and Solutions”), Kirov: Vyatskii Gos. Univ.; Inst. Biol. Komi Nauchn. Tsentra Ural. Otd. Ross. Akad. Nauk, 2018, pp. 81–85.

  28. Chaban, L.N. and Mitrofanov, E.M., Prospects for automating the isolation of Sosnovsky hogweed using images from UAV by means of GIS, Izv. Vyssh. Uchebn. Zaved., Geod. Aerofotos’emka, 2019, nos. 10–1, pp. 122–127.

  29. Zhiglova, O.V., Use of geoinformation technologies in identifying sites of Sosnovsky hogweed, Zashch. Karantin Rast., 2012, no. 5, pp. 8–9.

  30. Grigor’ev, A.N. and Ryzhikov, D.M., General methodology and results of spectroradiometric research of reflective properties of the Heracleum sosnowskyi in the range 320–1100 nm for Earth remote sensing, Sovrem. Probl. Distantsionnogo Zondirovaniya Zemli Kosmosa, 2018, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 183–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Rutman, V.V. and Kantor, G.Ya., Development of a computer program for the identification of Sosnovsky hogweed by aerial photograph, Materialy 14-i Vserossiiskoi nauchno-prakticheskoi konferentsii s mezhdunarodnym uchastiem “Biodiagnostika Sostoyaniya prirodnykh i prirodno-tekhnogennykh system” (Proc. 14th All-Russ. Sci.-Pract. Conf. with International Participation “Biodiagnostics of the State of Natural and Natural-Technogenic Systems”), Kirov: Raduga-press, 2016, pp. 183–185.

  32. Wang, R., Gamon, J.A., Montgomery, R.A., et al., Seasonal variation in the NDVI–species richness relationship in a prairie grassland experiment (Cedar Creek), Remote Sens., 2016, vol. 8, no. 2, p. 128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Otsu, K., Pla, M., Duane, A., et al., Estimating the threshold of detection on tree crown defoliation using vegetation indices from UAS multispectral imagery, Drones, 2019, vol. 3, no. 4, p. 80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Kashtanov, A.N., Vernyuk, Y.I., Savin, I.Y., et al., Mapping of rill erosion of arable soils based on unmanned aerial vehicles survey, Eurasian Soil Sci., 2018, vol. 51, no. 4, pp. 479–484.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Yichun, Xie., Zongyao, Sha., and Mei, Yu., Remote sensing imagery in vegetation mapping: a review, J. Plant Ecol., 2008, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 9–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Tovstik, E.V., Adamovich, T.A., and Ashikhmina, T.Ya., Identification of sites of mass growth of Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden. using spectral indices according to Sentinel-2 images, Teor. Prikl. Ekol., 2019, no. 3, pp. 34–40.

Download references

Funding

The study was financially supported by the Russian Federation (agreement with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education no. 075-15-2020-909 of November 16, 2020) and as part of the RUDN University Strategic Academic Leadership Program.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Federal Research Center Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute, 119017, Moscow, Russia

    I. Yu. Savin, E. A. Shishkonakova & Yu. I. Vernyuk

  2. Institute of Ecological Engineering, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN), 117198, Moscow, Russia

    I. Yu. Savin, D. P. Andronov & Yu. I. Vernyuk

Authors
  1. I. Yu. Savin
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. P. Andronov
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. A. Shishkonakova
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yu. I. Vernyuk
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to I. Yu. Savin.

Ethics declarations

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest. This article does not contain any studies involving animals or human participants performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

Translated by A. Ovchinnikova

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Savin, I.Y., Andronov, D.P., Shishkonakova, E.A. et al. Detecting Sosnowskyi’s Hogweed (Heracleum Sosnowskyi Manden.) using UAV Survey Data. Russ. Agricult. Sci. 47 (Suppl 1), S90–S96 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3103/S106836742201013X

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3103/S106836742201013X

Keywords: