Ground validation of aerial detection technology to determine urban forest tree health for use in municipal urban forestry programs

The use of aerial drone sensing (remote piloted aerial surveillance) technologies has greatly expanded over the last decade into the agriculture/forestry, construction, mining, engineering/surveying, and public safety sectors. One such area of growth has been in the detection and assessment of plant condition and health in the agriculture and forestry industries. The use of this technology has the potential of providing improved the efficiency and effectiveness of the management of insect and disease pests in municipal urban forestry programs. The purpose of this project is to determine the effectiveness of remote based multispectral technologies using drones to identify the presence of Dutch elm disease (DED) in elm trees in the City of Winnipeg. Speed and the ability to cover large areas through disease detection surveys afforded by remotely piloted aircraft systems surveillance would be useful in charting the spread of the disease in urban neighbourhoods, and allow implementation of control methods within shorter time frames.

Faculty Supervisor:

Richard Westwood

Student:

Partner:

Volatus Unmanned Services Inc.

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Winnipeg

Program: