engleski

AERIAL MAPPING OF FLOWERING JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE: A COMPARISON OF TWO METHODS

Invasive plant species are a major threat to biodiversity, and their introduction can negatively impact the environment, the economy and human health. Once established, invasive species become very difficult and expensive to detect, map and monitor. Therefore, methods for early detection and monitoring of the spread of invasive species are crucial. Aerial mapping methods can make the detection of invasive species faster than traditional ground-based visual methods. It is convenient for mapping large or inaccessible habitats, especially for anthropogenically disturbed habitats such as roads, riverbanks, roads and railways. Aerial detection of invasive plants can be useful when a particular growth stage (e.g., flowering, ripening) of a plant can be easily identified or for those species with recognizable features. We have chosen the Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) because of its bright, yellow-coloured flowers during the flowering season. This study aimed to test methods for more efficient data collection for invasive species. In particular, to measure and compare the economic and labour effort for mapping invasive species by two methods: aerial mapping and traditional field mapping. Aerial mapping was performed using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone. In the two-year research, we have tested the possibilities of the two drone models for aerial mapping. In the first year, several drone shots were taken at different altitudes to detect the altitude from which the Jerusalem artichoke is recognizable. In the second year, different technological possibilities of drones for mapping were tested and compared to traditional field mapping methods. The lack of this method is the possible application on a limited number of species while for others it is still necessary to apply the classical mapping method. The results suggest that the use of drones in the mapping of some invasive species is beneficial in reducing economic and labour effort, and the best drone protocol for Jerusalem artichoke mapping is proposed.

drone protocol, mapping, Helianthus tuberosus, remote sensing

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