Sustainable intensification of top fruit production through precision orchard management using novel remote sensing technologies

我们最近的工作表明，摄影测量和激光扫描技术可以有效地量化与产量相关的果园树木的大小和结构状况。我们还开发了利用高光谱和热遥感诊断植物营养缺乏症和水分亏缺。本项目将以这项工作为基础，将传感技术应用于在一系列环境条件下生长的苹果和梨的主要商业接穗和砧木品种。我们将获取地面（固定和拖拉机安装）和空中（无人机）的数码摄影、激光扫描仪、商业果园的高光谱和热数据，以及基于实地的树木生理、结构和产量测量。这些数据将用于开发有效的分析算法，能够确定管理干预措施的确切需求，例如每棵树的结构修剪、灌溉和肥料投入。重复获取遥感数据将允许与战略（生长季前）和战术（生长季内）管理干预措施有关的产出。这种方法提供了一种客观和可量化的方式来获取果园中大量树木的信息，并将其转化为对单个树木的精确处理。我们将与种植者和其他利益相关者合作，确保项目的产出在最大限度地提高产量的同时，最大限度地减少对环境的影响和生产成本。

Our recent work has demonstrated that photogrammetry and laser scanning techniques can efficiently quantify the size and structural condition of orchard trees which are correlated with yield. We have also developed the use of hyperspectral and thermal remote sensing to diagnose plant nutrient deficiencies and water deficit. This project will build upon this work and apply the sensing techniques to the key commercial scion and rootstock varieties of apple and pear growing under a range of environmental conditions. We will acquire ground-based (fixed and tractor-mounted) and airborne (from drones) digital photography, laser scanner, hyperspectral and thermal data from commercial orchards, together with field-based measures of tree physiology, structure and yield. These data will be used to develop efficient analytical algorithms capable of identifying the exact requirement for management interventions such as structural pruning, irrigation and fertiliser input for each tree. Repeat acquisitions of remotely-sensed data will permit outputs related to strategic (pre-growing season) and tactical (within-growing season) management interventions. This approach offers an objective and quantifiable way of acquiring information on large numbers of trees across an orchard and translating this into precise treatments for individual trees. We will work with growers and other stakeholders to ensure that the outputs of the project contribute significantly to maximising yield while minimising environmental impacts and production costs.