Lecture by Prof. Sabino Bufo

HVHV--UAVUAV multispectral compared tomultispectral compared to
hyperspectralhyperspectral data collection as applieddata collection as applied
to vegetation indexesto vegetation indexes calculationcalculation
Prof. Sabino Aurelio Bufo*, Dott. Massimo Bavusi* and Gennaro Mecca***
*Dipartimento di Scienze – Università degli Studi della Basilicata – sabino.bufo@unibas.it
** Terralab S.r.l. – info@terralab.eu – www.terralab.eu
DIPARTIMENTO
DI SCIENZE
** Terralab S.r.l. – info@terralab.eu – www.terralab.eu
*** Tab Consulting S.r.l. – info@tabconsulting.it – www.tabsrl.com
Summer School of Hydrology Applied Course on UAVs for Environmental Monitoring, Matera, July 27-31, 2015
1

ContentsContents
Assessing the robustness of Vegetation Indices (VIs) to
estimate Durum Wheat grown (precision agriculture).
Comparing satellite remote sensing (multispectral
reflectance) and hyperspectral measurements (first year)
Comparing UAV multispectral vs field hyperspectral data
collection (second year)
2
collection (second year)
Working in progress for environmental applications

FirstFirst YearYear MAPRE ProjectMAPRE Project
Regional Project on ‘Advanced Precision Agriculture
Tools to Reduce the Environmental Impact of Wheat
Cropping (Triticum Durum, Desf.)’. Funded by P.S.R.
Basilicata (European Fund for Regional Development)
2007/2013.
3
Experimental
Field (10 ha)

MethodMethod
Remote sensing:
The RapidEye Satellite Constellation
http://blackbridge.com/rapideye/products/ortho.htm
4
Multispectral reflectance values, monitored by satellite, were used
to determine specific indices of plant health.
Spectral bands Blue: 440-510 nm (B)
Green: 520-590 nm (G)
Red: 630-685 nm (R)
Red Edge: 690-730 nm (RE)
NIR: 760-850 nm

MethodMethod
Mostly used indices:
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), or
structural index (canopy development)
Normalized Difference Red Edge Index (NDRE), or
chlorophyll index
5
NDVI = NDRE =
NIR – Red
NIR + Red
NIR – Red Edge
NIR + Red Edge
Green: 520-590 nm (G)
Red: 630-685 nm (R)
NIR: 760-850 nm

MethodMethod
Other indices:
• Canopy Chlorophyll Content Index (CCCI) or
Nitrogen uptake index: CCCI = NDRE/NDVI
• Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) or water
stress index: (NIR-BLUE)/(NIR+BLUE)
6
Green: 520-590 nm (G)
Red: 630-685 nm (R)
NIR: 760-850 nm
stress index: (NIR-BLUE)/(NIR+BLUE)
• Meris Terrestrial Chlorophyll Index (MTCI), or
chlorophyll assessment index:
(NIR-RedEdge)/(RedEdge-RED).

MethodMethod
Field measurements (walking):
7
FieldSpec® HandHeld 2:
Hand-held Vis-NIR
Spectroradiometer, working in
the 325 nm – 1075 nm spectral
range, with an accuracy of ±1
nm and a resolution of <3 nm
at 700 nm, equipped with GPS
accessory

ResultsResults
8Normalized Difference Vegetation
Index (NDVI)
Cultivars
C= Core
T= Tirex
S= Simeto
NDVI, March, 2013
NDVI, March, 2013

ResultsResults
Cultivars
C= Core
T= Tirex
S= Simeto
9
NDVI, April, 2013
Normalized Difference Vegetation
Index (NDVI)
NDVI, April, 2013

ResultsResults
10Normalized Difference Red Edge Index
(NDRE)
Cultivars
C= Core
T= Tirex
S= Simeto
10
NDRE, March, 2013
NDRE, March, 2013

ResultsResults
11Normalized Difference Red Edge Index
(NDRE)
NDRE, April, 2013
Cultivars
C= Core
T= Tirex
S= Simeto
NDRE, April, 2013

ResultsResults
12Meris Terrestrial Chlorophyll Index
(MTCI)
MTCI, March, 2013
Cultivars
C= Core
T= Tirex
S= Simeto
MTCI, March, 2013

ResultsResults
13Meris Terrestrial Chlorophyll Index
(MTCI)
MTCI, April, 2013
Cultivars
C= Core
T= Tirex
S= Simeto
MTCI, April, 2013

ResultsResults
14Normalized Difference Water Index
(NDWI)
MDWI, March, 2013
Cultivars
C= Core
T= Tirex
S= Simeto
MDWI, March, 2013

ResultsResults
15Normalized Difference Water Index
(NDWI) MDWI, April, 2013
Cultivars
C= Core
T= Tirex
S= Simeto
MDWI, April, 2013

SecondSecond YearYear FRUINDEX ProjectFRUINDEX Project
Regional Project on ‘Reduction of
environmental impact in the production of
durum wheat by means of fertilization
based on reflectance measurements and
related vegetation indices’.
17
related vegetation indices’.
Also funded by P.S.R. Basilicata (European Fund for
Regional Development) 2007/2013.

InstrumentationInstrumentation andand techniquestechniques
Field Spec HandHeld2
Spectroradiometer
SenseFly Ebee
Multispec 4c
18
•Spectral range: 325 nm – 1075
nm
•Accuracy :±1 nm
•Resolution: <3 nm at 700 nm
Resolution: 1.2 Mp x 4
Ground resolution at 100m:10 cm/px
Sensor size: 4.8 x 3.6 mm per
sensor
Pixel pitch: 3.75 um
Image format: RAW
Upward looking irradiance sensor

UAVUAV
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UAV: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Synonymous and variants: RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft), RPAS
(Remotely Piloted Aircraft), SAPR (Sistemi Aerei a Pilotaggio Remoto),
APR (Aeromobile a Pilotaggio Remoto); Autonomous Aircraft

The vectorThe vector
Hardware
Weight (inc. supplied camera): Approx. 0.69 kg (1.52 lbs)
Wingspan: 96 cm (38 in)
Material: EPP foam, carbon structure & composite parts
Propulsion: Electric pusher propeller, 160 W brushless
DC motor
Battery: 11.1 V, 2150 mAh
Camera (supplied) : WX (18.2 MP)
Cameras (optional), S110 RGB, thermoMAP,
Carry case dimensions,
55 x 45 x 25 cm (21.6 x 17.7 x 9.8 in)
Operation
Maximum flight time: 50 minutes
Nominal cruise speed: 40-90 km/h (11-25 m/s or
25-56 mph)
Radio link range: Up to 3 km (1.86 miles)
Maximum coverage (single flight): 12 km² / 4.6 mi²
(at 974 m / 3,195 ft altitude AGL)
Wind resistance: Up to 45 km/h (12m/s or 28 mph)
Ground Sampling Distance (GSD): Down to 1.5 cm
(0.6 in) per pixel
Relative orthomosaic/3D model accuracy
20
55 x 45 x 25 cm (21.6 x 17.7 x 9.8 in) Relative orthomosaic/3D model accuracy
1-3x GSD
Absolute horizontal/vertical accuracy (w/GCPs)
Down to 3 cm (1.2 in) / 5 cm (2 in)
Absolute horizontal/vertical accuracy (no GCPs)
1-5 m (3.3-16.4 ft)
Multi-drone operation : Yes (inc. mid-air collision
avoidance)
Automatic 3D flight planning: Yes
Linear landing accuracy: Approx. 5 m (16.4 ft)

UAV in AgricultureUAV in Agriculture
Index variations
Patterns in canopy height, vigour, colour, density
Developing erosion channels
Damage observations
Plant statistical variations & comparisons to other
data (e.g. planter data)
Patterns in dry soil vs. wet soil
Determine relative location of drainage tile &
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Determine relative location of drainage tile &
whether functioning/broken
Disaster management

UAV in AgricultureUAV in Agriculture
Platform
Cost
Time
consumption
Spatial
resolution
Spectral
resolution
Cloud
sensitivity
Coverage
Ondemand
services
Satellite
high
low
2-30
m
4 or
more high
Square
kilometers
No
22
Satellite
high
low
m
more
bands
high
kilometers
No
UAV low low
3 -20
cm
4 bands low
Up to 10
Km2 Yes
Field low high
Dependingon
thestep
Hyperspectral
ability
low
few
hectares
Yes

Fruindex project: locationFruindex project: location
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Location: Genzano di Lucania (Basilicata, Italy)
Coordinates: 40°49'15.35"N, 16° 4'43.96"E
Soc. Coop. Agr. LA GENERALE

Fruindex project: test siteFruindex project: test site
Wheat accessions
Tirex and Core
6 replicates
24
N fertilization:
100 or 150 Kg/ha
applied in two rates
April and May

Fruindex project:Fruindex project: FlightFlight planplan
25

Fruindex project: vegetation indexesFruindex project: vegetation indexes
NDVI (Normalized Difference
Vegetation Index)
NDVI is directly related to
the photosynthetic capacity
and hence energy
absorption of plant canopies
NDRE (Normalized
Difference RedEdge Index
NDRE is sensitive to
chlorophyll content
CCCI (Canopy
Chlorophyll
Content Index)
(NIR-Red)/(NIR+Red)
(NIR-RE)/(NIR+RE)
NDRE/NDVI
CCCI is sensitive to the
chlorophyll content
26
NDWI (Normalized
Difference Water
Index)
MTCI (Meris
Terrestrial
Clorophyll Index)
MTCI is sensitive to
chlorophyll contentNIR-RE/RE-Red
NIR-Blue/NIR+Blue
NDWI is sensitive to
changes in water content of
vegetation canopies
VariGREEN Visible
Atmospherically
Resistant Index
(Green-Red)/
(Green+Red+Blue)
Related to the resistance to
adverse climatic conditions

NDVI: (NIRNDVI: (NIR--Red)/(Red)/(NIR+RedNIR+Red))
FieldSpec - April FieldSpec - May
27
Multispec4c - April Multispec4c - May

NDRE: (NIRNDRE: (NIR--RE)/(NIR+RE)RE)/(NIR+RE)
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CCCI: NDRE/NDVICCCI: NDRE/NDVI
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MTCI : NIRMTCI : NIR--RE/RERE/RE--RedRed
30

NDWI: NIRNDWI: NIR--Blue/Blue/NIR+BlueNIR+Blue
31

NDVINDVI vsvs productionproduction 33

Advantages of UAV multispectral mappingAdvantages of UAV multispectral mapping
Full coverage herbicide
Control of sprayers based on remote sensing data
can lead to a reduction of 80 % -90 % of the doses
of herbicide.
Patch-sprying

Other applicationsOther applications
Vegetation and biodiversity monitoring

Other applicationsOther applications
Landslide characterization
Executive planning

Many thanksMany thanks
for your kind attentionfor your kind attention

Lecture by Prof. Sabino Bufo

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