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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Wooster, Ohio » Application Technology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #296798
Title: Real-time tree foliage density estimation with laser scanning sensor for variable-rate tree sprayer development

Author
item CHEN, YU - The Ohio State University
item Zhu, Heping
item OZKAN, H. - The Ohio State University

Submitted to: Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/10/2013
Publication Date: 8/20/2013
Citation: Chen, Y., Zhu, H., Ozkan, H.E. 2013. Real-time tree foliage density estimation with laser scanning sensor for variable-rate tree sprayer development. In: Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual Meeting, July 21-24, 2013, Kansas City, Missouri. ASABE Paper No. 131596009.http://dx.doi.org/10.13031/aim.20131596009.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Trees, even in the same orchard or nursery, can have considerably different structures and foliage densities. Conventional chemical applications often spray the entire field at a constant rate without considering field variations, resulting in excessive chemical waste and spray drift. To address this problem, a foliage density estimation method was developed specifically for the development of an experimental variable-rate sprayer. A ground laser-scanning sensor was utilized to achieve the 3D range measurements of the target tree canopy structure. An algorithm was designed to calculate the foliage density in real time. Laboratory evaluations on artificial trees showed that the calculated and measured foliage densities of trees correlated very well with R2 ranging from 0.94 to 1. The algorithm could also identify the ground, sky, sensor height, tree row center, and background tree row automatically. Test results demonstrated that this density algorithm along with the instant calculation speed enabled the sensor detection system to provide density measurement in real time for variable rate sprayer development.