Using Drones to Monitor and Protect Forests and Animals
Forests are the lungs of our planet and play a pivotal role in the global climate and ecological systems. As our forests face threats from pests, climate change, and human activity, this in turn threatens human and animal wellbeing.
Two University of Guelph researchers are planning to use drone technology to better monitor and understand factors impacting forests and the animals that live within them.
Currently satellite imagery is used to monitor and track changes in forests, but drones have the ability to operate on a finer scale and provide more detailed results, even creating 3D maps of forests. Using drones enables researchers to detect subtle differences in forest and tree health and to assess animal habitats in ways that can’t be seen with satellites.
To purchase these drones and accompanying lab equipment, Dr. Ben DeVries, Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics and Dr. Travis Steffens, Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology have received federal funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF).
An Integrated UAV-Hyperspectral-LiDAR System for Forest Health Monitoring – Dr. Ben DeVries
DeVries plans to equip his drones with hyperspectral and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors that will capture high-resolution structural, spectral, and temporal profiles of vulnerable Eastern Hemlock stands in Canada. The Eastern Hemlocks dominate iconic areas such as the Kawarthas and Algonquin Provincial Park – their loss would have a devastating impact on Indigenous communities, tourism, and animal habitat.
“Right now, Eastern Hemlocks in Canada are under threat from the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid (HWA), a new pest that was first detected in Canada in 2017,” said DeVries. “By conducting monthly flights over HWA-affected forest stands, we’ll be able to develop forest health and early warning indicators. This data will also be used for the semi-automatic classification of tree species, which will help protect other vulnerable tree species.”
To monitor field sites affected by the HWA, DeVries and his Satellite Earth Observation Laboratory will be collaborating with the Great Lakes Forestry Centre at the Canadian Forest Service / Natural Resources Canada (CFS/NRCan). As the Satellite Earth Observation Lab monitors the impact of the HWA over time, Canada will have improved methods to detect HWA early in Eastern Hemlock stands as well as other threats to our forests.
Modelling Occupancy of an Endangered Lemur Species Community – Dr. Travis Steffens
Steffens is developing a first-of-its-kind research program that will use spatial modelling to better understand the influence of the environment on a community of highly endangered primates, lemurs.
“We know that the size and complexity of a habitat are two factors that influence where species live and how many species there are. However, we don’t yet know which factor is more important, or what their roles are. Lemurs are a perfect case study to look at, as they are a very diverse animal group and their habitat is being modified by humans in ways that allows for comparative research.”
By using high performance computers, drones, and hand-held meters to model Madagascar’s forests in greater detail, Steffens and his team will be able to better understand lemur habitat size and complexity and tease apart how much these aspects influence the lemur populations. Once developed and proven, these methods can be applied to other species in regions around the world and better inform conservation efforts.
Read more about Steffens’ work with lemurs and his charity Planet Madagascar.