Monitoring Spongy Moth Defoliation with UAS
Conference Year
2023
Abstract
Spongy moth is an invasive species that causes defoliation and damage to tree canopies. In 2021-2022, there was a large outbreak in Vermont, highlighting the need for forest pest monitoring techniques. For this study, multispectral imagery and LiDAR data were collected via unoccupied aircraft system (UAS) at a heavily defoliated forest in Monkton, VT. It was found that the forest recovered, with the UAS data providing invaluable ways to analyze the tree canopy and vegetative health. Coupling remote sensing with UAS can serve a powerful and efficient way to monitor invasive pest defoliation into the future
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Jarlath O'Neil-Dunne
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
Rubenstein School of Environmental and Natural Resources
Program/Major
Environmental Sciences
Primary Research Category
Life Sciences
Monitoring Spongy Moth Defoliation with UAS
Spongy moth is an invasive species that causes defoliation and damage to tree canopies. In 2021-2022, there was a large outbreak in Vermont, highlighting the need for forest pest monitoring techniques. For this study, multispectral imagery and LiDAR data were collected via unoccupied aircraft system (UAS) at a heavily defoliated forest in Monkton, VT. It was found that the forest recovered, with the UAS data providing invaluable ways to analyze the tree canopy and vegetative health. Coupling remote sensing with UAS can serve a powerful and efficient way to monitor invasive pest defoliation into the future