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Abstract Detail



Recent Topics Posters

Brown, Gregory [1], Gellis, Brandon [2], Lehmitz, Matthew [3], Harris, William [2], Sivanpillai, Ramesh [4].

Field-test: Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems (UAVs) to examine and document high-canopy epiphytic bromeliads (Bromeliaceae), and other epiphytes in Costa Rica.

We describe results from a May 2018 expedition in Costa Rica to test proof-of-concept for using small, relatively low-cost commercially available Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs, or drones) to examine and photograph epiphytic bromeliads and other epiphytes.  Three DJI® UAV systems (Phantom 3 Pro, Mavic Pro, Spark) were flown in both primary and secondary lowland wet tropical forests to compare flight and control features, as well as image quality obtained from these three platforms.   The research confirms that small multi-propeller UAVs can be added to the list of ground-based, and generally lower-cost, options that canopy biologists have to visually access high canopy epiphytes.   The benefits of UAV use in tropical epiphytic plant research, as well as some limitations and challenges, will be presented, along with a new system for rating and organizing the large number of UAV captured images, the Rating Scale for Epiphytic Plant Image Interpretation, or RSEPII.  


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1 - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, Department Of Botany, Box 3165, Laramie, WY, 82071, United States
2 - University of Wyoming, Visual Arts, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
3 - University of Wyoming, Botany, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
4 - University of Wyoming, Botany & Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY, 82071, USA

Keywords:
epiphytes
unmanned aerial vehicle
Bromeliaceae
close-up imaging.

Presentation Type: Recent Topics Poster
Session: P, Recent Topics Posters
Location: Grand Ballroom - Exhibit Hall/Mayo Civic Center
Date: Monday, July 23rd, 2018
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PRT012
Abstract ID:1296
Candidate for Awards:None


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