The Optics of Photosynthesis Lab gets Key Funding from the Academy of Finland

Cost-effective methods for tracking large scale vegetation physiology: Participatory phase and pilot experiments

Society faces the challenge of an increasing population that concentrates in urban areas. Food production needs to be increased following sustainability criteria for optimal use of water, fertilizers and pesticides. Air pollution and human stress are an increasing problem in urban areas which could be also improved through detailed management and expansion of urban forests and parks. These challenges require new and cost-effective tools to track the health status of vegetation.

With the advent of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and hyperspectral imaging systems it might be now possible to acquire detailed information on vegetation health and physiological status anywhere and anytime. In this project we will evaluate the potential of advanced optical indices (emission of chlorophyll fluorescence and other fine variations in vegetation reflectance) to monitor vegetation health using UAVs. We will conduct pilot campaigns both in city parks as well as in farms. Stakeholders include: the City of Helsinki,  the Finnish Geospatial Institute, the Natural Resources Institute of Finland, as well as private partners from the hyperspectral sensor industry and agricultural sectors.

See more details in the Section PROJECTS

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