1. Methodology for drone-based assessment of phenology, flowering abundance and cone yield
Problem & aims
Phenology variation is associated with high genetic diversity
We aim to create fast drone-based monitoring of phenology variability = genetic diversity
Other benefits: intermating groups, field testing or tracking illegal non local plantations with discrete phenology
The same for fast cone/flower yield scoring
Faculty of Forest Science and Ecology Aleksandras Stulginskis university , Lithuania
Scoring phenology in a Betula bendula stand in spring 2017 at 20 m height for calibrating the camera, altitude and image resolution

2. Phenology scoring in a Scots pine seed orchard
The on-land scoring scale female
Phenology scoring in a Scots pine seed orchard
8 m
16 m
24 m
In spring 2017 at 4 occasions, we scored on-land phenology of vegetative, male and female buds of 25 clones
At each scoring, we flew a drone at 3 altitudinal modes to photograph these clones at variable resolution
Image analysis on going
Which areal mode gave the closest scores to the on land measurements?

3. Cone yield in mature stands of Scots pine
Important for forecasting seed crops on tall trees, seed trees for natural regeneration
Counting cones manually on an image segment on the crown section with the greatest cone yield
In spring 2017, we flew drone over mature stands at variable H, resolution
Testing image analysis: counting an 1, 2, 3 squares
Image at 10 m above the crowns

4. Image analysis
With color selection tools clicking cone/shoot/flower patches in an image and automatically assessing their % in fixed sections of the image
More advanced spectral grading, estimating % of certain color groups