A procedure for automated tree pruning suggestion using LiDAR scans of fruit trees

التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
العنوان: A procedure for automated tree pruning suggestion using LiDAR scans of fruit trees
المؤلفون: Mitch Bryson, James Underwood, Fredrik Westling
سنة النشر: 2021
مصطلحات موضوعية: FOS: Computer and information sciences, 0106 biological sciences, Canopy, Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (cs.CV), Point cloud, Computer Science - Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, Horticulture, 01 natural sciences, Statistics, FOS: Electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering, Mathematics, Image and Video Processing (eess.IV), Forestry, 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences, Electrical Engineering and Systems Science - Image and Video Processing, Computer Science Applications, Rule of thumb, Tree (data structure), 040103 agronomy & agriculture, 0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, Orchard, F1 score, Agronomy and Crop Science, Pruning, Fruit tree, 010606 plant biology & botany
الوصف: In fruit tree growth, pruning is an important management practice for preventing overcrowding, improving canopy access to light and promoting regrowth. In fruit with a high energy content, including avocado (Persea Americana), ensuring all parts of the canopy have sufficient exposure to light is of particular importance. Due to the slow nature of agriculture and the numerous parameters contributing to yield, decisions in pruning, particularly in selective limb removal, are typically made using tradition or rules of thumb rather than data-driven analysis. Many existing algorithmic, simulation-based approaches rely on high-fidelity digital captures or purely computer-generated fruit trees, and are unable to provide specific results on an orchard scale. We present a framework for suggesting pruning strategies on LiDAR-scanned commercial fruit trees using a scoring function with a focus on improving light distribution throughout the canopy. Due to the destructive nature of physical experimentation, this framework is presented using a three-stage approach where stages can be independently validated. Firstly, a scoring function to assess the quality of the tree shape based on its light availability and size was developed for comparative analysis between trees using observations from agricultural literature, and was validated against yield characteristics from an avocado and mango orchard. This demonstrated a reasonable correlation against fruit count, with an R 2 score of 0.615 for avocado and 0.506 for mango. The second stage was to implement a tool for simulating pruning by algorithmically estimating which parts of a tree point cloud would be removed given specific cut points using structural analysis of the tree. This was validated experimentally using manually generated ground truth pruned tree models, showing good results with an average F1 score of 0.78 across 144 experiments. Finally, new pruning locations were suggested by discovering points in the tree which negatively impact the light distribution, and we used the previous two stages to estimate the improvement of the tree given these suggestions. These results were compared to a tree which was commercially pruned using existing wisdom. The light distribution was improved by up to 25.15%, demonstrating a 16% improvement over the commercial pruning, and certain cut points were discovered which improved light distribution with a smaller negative impact on tree volume. The final results suggest value in the framework as a decision making tool for commercial growers, or as a starting point for automated pruning since the entire process can be performed with little human intervention. Further development should be performed to improve the suggestion mechanism and incorporate more agricultural objectives and operations.
اللغة: English
URL الوصول: https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_dedup___::82d34aefa6b815d43fd2c98025509d76
http://arxiv.org/abs/2102.03700
Rights: OPEN
رقم الانضمام: edsair.doi.dedup.....82d34aefa6b815d43fd2c98025509d76
قاعدة البيانات: OpenAIRE