SKYLAB

05/09/2023

Cashew counting using hi-res satellite imagery!

We used Pléiades satellite data from Airbus, of between 30cm and 50 cm resolution, to successfully count individual cashew trees in South-East Asia. We then created stocking density grid maps, with the exact number of trees per hectare in each grid cell, so that the customer could see the density variation and was better able to predict the future yield of his 5,000ha plantation.

We found the count was equally as accurate with the 30cm data as with the 50cm data.

Want to know more? book your free consultation here: https://lnkd.in/esB_ftCN

29/08/2023

Successful counting of 1-yr Loblolly pine in Southern US plantations!

We have been running trials with more customers in the US South recently, and have successfully trained a good AI model for detecting this species and age class based on drone data, so that seedlings can be counted even in dense competing vegetation!

We have also learned that the best time to do seedling survival surveys with drone technology is in the Fall or Winter of the year following planting. The very abundant growth during the summer season makes the pines larger and more visible, while competing vegetation is also less dense during the Winter.

Want to know more? book your free consultation here: https://lnkd.in/esB_ftCN

15/08/2023

Determining species distribution with Sentinel satellite data.

Spruce is more valuable than pine. Using reference data to determine the spectral signatures of both those species in this Scottish plantation, we were able to locate and map the distribution of each across 2,000ha. We used freely-available Sentinel 10m-resolution satellite data and achieved an accuracy of around 85%. If greater accuracy is required, then this could be achieved with satellite data of a higher resolution.

We would also add the caveat that this works on stands with two, or maximum three, species in the mix. A greater species mix would result in overlapping spectral signatures and therefore a lower accuracy.

Want to know more? book your free consultation here: https://lnkd.in/esB_ftCN

07/08/2023

Winning the battle against a fungal infection in Brazilian eucalyptus!

📌 Project: Health analysis and detection of fungal infection, Eucalyptus, Brazil
🛰 Data Source: Sentinel-2 satellite data, 10m resolution

We located and quantified the areas within a plantation that were affected by the fungus and the customer was able to target only those specific areas for spraying of fungicide. They saved $20,000 on the chemical costs alone, and 6 weeks later the second picture shows the remarkable recovery of the plantation!

Want to know more? book your free consultation here: https://lnkd.in/esB_ftCN

02/08/2023

Satellite canopy/gap analysis for stocking density assessment in Rubber plantations

📌 Project: Crown cover assessment for stocking, Rubber, SE Asia
🛰 Data Source: Pléaides, Airbus, 50cm resolution

We created a canopy mask, which shows the canopy cover and gaps therein. Non-masked trees are other species. This is a very useful and efficient tool for:

✅ Assessing uniformity and variability
✅ Estimating future yields
✅ Managing fire-risk
✅ Planning thinning and harvesting operations
✅ Highlighting problems with disease or dieback
✅ Re-mapping stand boundaries

The stocking density grid maps are provided as percentage canopy cover per grid cell.

Want to know more? book your free consultation here: https://bit.ly/SKYLAB_free_consultation

24/07/2023

Successful satellite tree-counting in Loblolly pine!

Project: Tree count and stocking density, Loblolly Pine, USA
Data Source: Pléaides Neo, Airbus, 30cm resolution

We have recently come to the conclusion that Loblolly pine can be successfully counted with 30cm resolution satellite data from about 3 years of age. This is extremely efficient and useful for assessing stocking density and variations therein, and can be used to:

🌲 Plan thinning and harvesting operations
🌲 Re-map stand boundaries
🌲 Manage fire-risk
🌲 Assess uniformity and variability
🌲 Estimate future yields
🌲 Highlight problems with disease or dieback

We are not yet sure at exactly what age individual counting no longer becomes possible due to crown overlap, but we know for sure that stands up to 12 years of age are countable, and possibly for several years after that.

The other caveat is the availability of 30cm data, which does not yet cover all areas. However, with a minimum area of 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) we can task a satellite, so this is a useful tool for larger plantation areas.

Want to know more? book your free consultation here: https://bit.ly/SKYLAB_free_consultation

12/07/2023

ORTHOFOREST+
Forestry-optimised Orthophotos!

Most ortho processing softwares are designed for urban or industrial environments and not the mass of greenery that you find in a forest! This means you often get imperfect photos with fragments or distortions. SKYLAB orthophotos, on the other hand, are specifically designed for forestry settings.

🌲 Super-easy upload of raw drone or plane images to our SKYLABcloud – a perfect forestry Orthophoto at the click of a button!
🌲 No distortions or fragments
🌲 No handling or storage of heavy files
🌲 Prices start from €41/month

Want to know more? book your free consultation here: https://bit.ly/SKYLAB_free_consultation

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11/05/2023

Analysis with high-resolution images (30 cm from Airbus PleiadesNeo) where we at SKYLAB detected dead trees within a natural forest in California.

Additionally, we calculated a density map, which tells us where in this natural forest gaps occur. Gaps mean that there is no forest. For this project, it was important to find gaps, as they can tell us where fire breaks can be installed and where fire roads need to be cleared.

Read the case study ⬇️

Case Study: Analysis with high-resolution imagery in California

10/05/2023

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04/05/2023

Why is w**d detection using AI crucial in your forest?
W**d mapping using sampling plots is so time-consuming and inaccurate that it is nearly impossible to apply reliably on a bigger scale. W**d detection using AI is a game-changer as it allows us to significantly cut the time and cost spent on manual work, and gives precise and comprehensive results over 100% of your area.

This is a good example of w**d detection in New Zealand. For our customer, the w**ds were difficult to control and were causing a decrease in harvest yield and income. In addition, killing w**ds with herbicide is expensive and reduces the company's margin. To prevent w**ds from impacting the growth of seedlings, our customer had to know where exactly the w**ds were growing in the field so that they could take targeted action to remove them.

With our , we produced a “WEED MAP”, based on drone imagery, that shows the percentage of w**ds in each 20m x 20m grid cell and reveals variations in w**d density across the stand. Our client did not need any background in remote-sensing or AI - all he required was a small copter drone to capture good-quality images and then to upload them to our SKYLABcloud platform, along with the stand boundaries.

We at SKYLAB automatically detect and map all w**d and competing vegetation using our . The results show substantial time and cost savings, increasing productivity and yield in forest stands.

Want to know more? book your free consultation here: https://bit.ly/SKYLAB_free_consultation

**dmaps

26/04/2023

One of our main goals is to contribute with SKYLAB’s technology to any critical situations caused by a in our customers' plantations.

New Zealand was hit by two major cyclones this year, Hale and Gabrielle, which both had a devastating impact on the forest estates managed by our customers. We provided a forest damage quantification and differentiation analysis with our for a major forest management company. We couldn't be happier with the great feedback we received about the significant benefits of our storm damage assessment:

✅ Level of accuracy - they have never achieved such a high level of accuracy before.
✅ Quick turnaround time - 2 days.
✅ This particular analysis of 5,000 hectares saved hundreds of hours of manual work.

Watch the video to see the results ⬇️

06/04/2023

Do you know how drought affects you?
A single drought event can cause thousands of dollars in damages and lead to the shift or degradation of the entire forest.

By understanding the impact of drought on your forest, you can make informed decisions and take preventive measures. SKYLAB’s satellite monitoring and AI can help you assess the situation and be better prepared. How? By monitoring the area via satellite over a period of time (weeks, months, years) and establishing losses and remaining areas in your forest. Some of the main benefits are:

🌳 Saving hundreds of hours of fieldwork
🌳 Providing the most accurate information on drought damage in 100% of your forest
🌳 Assessment of the vitality of the remaining vegetation to:
✅ Reorganize the harvest plan
✅ Estimate losses
✅ Replan thinning operations

Learn more about how SKYLAB can help you reduce the effects of drought and protect your forest from damage: https://bit.ly/SKYLAB_free_consultation