Design of a Remote-Controlled Platform for Green Roof Plants Monitoring via Hyperspectral Sensors

Monica Moroni,Michele Porti,Patrizia Piro

doi:10.3390/w11071368

Monica Moroni, Michele Porti + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/w11071368

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Journal: Water	Publication Date: Jul 2, 2019
Citations: 8	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Sapienza University of Rome, University of Calabria

Abstract

The combination of an appropriate design and careful management of green infrastructures may contribute to mitigate flooding (stormwater quantity) and pollutant discharges (stormwater quality) into receiving water bodies and to coping with other extreme climate impacts (such as temperature regime) on a long-term basis and water cycle variability. The vegetation health state ensures the green infrastructure’s effectiveness. Due to their remarkable spatial and spectral resolution, hyperspectral sensing devices appear to be the most suited for green infrastructure vegetation monitoring according to the peculiar spectral features that vegetation exhibits. In particular, vegetation health-state detection is feasible due to the modifications the typical vegetation spectral signature undergoes when abnormalities are present. This paper presents a ground spectroscopy monitoring survey of the green roof installed at the University of Calabria fulfilled via the acquisition and analysis of hyperspectral data. The spectroradiometer, placed on a fixed stand, was used to identify stress conditions of vegetation located in areas where drought could affect the plant health state. Broadband vegetation indices were employed for this purpose. For the test case presented, data acquired agreed well with direct observations on the ground. The analyses carried out showed the remarkable performances of the broadband indices Red Difference Vegetation Index (Red DVI), Simple Ratio (SR) and Triangular Vegetation Index (TVI) in highlighting the vegetation health state and encouraged the design of a remote-controlled platform for monitoring purposes.

Highlights

In urban and industrial environments (UIEs), the progressive surface sealing due to the development of built-up areas and motorways have generated a constant loss of natural areas and a disintegration of ecosystems [1]
The analyses carried out showed the remarkable performances of the broadband indices Red Difference Vegetation Index (Red DVI), Simple Ratio (SR) and Triangular Vegetation Index (TVI) in highlighting the vegetation health state and encouraged the design of a remote-controlled platform for monitoring purposes
The spectra of plants in a healthy and unhealthy state for the three species monitored in this study highlighted that spectral signatures of plants in a healthy state presented the characteristic behaviour of vegetation described in Reference [20] and briefly described in the introduction

Summary

Introduction

In urban and industrial environments (UIEs), the progressive surface sealing due to the development of built-up areas and motorways have generated a constant loss of natural areas and a disintegration of ecosystems [1]. Severe modifications in the natural water cycle, including reduced stormwater infiltration and evapo-transpiration, have increased the frequency and magnitude of flooding in UIEs. Severe modifications in the natural water cycle, including reduced stormwater infiltration and evapo-transpiration, have increased the frequency and magnitude of flooding in UIEs This trend unsustainably increases exposure to natural threats in large regions of Europe for human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity [2,3,4]. Urban surfaces with low albedo and permeability typically absorb most of the incoming solar radiation and reduce evapo-transpirational cooling, respectively [5,6].

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