VOLUMETRIC QUANTIFICATION OF EUCALYPTUS SP. STANDS THROUGH AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OBTAINED BY RPAS

Abstract

Volumetric quantification of Eucalyptus sp. stands through aerial photographs obtained by RPAS. The data collection for forest management is necessary to carry out the inventory, being a procedure that requires field work, high cost and time. Therefore, the objective of this work was to develop dendrometric equations based on aerial images of RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System) combined with the manipulation of vector data, and to estimate the forest production of Eucalyptus sp., in the southern region of the state of Rondônia. The extraction of the variables crown projection area (ACRPAS) and total height (hRPAS) were derived from RPAS images, these have been validated from data obtained in the field by means of forest inventory and by standing trees rigorous scaling. Diametric and volumetric equations were adjusted according to the variables obtained by RPAS. The total height (h) of the scaled trees and hRPAS did not show significant differences (X²= 31.013). When comparing the estimates obtained by the v equation with their respective values of the scaling, it is verified that the v equation is accurate for estimates of the variable under study (X²= 0.8077). The results indicated success in tree detection, even with the difficulties in delimiting the crowns due to occlusion. Despite the challenges arising from flight altitudes below 250 m, the estimates of diameter, height, and individual volume using metrics derived from RPAS products were accurate, consistent with those obtained in the traditional forest inventory. The use of RPAS for volumetric quantification of forest stands in Rondônia represents an innovative approach in the sector, despite the challenges encountered.