BRIN Uses LiDAR Technology Drones To Monitor Mangrove Forests
JAKARTA The Indonesian Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) not only uses LiDAR technology-based drones to map the environment, but also to monitor forest protection.
LiDAR, as short as Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing tool that utilizes laser light. Technology can measure an area or object and create the mapping results into 3D.
In monitoring the Mangrove Forest, this LiDAR-based drone is used to observe mangrove vegetation from the air. BRIN also admitted that it not only uses LiDAR, but also multispectral cameras.
"We want to see or assess biodiversity on a broader and faster scale," said BRIN Oceanography Center (PRO) Researchers Yaya Ihya Ulumuddin, quoted on Thursday, May 29.
Yaya explained that LiDAR pairing and multispectral cameras would produce two very important types of data. The first data is spectral diversity describing the variation of vegetation or growth.
The second data is structural diversity that can produce structures from forests, such as plant cover or height. All data collected will be summarized in the form of mangrove biodiversity index (BI) to show the status of biodiversity.
Later, this data can be used for observational needs. For example, researchers can compare BI data with soil elevations to find out the level of inundation. They can also know that vegetation is not growing or BI is of low value.
BI is claimed to be suitable for monitoring the Mangrove Forest ecosystem. This technology can also be used as an early warning tool for damage or degradation of the mangrove ecosystem.
If possible, BRIN wants to combine LiDAR data with satellite images and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The hope is that this technology merger can expand research coverage to ecosystems outside of mangroves.
"They (the research team) consider opportunities for other potential technologies. For example, detecting new mangrove species or calculating small fauna that lives in the mangrove ecosystem automatically," Yaya explained.