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Optimizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle LiDAR Data Collection in Cotton Through Flight Settings and Data Processing

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology can be used to assess canopy height in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), but standardized data acquisition and processing guidelines are lacking. Accurate canopy height estimation is crucial in cotton for optimizing growth regulator application and maximi...

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Main Authors: Bhattarai, Anish, Scarpin, Gonzalo Joel, Jakhar, Amrinder, Porter, Wesley, Hand, Lavesta C., Snider, John L., Bastos, Leonardo M.
Format: Artículo
Language:Inglés
Published: MDPI 2025
Subjects:
Teledetección
Algodón
Sistema Lidar
Procesamiento de Datos
Colección de Datos
Vehículo Aéreo No Tripulado
Remote Sensing
Cotton
Gossypium hirsutum
LIDAR
Data Processing
Data Collection
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Light Detection and Ranging
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/22159
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/9/1504
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17091504
Summary:Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology can be used to assess canopy height in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), but standardized data acquisition and processing guidelines are lacking. Accurate canopy height estimation is crucial in cotton for optimizing growth regulator application and maximizing yield. The main goal of this study was to determine the optimal unmanned aerial vehicle flight settings—altitude and speed—and assess specific processing parameters’ impact on data accuracy, processing time, and file size. Nine flight settings comprising three altitudes (12.2 m, 24.4 m, and 48.8 m) and three speeds (4.8 km/h, 9.6 km/h, and 14.4 km/h) were tested. LiDAR data were processed using DJI Terra software (v. 4.1.0), where two user-defined processing steps were examined: point-cloud thinning via grid size sub-sampling (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 cm) and slope classification (flat, gentle, and steep). The optimal flight altitude was 24.4 m, with no effect of flight speed. Grid sub-sampling up to 20 cm produced balanced accuracy, processing time, and file size. The choice of slope category had no significant effect on LiDAR-derived canopy height. These findings contribute to the development of standardized LiDAR data acquisition and processing guidelines for cotton to support crop management decision.

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