Potential of Lightweight Drones and Object-Oriented Image Segmentation in Forest Plantation Assessment

Forests play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance and provide numerous benefits.
The monitoring and managing of large-scale forest plantations can be challenging and expensive.
In recent years, advancements in remote sensing technologies, such as lightweight drones
and object-oriented image analysis, have opened up new possibilities for efficient and accurate
forest plantation monitoring. This study aimed to explore the utility of lightweight drones as a
cost-effective and accurate method for mapping plantation characteristics in two 50 ha forest plots
in the Nayla Range, Jaipur. By combining aerial photographs collected by the drone with photogrammetry
and limited ground survey data, as well as topography and edaphic variables, this
study examined the relative contribution of drone-derived plantation canopy information. The
results demonstrate the immense potential of lightweight drones and object-oriented image analysis
in providing valuable insights for optimizing silvicultural operations and planting trees in
complex forest environments.