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• Sanz-Cortiella, R
• Llorens-Calveras, J
• Escolà, A
• Arnó-Satorra, J
• Ribes-Dasi, M
• Masip-Vilalta, J
• Camp, F
• Gràcia-Aguilá, F
• Solanelles-Batlle, F
• Planas-DeMartí, S
• Pallejà-Cabré, T
• Palacin-Roca, J
• Gregorio-Lopez, E
• Del-Moral-Martínez, I
• Rosell-Polo, J
• [+] on Google Scholar
• Sanz-Cortiella, R
• Llorens-Calveras, J
• Escolà, A
• Arnó-Satorra, J
• Ribes-Dasi, M
• Masip-Vilalta, J
• Camp, F
• Gràcia-Aguilá, F
• Solanelles-Batlle, F
• Planas-DeMartí, S
• Pallejà-Cabré, T
• Palacin-Roca, J
• Gregorio-Lopez, E
• Del-Moral-Martínez, I
• Rosell-Polo, J
• [+] on PubMed
• Sanz-Cortiella, R
• Llorens-Calveras, J
• Escolà, A
• Arnó-Satorra, J
• Ribes-Dasi, M
• Masip-Vilalta, J
• Camp, F
• Gràcia-Aguilá, F
• Solanelles-Batlle, F
• Planas-DeMartí, S
• Pallejà-Cabré, T
• Palacin-Roca, J
• Gregorio-Lopez, E
• Del-Moral-Martínez, I
• Rosell-Polo, J

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Sensors 2011, 11(6), 5769-5791; doi:10.3390/s110605769

Article

Innovative LIDAR 3D Dynamic Measurement System to Estimate Fruit-Tree Leaf Area

Ricardo Sanz-Cortiella ^1,* , Jordi Llorens-Calveras ² , Alexandre Escolà ¹ , Jaume Arnó-Satorra ¹ , Manel Ribes-Dasi ¹ , Joan Masip-Vilalta ¹ , Ferran Camp ³ , Felip Gràcia-Aguilá ³ , Francesc Solanelles-Batlle ³ , Santiago Planas-DeMartí ¹ , Tomàs Pallejà-Cabré ⁴ , Jordi Palacin-Roca ⁴ , Eduard Gregorio-Lopez ¹ , Ignacio Del-Moral-Martínez ¹  and Joan R. Rosell-Polo ¹

¹ Department of Agro-forestry Engineering, University of Lleida, Avinguda Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain ² Department of AgriFood Engineering and Biotechnology, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Campus del Baix Llobregat, edifici D4, Av. del Canal Olímpic, s/n 08860 Castelldefels, Spain ³ Centre de Mecanització Agrària, Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Food and Natural Environment, Generalitat de Catalunya, 25197 Lleida, Spain ⁴ Department of Computer Science and Industrial Engineering, University of Lleida, Av. Jaume II 69, 25197 Lleida, Spain

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 11 April 2011; in revised form: 9 May 2011 / Accepted: 12 May 2011 / Published: 27 May 2011

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors in Agriculture and Forestry)

Download PDF Full-Text [1392 KB, uploaded 27 May 2011 15:59 CEST]

Abstract: In this work, a LIDAR-based 3D Dynamic Measurement System is presented and evaluated for the geometric characterization of tree crops. Using this measurement system, trees were scanned from two opposing sides to obtain two three-dimensional point clouds. After registration of the point clouds, a simple and easily obtainable parameter is the number of impacts received by the scanned vegetation. The work in this study is based on the hypothesis of the existence of a linear relationship between the number of impacts of the LIDAR sensor laser beam on the vegetation and the tree leaf area. Tests performed under laboratory conditions using an ornamental tree and, subsequently, in a pear tree orchard demonstrate the correct operation of the measurement system presented in this paper. The results from both the laboratory and field tests confirm the initial hypothesis and the 3D Dynamic Measurement System is validated in field operation. This opens the door to new lines of research centred on the geometric characterization of tree crops in the field of agriculture and, more specifically, in precision fruit growing.

Keywords: terrestrial laser scanner; LIDAR; 3D plant structure; fruit tree; leaf area

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