Transcript Using Remote Sensing to Optimize Management Strategies for Invasive Plant Control Jim Bean Jennifer Vollmer, Ph.D. Daniel Watts Professional Vegetation Management Group BASF Corporation.

Using Remote Sensing to
Optimize Management
Strategies for Invasive Plant
Control
Jim Bean
Jennifer Vollmer, Ph.D.
Daniel Watts
Professional Vegetation Management Group
BASF Corporation
Environmental
Resource Specialists
Jennifer Vollmer
Jim Bean
Why Map?
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Diagnose the problem
‘Lookout Towers’ / Early detection
Search & (rescue) destroy
Create inventory: what, where, how much
More efficient use of resources
Weed survey is an important aspect of land health
Choosing a Method
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How large is the area?
How long will it take?
How much will it cost?
Will methods meet the goals?
Hyper-spectral Imaging
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Photo imaging by aircraft
Full coverage
Multiple weeds
Multiple non-weeds
Abundance / Density
GIS layer
Treatment Optimization
– Can reduce treatment cost and increase herbicide
efficiency
= Saltcedar
Case Study
BEALS CREEK
Colorado River Basin, TX
Generated from
HSI plus
Applicator GIS
system combined
Missed this large population
Sprayed area with no vegetation
= treated area
Actual
Northstar treatment map
= Saltcedar
~1000 acres sprayed
Estimated 400 acres of saltcedar received spray
40% Efficiency overall
Case Study
Beals Creek
3 Example treatment Section
Actual Cost
Saltcedar
density*
Spray Efficiency Acres saltcedar/
Acres treated
Treatment Cost
0.16
0.14
54%
46%
46.4/86.6
20.1/43.9
$17,587
$8,930
0.17
57%
66.7/118
$13,596
$40,113
•Acres of saltcedar divided by the total infested area
Density 0.1 = ~27 trees / 30x30 meter
Treatment
Optimization
LAYER 1
• Determine cost effective treatment
– Herbicide application method
• Aerial
• Ground
• Spot treatment (foliar)
– Biological
• Appropriate site
– Mechanical
Treatment
Optimization
LAYER 2
• Appropriate Treatment
– Density
– Abundance of desirable plants
– Proximity to urban area
– Other
• customer concern
• quantified parameter
BEALS CREEK
Colorado River Basin, TX
= aerial
= ground
= biological
Actual Cost
Saltcedar
density*
Spray Efficiency Acres saltcedar/
Acres treated
Treatment Cost
0.16
0.14
54%
46%
46.4/86.6
20.1/43.9
$17,587
$8,930
0.17
57%
66.7/118
$13,596
$40,113
Cost Utilizing HSI data
0.16
0.14
80%
69%
46.4/57.7
20.1/29.3
$11,784
$5,953
0.17
85%
66.7/78.7
$15,971
$33,708
* Acres of saltcedar divided by the total infested area
Actual Herbicide Use
Saltcedar
density*
Spray Efficiency Acres saltcedar/
Acres treated
Herbicide
Applied
0.16
0.14
54%
46%
46.4/86.6
20.1/43.9
43.5 gal
22 gal
0.17
57%
66.7/118
59 gal
124.5 gal
Herbicide Utilizing HSI data
0.16
0.14
80%
69%
46.4/57.7
20.1/29.3
29
14.5
0.17
85%
66.7/78.7
39.5
83 gal
* Acres of saltcedar divided by the total infested area
Treatment
Optimization
LAYER 3
• Appropriate Treatment
– Fuel management need
– Site Access
– Landowner preference
– Aesthetics
BEALS CREEK
Colorado River Basin, TX
= aerial
= ground
= biological
= cut stump
= mechanical
Mechanical Cost
Cut + treat
• $1200 to >$5000 /acre
Dozer/Chipper/etc.
• $300 / hr
• 4 hr / acre
Cost
Trt method
Acres
Cost
Biological
140
15 days
Ground
560
$28,000
22 gal
Aerial
610
$12,200
305 gal
Cut Stump
120
$144,000
6 gal
Mechanical
50
$60,000
1480
$244,200
Total
Herbicide
333 gal
Total Project dollars
needed
Budget:
Phase 1
• HSI / Planning
Phase 2
• Treatment
• Monitoring
• Follow-up treatment
40,000acre $80,000
244,200 + herbicide
covered / Phase 1
minimal
Benefits
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Many uses of remote sensing data
Treatment optimization
Most efficient use of resources
Monitor and measure effectiveness
Summary
BASF would like to discuss your remote
sensing needs
[email protected] (east)
[email protected] (west)
Thank You!