EUREKA EUROSTARS research project MuSe3D

In the EUREKA EUROSTARS research project MuSe3D we developed together with four other European partners a five-band multispectral camera for use on conventional drones. Compared to multispectral camera systems currently available in the field of UAV, this camera offers a very high spatial resolution and an extremely high frame rate. Thus, a high image overlap can be achieved even at high flight speeds and consequently a large area can be surveyed very efficiently and in high quality. The basic version of the system records fife spectral bands: blue, green, red, red edge and NIR. However, the sensitive spectrum of the two channels available in addition to RGB can also be adapted and freely selected according to the requirements. In this project RSS was responsible for the specification of the camera system as well as for the evaluation. For this purpose, the system was mounted, on a small aircraft of Elektra Solar.

The camera system is used for monitoring agricultural areas with regard to vegetation health, for estimating crop yields or for detecting low-yield locations on large fields. Besides agricultural topics, the system is also useful in the forestry sector. So, very accurate biomass estimations can be derived, since the data obtained can be used for 3D modeling of forest as well as for discrimination of tree species. We are currently using the camera system combined with other sensors for analyses in the field of peatland restoration. The combined analysis of multispectral and thermal images allows us to quickly draw conclusions about the progress of renaturation of individual areas. The progress and effectiveness of any renaturation activities can thus be quickly and effectively evaluated, even on a large scale.