A review of methods and applications of the geometric characterization of tree crops in agricultural activities

This paper presents the foundations and applications in agriculture of the main systems used for the geometrical characterization of tree plantations, including systems based on ultrasound, digital photographic techniques, light sensors, high-resolution radar images, high-resolution X-ray computed tomography, stereo vision and LIDAR sensors. Amongst these, LIDAR laser scanners and stereo vision systems are probably the most promising and complementary techniques for achieving 3D pictures and maps of plants and canopies. The information about the geometric properties of plants provided by these techniques has innumerable applications in agriculture. Some important agricultural tasks that can benefit from these plant-geometry characterization techniques are the application of pesticides, irrigation, fertilization and crop training. In the field of pesticide application, knowledge of the geometrical characteristics of plantations will permit a better adjustment of the dose of the product applied, improving the environmental and economic impact. However, it is still necessary to resolve several technological and commercial questions. The former include improving detection systems, especially with regard to developing software for the post-processing steps and improving the speed of calculation and decision making. Amongst the latter, it is essential to produce low cost sensors and control systems in order to facilitate large-scale deployment. Obtaining a precise geometrical characterization of a crop at any point during its production cycle by means of a new generation of affordable and easy-to-use detection systems, such as LIDAR and stereo vision systems, will help to establish precise estimations of crop water needs as well as valuable information that can be used to quantify its nutritional requirements. If accurate, this can provide valuable information on which to base more sustainable irrigation and fertilizer dosages. These would be able to meet crop needs and could also be used as part of specific management systems, based on prescription maps, for the application of variable quantities of water and fertilizers. The availability of measurement tools that allow a precise geometric characterization of plantations will also facilitate and enhance research aimed at developing better crop training systems that ensure an optimal distribution of light within the treetops and higher fruit quality. It is therefore of vital importance to continue devoting major efforts to the development of increasingly accurate, robust and affordable systems capable of measuring the geometric characteristics of plantations, which support the development of the different areas of a sustainable and precision agriculture. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.