A portable grassland vegetation coverage and height measuring device

Abstract

The utility model discloses a portable grassland vegetation coverage and height measuring device belongs to vegetation coverage height measurement technical field, and this device includes support subassembly, and support subassembly contains at least three groups of support pole of main rod and top hinged, and main rod and support pole common support, support subassembly link telescopic cross bar, and its end portion connects coverage measurement subassembly, main rod sliding link sliding ring, and sliding ring rotation link height measuring board, and height measuring board can turn to horizontal height measurement. The device integrates coverage and height measurement function, need not to carry multiple equipment, and erects conveniently, sliding ring can adjust height measuring board position, adapts to different vegetation height, and limit component prevents sliding ring sliding and guarantees accuracy, and coverage measurement subassembly multi -component cooperation promotes measurement accuracy, and GPS position sensor records coordinates, and is suitable for grassland vegetation measurement.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of vegetation cover height measurement technology, specifically relating to a portable grassland vegetation cover and height measurement device. Background Technology

[0002] Vegetation cover refers to the percentage of the vertical projection area of ​​vegetation (including leaves, stems, and branches) on the ground to the total area of ​​the statistical area. Vegetation height includes leaf layer height, vegetative plant height, reproductive plant height, and grass layer height, and usually refers to the vertical distance from the ground to the top of the plant. Both are key parameters for measuring the health of the ecosystem, the effectiveness of soil and water conservation, and the growth of crops. Traditional manual measurement methods (such as quadrat sampling, needle sampling, and visual estimation) require staff to go deep into the grassland field to obtain cover data by setting up quadrats, manually counting or estimating the vegetation cover ratio, and measuring the height of each plant with a measuring tape. These methods are not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, especially in large-area grassland surveys, requiring a large investment of manpower and time, but the measurement results are also greatly affected by the experience of the staff, the standardization of operation, and subjective judgment, making it difficult to guarantee data repeatability and accuracy, and prone to systematic errors.

[0003] Existing measuring instruments (such as vegetation cover meters and laser altimeters) can improve measurement accuracy to some extent, but they have the following shortcomings: First, the equipment is large and heavy, requiring vehicle transportation and making it difficult to move flexibly in grassland areas with complex terrain and inconvenient transportation, thus lacking portability; second, they are single-function, with most instruments only measuring either cover or height, requiring multiple devices to complete comprehensive measurements, further increasing the complexity of on-site operation and equipment costs. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a portable vegetation height and cover measuring device that is compact in structure, easy to operate, highly accurate, and adaptable to different vegetation height measurement scenarios. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the problems existing in the prior art, a portable grassland vegetation cover and height measurement device is proposed.

[0005] The technical solution of this utility model to solve the technical problem is as follows: a portable grassland vegetation cover and height measuring device, including a support assembly, the support assembly including a main rod, at least three sets of support rods are hinged to the top of the main rod, the main rod and the support rods are supported on the ground together; a telescopic crossbar is connected to the support assembly, and the end of the telescopic crossbar is connected to a cover measuring assembly for measuring vegetation cover; a slip ring is also slidably connected to the main rod, and a height measuring plate is rotatably connected to the slip ring. When the height measuring plate is rotated to a horizontal position, it is in the working state, and when the height measuring plate is rotated to fit against the main rod, it is in the storage state.

[0006] Preferably, a limiting component is also connected to the slip ring; the limiting component includes a boss, which is fixed on the slip ring, and a horizontal shaft is connected to the boss laterally. A first clamping plate and a second clamping plate are rotatably connected on the horizontal shaft. The first clamping plate and the second clamping plate are respectively disposed on both sides of the slip ring; a compression spring is connected between one end of the first clamping plate and one end of the second clamping plate, and the other ends of the first clamping plate and the second clamping plate respectively abut against the main rod.

[0007] Preferably, the outer side of the height measuring plate is a flat surface, and the inner side of the height measuring plate is an arc surface. The arc surface of the height measuring plate can fit against the side wall of the main pole when the height measuring plate is rotated to the vertical position.

[0008] Preferably, an extension rod is slidably connected inside the support rod, which can extend out of the support rod to extend it; a telescopic lock is connected to the bottom of the support rod, which clamps the extension rod after locking to lock the relative position of the extension rod and the support rod.

[0009] Preferably, the bottom of the extension rod is connected to a ground stake.

[0010] Preferably, the support assembly further includes a first sliding sleeve slidably connected to the support rod, and a second sliding sleeve slidably connected to the corresponding main rod. A connecting rod is provided between the first sliding sleeve and the second sliding sleeve, and the two ends of the connecting rod are respectively hinged to the first sliding sleeve and the second sliding sleeve. The first sliding sleeve is also provided with a locking buckle structure. After the locking buckle is locked, the first slider can be locked and limited on the support rod.

[0011] Preferably, the coverage measurement component includes a sensor box, with laser emitter a and laser emitter b connected to the bottom of the sensor box, and an RGB camera window and a spectral camera window also connected to the bottom of the sensor box; a triangulation receiving lens window and a GPS position sensor are also connected to the outside of the sensor box; a control module is provided inside the sensor box, and the control module is electrically connected to each component.

[0012] Preferably, the bottom of the sensor box is also connected to heat dissipation fins, which surround the laser emitter a, the laser emitter b, the spectral camera window and the RGB camera window.

[0013] Preferably, a fine-tuning gimbal is also provided between the coverage measuring component and the telescopic crossbar for adjusting the pitch of the coverage measuring component.

[0014] Preferably, the outer wall of the main rod is provided with scale lines.

[0015] Compared with existing technologies, the above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: 1. This device integrates the vegetation cover measurement component and the height measurement plate onto the same support component, allowing for simultaneous on-site measurement of grassland vegetation cover and height without the need to carry multiple devices. It is also easy to set up, requiring only the support pole to be opened and supported on the ground together with the main pole to complete the setup, making it convenient to use.

[0016] 2. The sliding of the slip ring on the main pole of this device allows for the vertical adjustment of the height measuring plate, adapting to the measurement needs of everything from low-lying grasses to tall shrubs. The height measuring plate can be rotated to a horizontal position for height measurement, and when rotated to a vertical position, its inner arc surface fits against the side wall of the main pole, preventing it from occupying space or interfering with the operation of other components when idle. At the same time, the limiting components ensure measurement accuracy: the first and second clamping plates on the slip ring are tightly pressed against the main pole under the action of the compression spring, which can achieve quick locking of the slip ring in any position, avoiding measurement errors caused by accidental slippage of the slip ring during height measurement, and also facilitating quick adjustment of the measurement height by the operator.

[0017] 3. The canopy measurement component of this device integrates a / b laser emitters for distance and density measurement, an RGB camera for acquiring vegetation images, a spectral camera for capturing vegetation spectral information, and a triangulation receiving lens. Multi-dimensional data fusion can effectively improve the accuracy of canopy measurement and avoid the limitations of single optical measurement. At the same time, the GPS position sensor can accurately record the spatial coordinates of each measurement point, providing basic data for the spatial distribution analysis of grassland vegetation. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, are used to provide a further understanding of this utility model. The illustrative embodiments of this utility model and their descriptions are used to explain this utility model and do not constitute an improper limitation of this utility model.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model. Figure 1 .

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model. Figure 2 .

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the coverage measurement component.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the limit component structure.

[0023] Figure 5 This is a diagram showing the storage status.

[0024] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Support assembly; 11. Main rod; 12. Scale line; 13. Support rod; 14. Extension rod; 15. Telescopic lock; 16. First sliding sleeve; 17. Locking buckle; 18. Connecting rod; 19. Second sliding sleeve; 110. Ground stake; 2. Telescopic crossbar; 3. Coverage measurement assembly; 31. Sensor box; 32. Laser emitter a; 33. Laser emitter b; 34. Spectral camera window; 35. RGB camera window; 36. Heat sink fins; 37. Triangulation receiving lens window; 38. GPS position sensor; 39. Multi-function connector; 310. Status indicator window a; 311. Status indicator window b; 4. Fine-tuning gimbal; 5. Slip ring; 6. Height measuring plate; 7. Limiting assembly; 71. Boss; 72. Horizontal axis; 73. First clamping plate; 74. Compression spring; 75. Second clamping plate. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To clearly illustrate the technical features of this solution, the present invention will be described in detail below through specific embodiments and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing different structures of the present invention. To simplify the disclosure of the present invention, the components and arrangements of specific examples are described below. Furthermore, the present invention may repeat reference numerals and / or letters in different examples. This repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed. It should be noted that the components illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. The present invention omits descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques and processes to avoid unnecessarily limiting the present invention. The terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0026] Example 1: Please see Figures 1-5This embodiment aims to portablely, efficiently, and accurately measure various vegetation cover and height using innovative hardware design and intelligent algorithms, applicable to fields such as ecological monitoring, grassland management, and soil and water conservation research. This embodiment proposes a portable grassland vegetation cover and height measurement device, including a support assembly 1. The support assembly 1 includes a main rod 11 with graduated lines 12. At least three sets of support rods 13 are hinged to the top of the main rod 11, and the main rod 11 and support rods 13 are supported on the ground. A telescopic crossbar 2 is connected to the support assembly 1, and the end of the telescopic crossbar 2 is connected to a vegetation cover measurement assembly 3. A slip ring 5 is also slidably connected to the main rod 11, and a height measuring plate 6 is rotatably connected to the slip ring 5. The height measuring plate is in working condition when rotated to a horizontal position, and in a retracted state when rotated to fit against the main rod 11. (See attached diagram) Figure 4 As shown, the side of the slip ring 5 includes a vertical surface, which corresponds to the plane at the hinge of the height measuring plate 6. When the plane of the height measuring plate 6 rotates to fit against the vertical surface of the slip ring 5, the height measuring plate 6 is in a horizontally limited working state. Alternatively, the limit of the height measuring plate 6 to rotate to the working state can also be achieved by using a stepless rotation hinge to limit the horizontal state of the height measuring plate 6.

[0027] In this embodiment, the main rod 11 of the support component 1 is positioned, and the support rod 13 forms an adjustable triangular stable structure to improve the resistance to torsion and overturning. After the support component 1 is fixed, the base of the main rod 11 is placed in the center of the sample plot for leveling and zeroing on bare ground. During measurement, the height measuring plate 6 is unfolded and aligned with the vegetation height. Then, the reading is taken through the scale line 12 to realize the measurement of grassland vegetation height. Finally, the cover measurement component 3 realizes rapid and accurate grassland vegetation cover measurement through multi-source data fusion.

[0028] Example 2: Please see Figure 4 Based on Embodiment 1, in order to achieve stepless limiting of the slip ring 5 and ensure that the height measuring plate 6 does not shift during reading, a limiting component 7 is connected to the slip ring 5. The limiting component 7 includes a boss 71, which is fixed on the slip ring 5. A horizontal shaft 72 is laterally connected to the boss 71. A first clamping plate 73 and a second clamping plate 75 are rotatably connected to the horizontal shaft 72. The first clamping plate 73 and the second clamping plate 75 are respectively disposed on both sides of the slip ring 5. A compression spring 74 is connected between one end of the first clamping plate 73 and one end of the second clamping plate 75. The other ends of the first clamping plate 73 and the second clamping plate 75 respectively abut against the main rod 11.

[0029] Working principle: When the sliding ring 5 and the height measuring plate 6 are needed, the ends of the first clamping plate 73 and the second clamping plate 75 on which the compression spring 74 is installed are pressed in opposite directions, so that the compression spring 74 is compressed. At this time, the other ends of the first clamping plate 73 and the second clamping plate 75 are separated from the main rod 11, and the sliding ring 5 can slide along the main rod 11. When it is moved to the height of the vegetation to be measured, the first clamping plate 73 and the second clamping plate 75 are released. The two clamping plates rotate in opposite directions under the action of the compression spring 74, so that the first clamping plate 73 and the second clamping plate 75 are both pressed against the main rod 11 to achieve fixation.

[0030] In addition, the outer side of the height measuring plate 6 is flat, and the inner side of the height measuring plate 6 is curved. The curved surface of the height measuring plate 6 can fit against the side wall of the main rod 11 when the height measuring plate 6 is rotated to the vertical position, making it convenient for storage.

[0031] Example 3: Continue reading Figures 1-5 In this embodiment, in order to adjust the height of the coverage measuring component 3, an extension rod 14 is slidably connected inside the support rod 13. The extension rod 14 can extend out of the support rod 13 to extend it. A telescopic lock 15 is connected to the bottom of the support rod 13. After the telescopic lock 15 is locked, it clamps the extension rod 14 to lock the relative position of the extension rod 14 and the support rod 13. A ground stake 110 is connected to the bottom of the extension rod 14 to enhance the grip.

[0032] In addition, to enhance the support strength of the support component 1, the support component 1 in this embodiment also includes a first sliding sleeve 16 slidably connected to the support rod 13, and a second sliding sleeve 19 slidably connected to the main rod 11. A connecting rod 18 is provided between the first sliding sleeve 16 and the second sliding sleeve 19, and the two ends of the connecting rod 18 are respectively hinged to the first sliding sleeve 16 and the second sliding sleeve 19. The first sliding sleeve 16 is also provided with a locking buckle 17 structure. After the locking buckle 17 is locked, the first slider can be locked and limited on the support rod 13.

[0033] In use, the opening angle of the support rod 13 is adjusted by sliding the first sliding sleeve 16 on the support rod 13, thereby adjusting the height of the cover measurement component 3. The opening angle of the support rod 13 decreases as the first sliding sleeve 16 moves upward and increases as it moves downward. After the position of the first sliding sleeve 16 is fixed, the second sliding sleeve 19 is pushed upward until the first sliding sleeve 16 and the second sliding sleeve 19 are flush. At this time, the connecting rod 18 can limit the support rod 13, ensuring the stability between the support rods 13.

[0034] Example 4: Please see Figure 3Based on Embodiment 1, the coverage measurement component 3 in this embodiment includes a sensor box 31, which is an integrated imaging and optical ranging unit. Laser emitter a32 and laser emitter b33 are connected to the bottom of the sensor box 31. An RGB camera window 35 and a spectral camera window 34 are also connected to the bottom of the sensor box 31. A triangulation receiving lens window 37 and a GPS position sensor 38 are connected to the outside of the sensor box 31. The GPS position sensor 38 provides time and coordinate markers for the measurement points. A control module is installed inside the sensor box 31, and the control module is electrically connected to each component.

[0035] In addition, the sensor box 31 is equipped with status indicator windows a310 and b311 to display the working status such as power supply, measurement, Bluetooth / Wi-Fi connection; it is also equipped with a multi-function port 39, which is a USB-C (or M12) interface, and can be used for charging, USB flash drive data export and wired debugging.

[0036] Laser emitters a32 and b33 employ a closed optical path with bandpass filtering and a light-shielding maze to form laser profile lines within the sample plot in an oblique incidence manner. The triangulation receiving lens window 37 works in conjunction with the camera to complete triangulation and image segmentation. The algorithm calculates the height raster map, grass height, and vegetation coverage in real time on the local machine.

[0037] In addition, the bottom of the sensor box 31 is connected to a heat sink 36, which surrounds the laser emitter a32, the laser emitter b33, the spectral camera window 34 and the RGB camera window 35, providing better heat dissipation for each part.

[0038] To facilitate the pitch adjustment of the sensor box 31, a fine-tuning gimbal 4 for pitch adjustment of the cover measurement component 3 is also provided between the cover measurement component 3 and the telescopic crossbar 2.

[0039] Image processing algorithms: The algorithm module of this invention employs lightweight machine learning and computer vision, running in real time on the local chip: upon startup, it loads calibration parameters and completes distortion correction, top-view correction, and quadrat ROI generation; it fuses the acquired multi-source images (RGB / spectral, optional), and combines threshold segmentation / small network to divide the scene into "vegetated / non-vegetated" regions; then, it performs extrinsic parameter registration with optical ranging data and combines IMU tilt compensation to generate a canopy height map, thereby calculating coverage and grass height (e.g., P98 or upper 2% truncated mean) and outputting quality labels (exposure, sharpness, ROI coverage, ranging SNR, etc.). The system supports multi-time comparisons at the same location, automatically associating measurements with time and location information to provide the changes and trends in coverage and grass height; all results are stored locally on the device and can be wirelessly synchronized to a mobile phone / backend via BLE / Wi-Fi.

[0040] Application scenarios: Environmental monitoring: rapidly acquire spatiotemporal changes in vegetation cover and canopy height, identify the degree of degradation and grassland restoration trends, and provide ground truth support for ecological red line assessment.

[0041] Ecological assessment: Helps relevant departments to quantitatively assess grassland conditions and restoration effectiveness using core indicators such as coverage, grass height, and spatial uniformity.

[0042] Resource management: Transform measurement results into decision-making basis for livestock carrying capacity, grazing rotation, and reseeding irrigation, thereby optimizing input intensity and management performance.

[0043] Although the specific embodiments of the utility model have been described above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, this is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the utility model. Based on the technical solution of the utility model, various modifications or variations that can be made by those skilled in the art without creative effort are still within the scope of protection of the utility model.

Claims

1. A portable grassland vegetation cover and height measuring device, characterized in that: The system includes a support assembly (1), which includes a main rod (11). At least three sets of support rods (13) are hinged to the top of the main rod (11). The main rod (11) and the support rods (13) are supported on the ground. A telescopic crossbar (2) is connected to the support assembly (1). The end of the telescopic crossbar (2) is connected to a vegetation cover measuring assembly (3) for measuring vegetation cover. A slip ring (5) is also slidably connected to the main rod (11). A height measuring plate (6) is rotatably connected to the slip ring (5). When the height measuring plate (6) is rotated to a horizontal position, it is in working state. When the height measuring plate (6) is rotated to fit against the main rod (11), it is in storage state.

2. The portable grassland vegetation cover and height measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A limiting component (7) is also connected to the slip ring (5); the limiting component (7) includes a boss (71), which is fixed on the slip ring (5). A horizontal shaft (72) is connected to the boss (71), and a first clamping plate (73) and a second clamping plate (75) are rotatably connected to the horizontal shaft (72). The first clamping plate (73) and the second clamping plate (75) are respectively set on both sides of the slip ring (5); a compression spring (74) is connected between one end of the first clamping plate (73) and one end of the second clamping plate (75), and the other ends of the first clamping plate (73) and the second clamping plate (75) are respectively pressed against the main rod (11).

3. The portable grassland vegetation cover and height measuring device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The outer side of the height measuring plate (6) is a flat surface, and the inner side of the height measuring plate (6) is an arc surface. The arc surface of the height measuring plate (6) can fit against the side wall of the main rod (11) when the height measuring plate (6) is rotated to the vertical position.

4. The portable grassland vegetation cover and height measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: An extension rod (14) is also slidably connected inside the support rod (13). The extension rod (14) can extend out of the support rod (13) to extend the support rod (13). The bottom of the support rod (13) is connected to a telescopic lock (15). After the telescopic lock (15) is locked, it clamps the extension rod (14) to lock the relative position of the extension rod (14) and the support rod (13).

5. A portable grassland vegetation cover and height measuring device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The bottom of the extension rod (14) is connected to the ground nail (110).

6. The portable grassland vegetation cover and height measuring device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The support assembly (1) also includes a first sliding sleeve (16) slidably connected to the support rod (13), and a second sliding sleeve (19) slidably connected to the main rod (11). A connecting rod (18) is provided between the first sliding sleeve (16) and the second sliding sleeve (19). The two ends of the connecting rod (18) are respectively hinged to the first sliding sleeve (16) and the second sliding sleeve (19). The first sliding sleeve (16) is also provided with a locking buckle (17) structure. After the locking buckle (17) is locked, the first slider can be locked and limited on the support rod (13).

7. The portable grassland vegetation cover and height measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The coverage measurement component (3) includes a sensor box (31), with laser emitter a (32) and laser emitter b (33) connected to the bottom of the sensor box (31). The bottom of the sensor box (31) is also connected to an RGB camera window (35) and a spectral camera window (34). The outside of the sensor box (31) is also connected to a triangulation receiving lens window (37) and a GPS position sensor (38). The sensor box (31) is equipped with a control module, which is electrically connected to each component.

8. A portable grassland vegetation cover and height measuring device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The bottom of the sensor box (31) is also connected to a heat sink (36), which surrounds the laser emitter a (32), the laser emitter b (33), the spectral camera window (34), and the RGB camera window (35).

9. A portable grassland vegetation cover and height measuring device according to claim 1 or 7, characterized in that: A fine-tuning gimbal (4) for pitch adjustment of the cover measurement component (3) is also provided between the cover measurement component (3) and the telescopic crossbar (2).

10. A portable grassland vegetation cover and height measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer wall of the main rod (11) is provided with scale lines (12).

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