Vegetation management system and vegetation management method

Abstract

To provide a vegetation management system that proposes a vegetation management method for keeping the landscape moderate while reducing load on maintenance and cost, and a vegetation management method.SOLUTION: A vegetation management system 10 comprises a parameter input device 101 in which parameters including plant species in a planted area, a target plant height, and a target plant species are input, and a vegetation management device 103 that determines species to be removed and a time of removal in the planted area based on the parameters output from the parameter input device 101.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] One embodiment of the present invention relates to a vegetation management system, and more particularly, to a vegetation management system and method for maintaining a desired green space. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, when constructing a building, a planting plan for the land surrounding the building is also made. When planning to plant specific types of plants such as grass, frequent weeding and mowing of weeds other than the specified specific types is required, which creates a problem of burden and cost for the manager to maintain. In particular, when the building is a warehouse or the like, the surrounding landscape may not be important, and there is a demand to maintain a moderate landscape while reducing the burden of maintenance and costs, regardless of the type of planting.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a method for controlling the vegetation of an area by controlling the soil temperature and soil moisture level, thereby delaying the germination of weed seeds other than desired plants. However, the method described in Patent Document 1 requires that temperature control and soil moisture control be carried out before the planting soil is rolled out, which leaves problems in terms of labor and cost. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5808098 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a system that proposes a vegetation management method that maintains a moderate landscape while reducing the burden of maintenance and costs, and the vegetation management method. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A vegetation management system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a parameter input device into which parameters including the grass species in the planting area, the target grass height, and the target grass species are input, and a vegetation management device that determines the grass species to be removed in the planting area and the removal time based on the parameters output from the parameter input device.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, a vegetation management method includes inputting parameters including a grass species in a planting area, a target grass height, and a target grass species, and determining a grass species to be removed in the planting area and a removal time based on the input parameters. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, vegetation management for maintaining a suitable landscape is possible while reducing the burden of maintenance and costs. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a vegetation management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram of a parameter input device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] 1 is a block diagram of a vegetation management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a lookup table stored in a DB. [Diagram 5] 1 is a graph showing an example of plant height specific to a grass species. [Figure 6] 1 is a flowchart showing the flow of a vegetation management method executed by a vegetation management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a parameter input device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8A] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a vegetation management method executed by a vegetation management system according to another embodiment of the present embodiment. [Figure 8B] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a vegetation management method executed by a vegetation management system according to another embodiment of the present embodiment. [Figure 9] (a) A graph showing the frequency distribution of plant height for native perennial plants. (b) A graph showing the frequency distribution of plant height for native annual and biennial plants. (c) A graph showing the frequency distribution of plant height for exotic perennial plants. (d) A graph showing the frequency distribution of plant height for exotic annual and biennial plants. [Figure 10] (a) An image showing the state of vegetation in test area P2 after the start of the demonstration experiment. (b) An image showing the state of vegetation in test area P2 after the two-year test period. [Figure 11] (a) An image showing the state of vegetation in test area P1 after the start of the demonstration experiment. (b) An image showing the state of vegetation in test area P1 after the two-year test period. [Figure 12] 1 is a graph showing changes in biomass and number of species over a two-year demonstration test. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, etc. However, the present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention, and the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to the description of the embodiments exemplified below.

[0011] In order to clarify the description, the drawings may show the width, thickness, shape, etc. of each part in a schematic manner compared to the actual embodiment, but these are merely examples and do not limit the interpretation of the present invention. In this specification and each drawing, elements having the same functions as those explained in the previous drawings may be given the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations may be omitted.

[0012] First Embodiment [Vegetation management system] In this embodiment, a vegetation management system 10 and a vegetation management method using the vegetation management system 10 are described. The vegetation management system 10 uses naturally occurring vegetation in a planting area to moderately maintain the landscape. Since naturally occurring vegetation is used, there is no need to use artificial plantings such as grass, and therefore the cost burden for maintaining the planting area and maintaining the landscape can be reduced.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vegetation management system 10 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the vegetation management system 10 includes a parameter input device 101, a vegetation management device 103, and a network 105. The parameter input device 101 and the vegetation management device 103 are connected to each other via the network 105, such as the Internet.

[0014] 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the parameter input device 101. The parameter input device 101 may be a terminal such as a personal computer, a smartphone, or a tablet PC that is equipped with operation buttons, a keyboard, a touch sensor, etc. The parameter input device 101 includes a control unit 201, a parameter input unit 203, and a communication unit 205.

[0015] The control unit 201 includes an arithmetic processing circuit such as a CPU, and a storage device such as a RAM, a ROM, etc. The control unit 201 executes a control program stored in the storage device by the CPU to control each component of the parameter input device 101. By executing the control program, various functions such as a parameter input function are realized.

[0016] The parameter input unit 203 receives input of information (hereinafter, referred to as parameters) related to the planting site from a user. The parameter input device 101 may include a display unit (not shown), and the parameter input unit 203 may provide a user interface for the user to input parameters to the display unit.

[0017] The parameters include a grass species in the planting area, a target grass height in the planting area, and / or a target grass species in the planting area. The grass species in the planting area means a grass species that naturally grows in the planting area. The target grass height in the planting area means a grass height desired by a user in the planting area. The target grass species in the planting area means a grass species desired by a user and / or a grass species having desired characteristics in the planting area.

[0018] The user inputs the parameters to the parameter input unit 203. When the parameter input unit 203 provides the user with a user interface for inputting the parameters, the user inputs the parameters via the user interface. The user may directly input various parameters such as the grass species in the planting area, the target grass height in the planting area, and the target grass species in the planting area. Alternatively, the user interface may provide a grass species list. The user may select a grass species naturally occurring in the planting area or a target grass species in the planting area from the provided grass species list. Here, the grass species list means a list including the names of all plants existing in the country, including native species and invasive species. Similarly, the user interface may present the user with a plurality of options for the grass height, and the user may select a desired grass height from the presented options.

[0019] The user interface may provide the user with a selection of multiple plant groups, each of which includes a predetermined grass species. Examples of plant groups include a group including native perennials, a group including native perennials with a predetermined height range, and a group including native and exotic perennials with a predetermined height range. When inputting parameters, instead of inputting a target grass species in the planting site, the user may select a plant group desired by the user from the multiple plant group options presented. In addition to inputting a target grass species in the planting site, the user may select a plant group desired by the user from the multiple plant group options presented.

[0020] The user can ascertain the species of grass naturally growing in the planting area by conducting a site survey in advance. The user can also obtain the results of a site survey conducted by a third party, such as a management company, and from those results, can ascertain the species of grass naturally growing in the planting area.

[0021] The parameters may include the grass species in the planting area, the target grass height in the planting area, and the target grass species in the planting area, as well as the user's desired budget for managing the planting area, the desired number of times to mow, and the desired time of mowing. The parameters may also include the grass species desired to be removed from the planting area. The grass species desired to be removed means the grass species in the planting area that the user desires to remove. The parameters may also include the grass species desired to be removed from the planting area instead of the target grass species in the planting area. The parameters may also include the hours of sunshine, the amount of rainfall, the average temperature, and the like.

[0022] The parameters input by the user are output to the vegetation management device 103 via the communication unit 205 of the parameter input device 101 .

[0023] 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the vegetation management device 103. The vegetation management device 103 includes a control unit 301, a communication unit 303, and an analysis unit 305. The vegetation management device 103 may include a database (DB) 307. The DB 307 may be provided in an external storage device.

[0024] The control unit 301 includes an arithmetic processing circuit such as a CPU, and storage devices such as a RAM and a ROM. The control unit 301 executes a control program stored in the storage device by the CPU to control each component of the vegetation management device 103. By executing the control program, various functions such as a vegetation management method determination function are realized.

[0025] The communication unit 303 acquires the parameters input by the user from the parameter input device 101 via the network 105. The communication unit 303 outputs the acquired parameters to the analysis unit 305.

[0026] The analysis unit 305 determines the weed species to be removed in the planting area and the removal time based on the acquired parameters. The analysis unit 305 determines the removal target grass species in the planting area based on the target grass species in the planting area. Furthermore, the analysis unit 305 determines the removal time and mowing height of the removal target grass species based on the unique characteristics of the target grass species and the removal target grass species in the planting area and the target grass height in the planting area. The mowing height is the grass height set when removing, i.e., mowing, the removal target grass species, and corresponds to the grass height after mowing is performed. If the acquired parameters include the grass species desired to be removed in the planting area, the analysis unit 305 may omit the determination of the grass species desired to be removed in the planting area. Furthermore, if the acquired parameters include the plant group desired by the user, the analysis unit 305 may determine the removal target grass species in the planting area based on the grass species in the planting area and the plant group desired by the user.

[0027] The analysis unit 305 refers to the DB 307 to acquire the unique characteristics of the grass species in the planting land, including the target grass species in the planting land and the grass species to be removed from the planting land. The DB 307 stores a list of unique characteristics of plants, including native species and invasive species, that exist in Japan. The DB 307 may have a lookup table 309 in which grass species are associated with unique characteristics corresponding to the grass species. Here, the unique characteristics include ecological characteristics such as plant height, flowering time, germination time, growth period, growth characteristics, and reproductive type. FIG. 4 shows an example of the lookup table 309 stored in the DB 307.

[0028] The analysis unit 305 can refer to a lookup table 309 as shown in FIG. 4 to acquire the specific characteristics of the grass species in the planting area, including the target grass species in the planting area and the grass species to be removed in the planting area, which are included in the acquired parameters. Although not shown, the lookup table 309 may also include a monthly growth speed specific to the grass species. The analysis unit 305 analyzes the acquired characteristics specific to the grass species to determine the removal time and the mowing height of the grass species to be removed. For example, the analysis unit 305 may determine the removal time and the mowing height of the grass species to be removed based on the target grass height in the planting area and the germination time, flowering time, growth speed, grass height, etc. of the target grass species and / or the grass species to be removed in the planting area. When the acquired parameters do not include the target grass species in the planting area but include the target grass height in the planting area, the analysis unit 305 may determine the grass species to be removed in the planting area based on the target grass height in the planting area and the specific characteristics of the grass species in the planting area. After determining the grass species to be removed, the analysis unit 305 analyzes the acquired characteristics specific to the grass species, and determines the removal time and mowing height of the grass species to be removed.

[0029] The analysis unit 305 may set the mowing height based on the difference between the growth period (growth speed) of the target grass species and the growth period (growth speed) of the determined grass species to be removed. FIG. 5 is a graph showing an example of grass height specific to a grass species. Curve A in FIG. 5 shows the grass height of Solidago altissima, which is one of the tall-stalk invasive species. Curve B shows the grass height of Miscanthus sinensis, which is one of the tall-stalk native species. Curve C shows the grass height of Rubus arbutus, which is one of the short-stalk native species. As shown in FIG. 5, the grass height of Solidago altissima in the early stage of its growth is higher than the grass height of Miscanthus sinensis at the same time. Therefore, in a case where Solidago altissima, Miscanthus sinensis, and Rubus arbutus naturally grow in a planting site and the target grass species in the planting site is set to the native species, for example, by setting the mowing height to 15 cm and mowing in May, only Solidago altissima can be mowed. Therefore, the analysis unit 305 may determine the removal time (cutting time) of Solidago altissima in the planting area to be May based on the height and growth speed of Solidago altissima, which is the grass species to be removed, and set the cutting height to 15 cm. The analysis unit 305 may determine multiple cutting times according to the grass species to be removed. The analysis unit 305 may also determine the cutting height for each of the multiple cutting times. In FIG. 5, the dotted line indicates the height of Solidago altissima when cutting is not performed in May. In this way, the analysis unit 305 can cut only the grass species to be removed without impeding the growth of the target grass species by setting the cutting height based on the difference between the growth period (growth speed) of the target grass species and the growth period (growth speed) of the determined grass species to be removed. Depending on the type of grass to be removed, by setting the removal time and mowing height based on the specific characteristics of the grass species to be removed, it is possible to expect effects such as slowing down the growth rate after mowing and inhibiting reproduction.

[0030] For example, in the case where the grass species to be removed is one that propagates by scattering seeds, the analysis unit 305 may set the mowing time of the grass species to be removed to the flowering time. This is because mowing the grass species to be removed before the seeds of the grass species to be removed are scattered can prevent the seeds of the grass species to be removed from being scattered, and the grass species to be removed can be efficiently removed from the planting site and the surrounding land. Referring to FIG. 4, Solidago altissima blooms from August to October. Considering that the flowering time of Miscanthus sinensis, which is one of the target grass species in the planting site, is from September to November, the analysis unit 305 may determine the mowing time of Solidago altissima to be May and August. By mowing the grass species to be removed not only during the growing period but also during the flowering period, the proliferation of the grass species to be removed can be efficiently suppressed without disturbing the proliferation of the target grass species in the planting site.

[0031] In addition, some invasive species, particularly tall-stem invasive species, grow faster than they can be removed by mowing. In order to remove such species from the planting site, they must be pulled out individually, not just mowed. Therefore, when a fast-growing species is included in the species to be removed, the analysis unit 305 may determine the time to pull out the species based on the inherent characteristics of the species.

[0032] In addition, if the acquired parameters do not include the target grass height in the planting area, the analysis unit 305 may determine the grass species to be removed in the planting area based on the grass species in the planting area and the target grass species in the planting area, and may determine the removal time of the grass species to be removed and the target grass height in the planting area based on the unique characteristics of the target grass species and the grass species to be removed in the planting area.

[0033] In this way, the analysis unit 305 determines the grass species to be removed in the planting area from the grass species in the planting area and the target grass species in the planting area and / or the grass species to be removed in the planting area, and determines the removal time (mowing time) and mowing height of the grass species to be removed based on the unique characteristics of the target grass species and the grass species to be removed in the planting area.

[0034] The analysis unit 305 notifies the user or a manager entrusted with management of the planting site by the user of the determined species to be removed, its removal time, and mowing height via the communication unit 303. The user or manager mows the corresponding planting site at the notified removal time.

[0035] The analysis unit 305 may notify the user or manager of the determined removal target species and their removal time, as well as an estimate of the budget required to remove the removal target species at the determined removal time. The user or manager can adjust the final removal time based on the notified estimate of the budget.

[0036] In the vegetation management system 10 according to this embodiment, a target grass species is set from among the grass species that naturally grow in the planting area, and the grass species to be removed in the planting area are determined. Furthermore, the characteristics unique to the target grass species and / or the grass species to be removed are analyzed, and the removal time of the grass species to be removed is determined taking into consideration the target grass height in the planting area. The vegetation management system 10 can appropriately maintain the landscape desired by the user by making use of the grass species that naturally grow in the planting area. This can reduce the cost burden of maintaining the planting area and maintaining the landscape.

[0037] Furthermore, by utilizing the native vegetation in and around the plantation, it is possible to provide a habitat for the creatures living in and around the plantation, which not only helps to maintain the landscape but also contributes to the biodiversity of the area including the plantation.

[0038] In the above-described embodiment, the landscape of a plantation site is maintained by utilizing vegetation that naturally grows in the plantation site. However, the present embodiment is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

[0039] For example, artificial plantings such as grass may exist in the planting area. If grass is planted at the time of development, the scenery of the planting area is maintained at the beginning of planting. However, over time, seeds of plants (especially tall-stem invasive species) may fly in from the land surrounding the planting area. The seeds that fly in may germinate in the planting area, and weeds other than those with characteristics similar to grass may overgrow, ruining the scenery of the planting area. In this case, the vegetation management system 10 according to this embodiment can be used to include grass and weeds with characteristics similar to grass in the target grass species, thereby appropriately maintaining the scenery of the planting area.

[0040] Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of a vegetation management method executed by the vegetation management system 10. Hereinafter, with reference to Fig. 6, an example of a vegetation management method executed by the vegetation management system 10 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0041] First, a user inputs parameters (information about the planting site) into the parameter input device 101 (S601). The parameters include the grass species in the planting site, and the target grass height and / or the target grass species in the planting site. The parameters may further include a desired budget for the management of the planting site, a desired number of mowings, a desired mowing time, a desired grass species to be removed from the planting site, hours of sunshine, rainfall, and average temperature.

[0042] The input parameters are sent to the vegetation management device 103. When the acquired parameters include a target grass species in the planting area, the vegetation management device 103 determines a grass species to be removed based on the grass species in the planting area and the target grass species in the planting area (S602).

[0043] Next, the specific characteristics of the grass species in the planting area are acquired based on the acquired parameters (S603). The grass species in the planting area include the target grass species and the grass species to be removed in the planting area. The specific characteristics of the grass species in the planting area are acquired from a database that lists and stores the specific characteristics of plants and trees, including native and exotic species, that exist in Japan.

[0044] Next, based on the acquired unique characteristics of the grass species in the planting area, the unique characteristics of the target grass species and the grass species to be removed in the planting area are analyzed, and the removal time and mowing height of the grass species to be removed are determined (S604). In addition, when the parameters input to the parameter input device 101 do not include the target grass species in the planting area but include the target grass height in the planting area, the grass species to be removed in the planting area may be determined based on the target grass height in the planting area and the acquired unique characteristics of the grass species in the planting area. After the grass species to be removed is determined, the unique characteristics of the target grass species and the grass species to be removed are analyzed, and the removal time and mowing height of the grass species to be removed are determined. In this case, the order of S602 and S603 in FIG. 6 is reversed.

[0045] The vegetation management method for the planting site is determined by the series of steps described above. Note that, if the parameters sent from the parameter input device 101 include the grass species to be removed, S602 may be omitted.

[0046] <Second embodiment> In the first embodiment described above, in order to determine the removal time of the grass species to be removed, parameters including the grass species in the planting area and the target grass height in the planting area and / or the target grass species in the planting area are input by the user. When inputting the target grass species in the planting area as a parameter, the user directly inputs the desired grass species, or selects the desired grass species from a grass species list provided by the parameter input device 101. However, for example, a predetermined community centered on a specific grass species may be input by the user as a parameter. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the parameters for determining the removal time of the grass species to be removed include a predetermined community centered on a specific grass species. In the description of this embodiment, a description of the same or similar configuration as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0047] The configuration of the vegetation management system of this embodiment is the same as that of the above-described first embodiment, except for the configuration of the parameter input device. Therefore, in the following description, the parameter input device of this embodiment will be described, and a description of the other components of the vegetation management system will be omitted.

[0048] 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a parameter input device 101A according to this embodiment. The parameter input device 101A may be a terminal such as a personal computer, a smartphone, or a tablet PC that is equipped with operation buttons, a keyboard, a touch sensor, etc. The parameter input device 101A includes a control unit 701, a parameter input unit 703, a communication unit 705, and a parameter generation unit 707.

[0049] The control unit 701 includes an arithmetic processing circuit such as a CPU, and a storage device such as a RAM, a ROM, etc. The control unit 701 executes a control program stored in the storage device by the CPU to control each component of the parameter input device 101A. By executing the control program, various functions such as a parameter input function are realized.

[0050] The parameter input unit 703 receives input of information (parameters) related to the planting site from a user. The parameter input device 101A may include a display unit (not shown), and the parameter input unit 703 may provide a user interface for the user to input parameters to the display unit.

[0051] In this embodiment, the parameter input unit 703 first acquires the grass species in the planting area input by the user as parameters. The parameters input by the user may include the target grass height in the planting area and / or the target grass species in the planting area in addition to the grass species in the planting area. The parameters may further include the user's desired budget for managing the planting area, the desired number of times to mow, the desired mowing time, the grass species to be removed in the planting area, the hours of sunshine, the amount of rainfall, and the average temperature. The parameter input unit 703 outputs the parameters including the grass species in the planting area input by the user to the parameter generation unit 707.

[0052] The parameter generating unit 707 groups the grass species in the acquired planting site into one or more groups. Specifically, the parameter generating unit 707 generates one or more community groups composed of a plurality of grass species, with one or more grass species at the center, from among the plants naturally occurring in the planting site, based on the grass species in the acquired planting site.

[0053] The parameter generating unit 707 first determines one or more grass species that will be the center of the community from among the grass species in the acquired planting site. The grass species that will be the center of the community may be randomly extracted from among the grass species in the planting site. Furthermore, if native species are present among the grass species in the planting site, the grass species that will be the center of the community may be randomly extracted from among the native species. Furthermore, if the parameters acquired from the parameter input unit 703 include a target plant height in the planting site and / or a target grass species in the planting site, a grass species that has a plant height that is close to the target plant height or a grass species that matches the target grass species may be extracted as the grass species that will be the center of the community from among the grass species in the planting site.

[0054] The parameter generating unit 707 determines one or more grass species that constitute the community, other than the grass species that is the center of the community. The grass species that constitute the community may be randomly extracted from the grass species in the planting site. Furthermore, if native species are present among the grass species in the planting site, the grass species that constitute the community may be randomly extracted from the native species. Furthermore, a grass species that has a height similar to that of the determined grass species that is the center of the community may be extracted from the grass species in the planting site as the grass species that constitute the community.

[0055] The parameter generating unit 707 groups the grass species that is the center of the community and one or more grass species that compose the community, as one community group, determined as described above. The parameter generating unit 707 may generate multiple community groups. The parameter generating unit 707 outputs the generated one or more community groups to the parameter input unit 703.

[0056] The parameter input unit 703 provides the acquired one or more community groups as a community list to the user via the user interface. The user selects a desired community group from the provided community list as a target community in the planting area.

[0057] The target community in the planting area (a community group selected by the user) is output to the vegetation management device via the communication unit 705 of the parameter input device 101A together with the grass species in the planting area as a parameter for determining the removal time of the grass species to be removed in the planting area.

[0058] The vegetation management device determines the grass species to be removed, the removal time, and the mowing height in the planting area based on the acquired parameters, similarly to the first embodiment described above. In this embodiment, the grass species constituting the target community in the planting area, i.e., one or more grass species that are the center of the target community and one or more grass species constituting the community other than the center grass species, correspond to the target grass species in the planting area in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the vegetation management device determines the grass species to be removed in the planting area based on the grass species in the planting area and the grass species constituting the target community in the planting area, and determines the removal time and the mowing height of the grass species to be removed based on the unique characteristics of the grass species constituting the target community in the planting area and the grass species to be removed. The method of determining the removal time and the mowing height of the grass species to be removed is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, and therefore will be omitted here.

[0059] If a planting site has only one type of grass, and a disease specific to that type of grass becomes prevalent, the grass in the planting site may be wiped out all at once, making it impossible to maintain the landscape. As in this embodiment, when a target community is set for a planting site, an environment is created in which at least two or more types of grass can exist in the planting site, so that even if a disease becomes prevalent, the planting site can be prevented from being wiped out and a suitable landscape can be maintained.

[0060] <Third embodiment> In the above first and second embodiments, the grass species to be removed, the removal time, and the mowing height in the planting area are determined according to the parameters input by the user and / or the desired community group based on the parameters input by the user. However, the grass species, germination time, and grass height in the planting area may change depending on the changes in the environment around the planting area and the climate such as temperature, sunshine hours, and rainfall. Therefore, a vegetation survey of the planting area is conducted, and the grass species to be removed, the removal time, and the mowing height are reset according to the survey results. In the description of this embodiment, a description of the same or similar configuration as the first and second embodiments is omitted.

[0061] The configuration of the vegetation management system of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first and second embodiments described above. In this embodiment, the vegetation management method executed by the vegetation management system 10 is different from that of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the following explanation, the vegetation management method of this embodiment will be mainly explained. Since the configuration of the vegetation management system, the configuration of the parameter input device, and the configuration of the vegetation management device of this embodiment are the same as those of the first and second embodiments, duplicate explanations will be omitted. It should be noted that the vegetation management method executed by the vegetation management system 10 of this embodiment can also be applied to the vegetation management system 10 of the second embodiment.

[0062] Figures 8A and 8B are flowcharts showing the flow of a vegetation management method executed by the vegetation management system 10 according to this embodiment. An example of a vegetation management method executed by the vegetation management system 10 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 8A and 8B. Here, as an example, a vegetation management method executed by the vegetation management system 10 of the first embodiment will be described.

[0063] First, a first parameter (information about the planting site) is input by a user to the parameter input device 101 (S801). Here, the first parameter includes the grass species in the planting site, and the target grass height and / or the target grass species in the planting site. The first parameter may further include a desired budget for the management of the planting site, a desired number of times of mowing, a desired mowing time, a desired grass species to be removed from the planting site, hours of sunshine, rainfall, and average temperature.

[0064] The input first parameters are sent to the vegetation management device 103. When the acquired first parameters include a target grass species in the planting area, the vegetation management device 103 determines a grass species to be removed based on the grass species in the planting area and the target grass species in the planting area (S802).

[0065] Next, the specific characteristics of the grass species in the planting area are acquired based on the acquired parameters (S803). The grass species in the planting area include the target grass species and the grass species to be removed in the planting area. The specific characteristics of the grass species in the planting area are acquired from a DB that lists and stores the specific characteristics of plants and trees, including native and invasive species, that exist in Japan.

[0066] Next, based on the acquired unique characteristics of the grass species in the planting area, the unique characteristics of the target grass species and the grass species to be removed in the planting area are analyzed, and the removal time and mowing height of the grass species to be removed are determined (S804). In addition, when the parameters input to the parameter input device 101 do not include the target grass species in the planting area but include the target grass height in the planting area, the grass species to be removed in the planting area may be determined based on the target grass height in the planting area and the acquired unique characteristics of the grass species in the planting area. After the grass species to be removed is determined, the unique characteristics of the target grass species and the grass species to be removed are analyzed, and the removal time and mowing height of the grass species to be removed are determined. In this case, the order of S802 and S803 in FIG. 8A is reversed.

[0067] If the planting site is to be managed according to the removal time and mowing height of the grass species to be removed determined in S804 (S805: No), the processing executed by the vegetation management system 10 ends. On the other hand, if the grass species to be removed, removal time, or mowing height in the planting site are to be reset in response to changes in the surrounding environment of the planting site or the climate (S805: Yes), a second parameter (information about the planting site) is input by the user to the parameter input device 101 (S806). Here, the second parameter is a parameter based on the results of a vegetation survey of the planting site.

[0068] The grass species, germination time, grass height, etc. of the planting site may change depending on changes in the environment around the planting site and climate such as temperature, hours of sunshine, and amount of rainfall. Therefore, in this embodiment, a vegetation survey of the planting site is conducted, and the grass species to be removed, the removal time, and the mowing height are reset based on the survey results. The vegetation survey of the planting site may be conducted when the removal and / or mowing of the grass species to be removed determined based on the first parameter is carried out in the planting site. Furthermore, the vegetation survey may be conducted multiple times each season or at a time desired by the user.

[0069] The second parameters include the type of grass growing in the planting area at the time of the vegetation survey, its grass height, whether or not it is flowering, the color of the flowers, etc. The second parameters may also include the average hours of sunshine, the average amount of rainfall, the average temperature, etc. at the time of the vegetation survey. In addition, when updating the user's requests for planting in the planting area, such as the grass species desired to be removed, the target grass species, the desired budget for managing the planting area, the desired number of times to mow, the desired grass height, the desired color of the planting area, and the desired time to mow, these may be included in the second parameters.

[0070] The input second parameters are sent to the vegetation management device 103. In the subsequent processes, steps S802 to S806 are repeated. Specifically, in the vegetation management device 103, when the acquired second parameters include the target grass species in the planting area, the removal target grass species is determined again based on the grass species in the planting area and the target grass species in the planting area (S802).

[0071] Next, the specific characteristics of the grass species in the planting area are acquired based on the second parameters (S803). The grass species in the planting area include the target grass species and the grass species to be removed in the planting area. The specific characteristics of the grass species in the planting area are acquired from a DB that lists and stores the specific characteristics of plants and trees, including native and invasive species, that exist in Japan. Here, the specific characteristics of the grass species in the planting area may include ecological characteristics such as plant height, flowering time, germination time, growth period, growth characteristics, and reproductive type, as well as flower color, the possibility of causing allergies to the human body, the possibility of having a negative impact on the ecosystem, whether it is edible, whether it is a medicinal or poisonous plant, the presence or absence of dyeing ability, the presence or absence of thorns, the size of seeds, etc.

[0072] Next, based on the acquired characteristics of the grass species in the planting area, the characteristics of the target grass species and the grass species to be removed in the planting area are analyzed, and the removal time and the mowing height of the grass species to be removed are determined again (S804). For example, if the planting area contains poisonous grasses, grass species that may cause allergies to the human body, grass species that may have a negative effect on the ecosystem, grass species with thorns, or grass species with dyeing ability, the removal time may be determined so that these grass species can be removed early. Furthermore, if the seeds are small in size or have the ability to fly, there is a risk that the seeds will be scattered during the mowing work. Therefore, if such grass species are included in the grass species to be removed, the removal time may be determined so that the mowing is completed earlier than the fruiting period of the grass species in order to prevent the seeds from being scattered. Furthermore, if the second parameter contains a user's request for planting in the planting area, the removal time and the mowing height of the grass species to be removed may be determined again so that the user's request is reflected.

[0073] Furthermore, when the second parameters input to the parameter input device 101 do not include a target grass species in the planting area but include a target grass height in the planting area, the grass species to be removed in the planting area may be determined based on the target grass height in the planting area and the acquired characteristics specific to the grass species in the planting area. After the grass species to be removed is determined, the characteristics specific to the target grass species and the grass species to be removed may be analyzed, and the removal time and mowing height of the grass species to be removed may be determined again.

[0074] By the above-described series of steps, the vegetation management method in the planting area can be adjusted according to the surrounding environment and climate of the planting area. This allows the planting area to be managed adaptively. Note that if the first parameters sent from the parameter input device 101 include the grass species to be removed, the first step S802 may be omitted.

[0075] The second parameters inputted to the parameter input device 101 may be reflected in a lookup table 309 of the DB 307 in the vegetation management device 103. Specifically, the grass species in the planting area at the time of the vegetation survey, its grass height, flowering time, and the like, which are included in the second parameters, may be stored in the lookup table 309 as unique characteristics corresponding to the relevant grass species. By updating the unique characteristics corresponding to the grass species in the lookup table 309, the lookup table 309 can be used more effectively as a table dedicated to a specific planting area for managing the planting area. EXAMPLES

[0076] [Example 1] Species that appeared in more than four of the six main books on weeds in Japan (Planting Weed Encyclopedia: Asai, Motoaki, Japan Plant Regulator Research Association, 2015; Shape and Lifestyle Weed Encyclopedia - 280 Species to Identify (Field Observation Handbook): Iwase, Toru, National Rural Education Association, 2007; Field Observation Handbook: Schoolyard Weeds: Iwase, Toru, et al., National Rural Education Association, 2009; Common Weed Seedlings Handbook 1 and 2: Asai, Motoaki, Bun-ichi Sogo Shuppan, 2012 and 2016; New Edition of the Japanese Color Weed Encyclopedia: Numata, Makoto, et al., National Rural Education Association, 1975; Japanese Wildflowers and Tree Ecology Illustrated Guide <Ferns, Gymnosperms, and Angiosperms (Dipetalous Flowers) Edition>: Asano, Sadao, et al., National Rural Education Association, 1990) were selected as frequently appearing species. As a result, 288 species, including one woody plant, were extracted as a group of species expected to occur frequently. Of the 288 extracted species, a trend analysis was conducted on the ecology of 261 species, excluding woody plants and climbing plants, for the purpose of creating grassland. The items analyzed were (1) plant height, which greatly affects the landscape, (2) dormant type (annual / perennial; annual includes biennial, same below) that will be responsible for future green cover and the position of its dormant buds, and (3) reproductive type (underground organ type) that is related to the medium- to long-term stability of areal green cover. The life types were based on those in the New Edition of Japan's Color Weeds Illustrated Guide: Edited by Numata Makoto et al., National Rural Education Association, 1975.

[0077] (1) Plant height Figures 9(a)-(d) are graphs showing the frequency distribution of plant height for native and non-native species of the frequently occurring species group. In Figures 9(a)-(d), the vertical axis of each graph shows the number of species, and the horizontal axis shows plant height (cm). Figure 9(a) shows the frequency distribution of plant height for native perennial plants, and Figure 9(b) shows the frequency distribution of plant height for native annual and biennial plants. Figure 9(c) shows the frequency distribution of plant height for non-native perennial plants, and Figure 9(d) shows the frequency distribution of plant height for non-native annual and biennial plants. The peaks of the frequency distribution were 20 cm for native perennial plants, annual plants, and biennial plants, 60 cm for non-native perennial plants, and 40 cm for non-native annual plants and biennial plants, showing that native species tended to have shorter stems.

[0078] (2) Dormancy type and position of dormant buds The percentage of perennial grasses that will be responsible for future green cover, and the location of their dormant buds, which is an important factor in their mowing tolerance, are summarized by native and non-native species in Table 1 below. In Table 1, G indicates that the location of the dormant buds is underground (geophyte), and H indicates that the location of the dormant buds is semi-subterranean (hemicryptophyte). In Table 1, the figures in parentheses indicate the average plant height. As shown in Table 1, of the 141 native species included in the 261 expected frequent species groups, 60 were perennial grasses. Of these, 40 species were of the type that have dormant buds underground (G) or semi-subterranean (H) type, and the average plant height of these species groups was approximately 70 cm, more than 30 cm shorter than the non-native species groups of the same type. [Table 1]

[0079] (3) Breeding type In order to understand the trends in reproductive characteristics that are particularly related to the medium- to long-term stability of areal green cover, the trends in underground reproduction types of perennial plants have been compiled and the results are shown in Table 2 below. As shown in Table 2, among native perennial plants, there are 43 species that tend to create connecting bodies using rhizomes or stolons and easily create areal green cover, which is about twice as many as non-native perennial plants. [Table 2]

[0080] The results of the above analyses (1) to (3) show that the characteristics of native species are that, if simple maintenance such as mowing is repeatedly performed on surrounding weed communities, native species are generally more tolerant of mowing than invasive species. Furthermore, as mowing is repeated, native species gradually become the dominant species, and the community height becomes stable and low, leading to reduced management.

[0081] In a specific planting area, a specific target grass species and a target grass height were determined, and the vegetation management system 10 described in the above embodiment was used to determine the grass species to be removed and the removal time of the target grass species, and the target grass species was removed at the determined time. The results are described in the following examples.

[0082] [Example 2] In Example 2, native perennial grasses including Japanese silver grass were set as the target grass species, and the target grass height was set to 1 m. The following Table 3 shows the removal time, grass height, and vegetation status of the planted area by year. In Table 3, the removal time means the mowing time. Mowing refers to the uniform mowing of all vegetation growing in the planted area, including Japanese silver grass, which is included in the target grass species. Note that only tall-stem invasive species were individually removed during the removal times in the first and second years. [Table 3]

[0083] [Example 3] In Example 3, native perennial grasses including Imperata cylindrica were set as the target grass species, and the target grass height was set to 50 cm. Table 5 below shows the removal time, grass height, and vegetation status of the planted area by year. In Table 4, removal time means mowing time. Mowing refers to the uniform mowing of all vegetation growing in the planted area, including Imperata cylindrica, which is included in the target grass species. Note that only tall-stem invasive species were individually removed during the removal times in the first and second years. [Table 4]

[0084] [Example 4] In Example 4, native perennial grasses including low-stem broadleaf weeds were set as the target grass species, and the target grass height was set to 20 cm. Table 5 below shows the removal time, grass height, and vegetation status of the planted area by year. In Table 5, removal time means mowing time. Mowing refers to the uniform mowing of all grasses growing in the planted area, including low-stem broadleaf weeds included in the target grass species. Note that only tall-stem invasive species were individually removed during the removal times in the first and second years. [Table 5]

[0085] As shown in Examples 2 to 4 above, by determining the removal time according to the target grass species in the planting area, it is possible to moderately maintain the landscape desired by the user while reducing the cost burden for maintaining the planting area and maintaining the landscape.

[0086] Furthermore, as shown in Table 5, when the target plant height is relatively low, native tall weeds are also subject to removal, but by repeating the same mowing at the mowing height every year, the tall weeds are gradually eliminated. This is because mowing is repeated before the tall weeds grow long enough to produce flowers at their tips. When the tall weeds are eliminated, sunlight, moisture and nutrients from the soil are distributed to the short weeds. The lush growth of short weeds helps maintain the green cover in the planting area, and a moderate landscape can be maintained.

[0087] [Example 5] A demonstration experiment was conducted to verify and evaluate the creation and maintenance of grassland utilizing the high resistance to mowing of native species, as suggested by the results of Example 1.

[0088] <Demonstration test> The test area where the demonstration test was conducted was four planting pits (approximately 2 m wide and 30 cm deep) adjacent to the east exterior wall of the building (hereinafter referred to as P1 to P4), covering a total area of ​​approximately 90 m. 2 The environment was such that the sun was in the morning throughout the year and it was shaded in the afternoon. On the south side of the test site was a biotope within the site, and immediately south of that, outside the site, a secondary forest with a primary vegetation of Quercus acutissima and Quercus serrata was adjacent. Satsuki azalea had been planted in the planting boxes, but as they were growing poorly, they were removed and the soil was turned over about 20cm to create bare ground that avoided the influence of buried seeds that had accumulated near the topsoil.

[0089] In order to grasp the maximum number of weed species that occur in outdoor plantings, the experiment started with bare ground, and the target was to weed grass with a grass height of about 50cm throughout the year. The experiment started in March, assuming construction work was completed at the end of the fiscal year, and in August to obtain data in midsummer, an environment in which turfgrass and other plants generally do not take root well. Test plots P1 and P2 started in March (spring), and test plots P3 and P4 started in August (summer). The experiment period was two years (March 2017 to March 2019), and vegetation surveys were conducted in three seasons: spring, summer, and autumn. Each of the four planting boxes (P1 to P4) was cut to a depth of 5m. 2 The plots were divided into 3 to 5 small plots at the front and back, totaling 16 plots. Vegetation survey items were recorded for each test plot (P1 to P4), including the names of all species that appeared, the coverage of each species relative to the survey area (in 10% increments), and the community height of each species (median, in 10 cm increments). Fixed-point photography was also conducted every 2 weeks to evaluate the landscape.

[0090] In order to grasp the scenic limits, mowing was carried out in each plot when the grass grew excessively and the landscape deteriorated, and from the second year onwards, tall-stemmed invasive species were also removed. The mowing height was set at around 15cm rather than at ground level, as so-called "high mowing" is expected to result in early recovery of green cover and improved landscapes due to the expansion of broadleaf herbaceous green cover. Fertilisation and irrigation were not carried out at all, as nutrient-poor and acidic soils tend to be suitable for native species, and mowing was removed outside the test plot each time it was done.

[0091] The main analysis items were (1) landscape, (2) amount of greenery, (3) quality of greenery (species composition, ecological characteristics), and (4) frequency of maintenance. For (2), in order to quantitatively grasp the changes in the amount of greenery, the product of coverage and community height was calculated as plant mass (biomass) and used as a relative guideline between species. Woody species are generally subject to removal during maintenance, so they were excluded from all analyses. Climbing herbaceous species were excluded from the analysis of grass height, as they are not self-sustaining and will not become the main species in the future community composition. Maintenance by mowing and fixed-point observations are continuing as of October 2020.

[0092] <Test Results> (1) Changes in landscape In both test plots, grassland communities of about 50 cm appeared within about one year of construction. As an example, Figures 10 and 11 show the vegetation conditions in late July 2020 for test plot P2, where the number of species appeared was the highest, and test plot P1, where good green cover was achieved due to the high density emergence of annual grasses three months after construction. Figures 10(a) and (b) show the changes in the vegetation conditions in test plot P2. Figure 10(a) is an image of the vegetation conditions in test plot P2 after the start of the demonstration experiment (mid-May 2017), and Figure 10(b) is an image of the vegetation conditions in test plot P2 after the two-year test period (late July 2020). Figures 11(a) and (b) show the changes in the vegetation conditions in test plot P1. Figure 11(a) is an image of the vegetation in test area P1 after the start of the demonstration experiment (mid-June 2017), and Figure 11(b) is an image of the vegetation in test area P1 after the two-year test period (late July 2020). In both P2 and P1, a good grassland landscape consisting of silver grass, Japanese silverleaf, etc. was formed.

[0093] (2) Changes in the amount of greenery (biomass) Table 6 shows the general conditions (average coverage, average community height, number of species) of each test plot P1 to P4 and the results of tallying up the biomass of each main species over the two years (the legend for dormancy types is the same as in Table 1). Table 6 compares the biomass (green amount) of species with an occurrence frequency of 50% or more over the two years for each test plot. Species names in Table 6 are listed in descending order in test plot P1. [Table 6]

[0094] Referring to Table 6, in all test plots, within a year coverage of around 60% was achieved, mainly with annual grasses, and the community height was generally around 40cm, but there were also periods when tall-stemmed invasive species such as Artemisia anguicida became prominent. At the end of the second year, the biomass in the two plots started in summer (P3, P4) was about half that of the two plots started in spring (P1, P2), but even so, a level of greenery that satisfied physiognomy was maintained except in winter.

[0095] Figure 12 shows the changes in biomass and number of species over the two-year demonstration test. As shown in Figure 12, native species had more biomass and number of species throughout the two years. The biomass of annual plants increased by about two times that of invasive species in the second year. The biomass of perennial plants increased by about six times that of native species and about two times that of invasive species in the second year.

[0096] (3) Quality of greenery (species composition, ecological characteristics) The total number of species that appeared was 100 (including seven woody species and six climbing herbaceous species), and 64 of the 100 were native species. The main constituent species are shown in Table 6. 84 of the 100 species were included in the group of expected frequent species extracted in the literature survey (see Example 1), generally confirming the validity of the group. In addition, of the six species with a 100% occurrence rate in the 16 plots, four were native species that are often seen in grasslands along rice paddies and the like.

[0097] The results of summarizing the ecology of the species groups that emerged in the verification test are shown in Table 7. In Table 7, G indicates that the dormant buds are located underground (Geophyte), and H indicates that the dormant buds are located semi-underground (Hemicryptophyte). In Table 7, the figures in parentheses indicate the average plant height. [Table 7]

[0098] As shown in Table 7, there were seven exotic species of perennial plants that will be responsible for future green cover, while there were 16 native species, more than twice as many as the exotic species. In addition, 97% of the green volume of the native perennial plants in the second year was made up of species with dormant buds underground (G) or semi-underground (H).

[0099] (4) Maintenance frequency Table 8 shows the maintenance history of test plots P1 to P4 during and after the demonstration test. [Table 8]

[0100] As shown in Table 8, from the second year (after the demonstration test), the landscape deteriorated due to the rapid growth of tall-stalk invasive species such as Artemisia gracilis, and the need for selective weeding (pulling out) of these species while they are still in their early stages of low density and low stem growth was confirmed. Species selected for removal included Artemisia gracilis, Ardisia crenata, Solidago altissima, Oriental goldenrod, Oenothera biennis, Elephant fleabane, Common ragweed, and common ragweed. In addition, although not shown in Table 8, native perennial herbs collected from within the site were replanted and sown in some of the areas where these invasive species had been removed (June 2020). As of August 2020, apart from minor selective weeding of tall-stalked invasive species and simple vegetation surveys, the grassland was generally only mowed at a height of 15 cm about three times a year, and a grassland mainly consisting of native species with a community height of around 50 cm, which was the goal of the conservation management, was maintained rather than general lawns or shrub plantings.

[0101] More than 80% of the species that appeared in the verification test were included in the group of expected frequent species extracted in the above-mentioned Example 1, confirming the validity of the extracted group of species. In the verification test, the community dynamics based on the results of the literature survey in Example 1, such as a sudden increase in the green volume of native perennial plants, were confirmed, suggesting that it is possible to predict and control the dynamics of weed communities even in plantings on building exteriors. Regarding maintenance, it was confirmed that three times a year, before the rainy season, around the Bon Festival, and in late autumn, are necessary to maintain the minimum level of landscape maintenance, aiming for a herbaceous community of about 50 cm, as in this case. In addition, the importance of early removal of tall-stem invasive species was reaffirmed.

[0102] In general management, shrub planting and grass lawns require replanting every certain number of years, but in the verification test of Example 5, it was confirmed that the grassland, mainly consisting of native species, gradually stabilized despite the limited management, suggesting that green spaces with high biodiversity conservation effects are sustainable.In addition, in terms of scenery, a rich variety of expressions were confirmed throughout the year, such as the high density of mixed species that can only be achieved through natural occurrence, and the seasonal rapid growth and autumn leaves of grasses that result from this.

[0103] Based on the above-described embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art may add, delete or modify components as appropriate, and such modifications will be included in the scope of the present invention as long as they incorporate the gist of the present invention.

[0104] Even if there are other effects and advantages different from those brought about by the above-described embodiments, those which are clear from the description in this specification or which can be easily predicted by a person skilled in the art are naturally understood to be brought about by the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0105] 10: vegetation management system, 101, 101A: parameter input device, 103: vegetation management device, 105: network, 201, 701: control unit, 203, 703: parameter input unit, 205, 705: communication unit, 301: control unit, 303: communication unit, 305: analysis unit, 307: DB, 309: lookup table, 707: parameter generation unit

Claims

1. A parameter input device into which parameters including the grass species of the planting area, the target grass height, and the target grass species are input; a vegetation management device that determines a grass species to be removed, a removal time, and a mowing height in the planting area based on the parameters output from the parameter input device; Including, The vegetation management device determines the removal time and the mowing height based on inherent characteristics of grass species in the planting area, including the target grass species and the removal target grass species; The unique characteristics include at least one of plant height, flowering time, germination time, growth speed, growth characteristics, and reproductive type; The vegetation management device determines the removal time and the mowing height of the target grass species based on at least one of the flowering time, germination time, growth speed, growth characteristics, and reproductive type of each of the target grass species and the target grass species.

2. The vegetation management system of claim 1 , wherein the parameters include a desired removal cost and a desired removal time.

3. The vegetation management device has a lookup table in which grass species are associated with unique characteristics corresponding to the grass species, The vegetation management system according to claim 1 , wherein the vegetation management device determines the removal time and the mowing height of the grass species to be removed by referring to the lookup table.

4. Inputting parameters including planting site grass species, target plant height and target grass species; and determining a grass species to be removed in the planting area, a removal time, and a mowing height based on the input parameters; Including, The determination of the removal time and the mowing height includes determining the removal time and the mowing height based on inherent characteristics of grass species in the planting area, including the target grass species and the removal target grass species; The unique characteristics include at least one of plant height, flowering time, germination time, growth speed, growth characteristics, and reproductive type; A vegetation management method, in which determining the removal time and the mowing height based on the unique characteristics of the grass species in the planting area includes determining the removal time and the mowing height of the grass species to be removed based on at least one of the flowering time, germination time, growth speed, growth characteristics, and reproductive type of each of the target grass species and the grass species to be removed.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the parameters include a desired removal cost and a desired removal time.

6. The vegetation management method according to claim 4, wherein determining the removal time and the mowing height includes determining the removal time and the mowing height of the grass species to be removed by referring to a lookup table in which grass species are associated with unique characteristics corresponding to the grass species.

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