Carbon storage assessment method and system

Abstract

A carbon storage assessment method first performs a data collection step by preparing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and navigating it in an area. The UAV is equipped with a detection unit to detect trees in the area. Next, a data processing step is performed to process the detection data for subsequent computer analysis. Then, a tree species identification step is performed to identify the tree species from the detection data. Next, a parameter measurement step is performed to analyze the detection data to obtain the size and number of trees. Finally, a carbon storage assessment step is performed to estimate the biomass and carbon storage of the trees based on the tree species, size, and number.

Claims

1. A carbon storage assessment method for assessing the carbon storage of at least one tree in an area, comprising the following steps: a data collection step, using a computer to formulate a flight plan for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to control the UAV to navigate in the area, the UAV being equipped with an image detection module, a barometric pressure detection module, a distance detection module, and a position detection module; the image detection module acquiring regional image data of the area; the barometric pressure detection module acquiring the detected barometric pressure of the UAV to calculate the flight altitude of the UAV; the distance detection module acquiring the distance between the UAV and the tree; and the position detection module detecting the flight position of the UAV; a data processing step, using a computer to analyze the detection data from the image detection module, the distance detection module, and the position detection module, performing image data stitching and correction to obtain image correction data; and a tree species identification step, using a computer to analyze the image correction data to identify the tree species data of the trees in the area. A parameter measurement step utilizes a computer to analyze detection data from the image detection module, the distance detection module, and the position detection module, as well as tree species data in the area, to obtain the size and quantity of trees in the area. The tree size includes tree height and diameter at breast height (DBH). The tree height is obtained by acquiring the horizontal distance between the UAV and the tree, the angle between the UAV and the tree top, the angle between the UAV and the tree base, and the flight altitude of the UAV above the ground, and calculating the tree height using triangulation. The tree DBH is obtained by controlling the UAV at a height of 1.3m above the tree and using the distance detection module to perform a surround scan to obtain the tree circumference coordinates at a height of 1.3m, and then calculating the tree DBH. A carbon storage assessment step utilizes a computer to estimate the biomass and carbon storage of the trees based on the tree species data, size, and quantity.

2. The carbon storage assessment method as described in claim 1 further includes a report generation step, which stores the tree’s biomass and carbon storage in a database for display on a user interface.

3. The carbon storage assessment method as described in claim 1, wherein, In this parameter measurement step, the size of the tree includes the crown diameter. The distance detection module performs a surround scan to obtain the outer coordinates of the tree crown, and then calculates the crown diameter of the tree.

4. A carbon storage assessment system, applicable to the carbon storage assessment method described in any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising: a flight unit including an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a flight control module disposed on the UAV, the flight control module controlling the flight of the UAV; A detection unit, mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), includes an image detection module, a barometric pressure detection module, a distance detection module, and a position detection module. The image detection module acquires image data of an area, the barometric pressure detection module acquires the detection barometric pressure of the UAV, the distance detection module acquires the distance between the UAV and at least one tree, and the position detection module detects the position of the UAV. An analysis unit includes a tree species identification module connected to the detection unit, a carbon storage calculation module connected to the tree species identification module, and a database connected to both the tree species identification module and the carbon storage calculation module. The tree species identification module analyzes the data from the detection unit to identify the tree species in the area, and the carbon storage calculation module analyzes the data from the tree species identification module to obtain the biomass and carbon storage of the trees in the area. The analysis results from the tree species identification module and the carbon storage calculation module are stored in the database.

5. The carbon storage assessment system as described in claim 4, wherein, The flight unit further includes a route planning module connected to the flight control module. The route planning module plans a flight plan for the area and stores the flight plan in the flight control module so that the flight control module can automatically control the unmanned aerial vehicle.

6. The carbon storage assessment system as described in claim 4, wherein, The analysis unit further includes an image processing module connected to the detection unit and the tree species identification module respectively, and a user interface connected to the database. The image processing module is used to enhance the data of the detection unit, and the user interface is used to output the data in the database.

7. The carbon storage assessment system as described in claim 4, wherein, The distance detection module has a stereo vision scanning component for acquiring images captured by a pair of cameras and using visual calculations and triangulation to calculate the distance between the UAV and the tree.

8. The carbon storage assessment system as described in claim 4, wherein, The distance detection module has an optical radar scanning component for transmitting and receiving radar waves from the tree, and for calculating the distance between the UAV and the tree using flight time.

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