Researchers will use drones to measure tree health

Scientists at Newcastle University will use drones to monitor tree health in the UK. 

To help understand the role that trees can play in achieving net-zero, the researchers will use drones to identify whether our existing woodlands are healthy and retaining carbon or whether the tree loss risks releasing carbon. 

The team hope that the drones will offer a low-cost solution for the modelling of woodland carbon storage.

Scientist, Dr Rachel Gaulton, of Newcastle University’s School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, has received funding from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) for the project along with Fera Science Limited and STFC RAL Space. 

Dr Gaulton explains: ‘We aim to develop a system using these very sensitive cameras to work out individual pigments, water absorption and so be able to tell apart tree species and how healthy each tree is.

‘This will help us monitor the state of woodland and this is important because if trees are dying, particularly larger, older trees, then there is a risk that we are facing a net loss of carbon. Despite efforts to plant trees we need to know whether we are losing established trees as without realising it we may actually be losing more than we are gaining in some regions of the UK, due to pests, disease and climate change impacts.’

STFC executive chair Professor Mark Thomson added: ‘We all are responsible for finding ways to reduce our carbon emissions to achieve the government’s Net Zero target, especially in the research and innovation sector.

‘One of the ways we are doing that in STFC and across the scientific community is to look at how we conduct experiments and whether there might be more efficient ways of doing this.

‘We are also taking some of the cutting-edge techniques used for pioneering research and applying those to solve some of the biggest challenges to becoming a carbon-neutral nation.’

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