Amazonas: Monitoring biomass in grasses with LiDAR technology and multispectral cameras

In the highland areas of the Amazonas region, grasses constitute the main sustenance for cattle and, therefore, the economic base for numerous rural families. However, intensive soil use and the effects of climate change have caused their degradation, affecting the quality and quantity of available forage. To address this challenge, researchers from the Institute for Sustainable Development Research of Ceja de Selva (INDES-CES) at the National University Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza (UNTRM) conducted a study in the districts of Atuén and Molinopampa, employing drones equipped with specialized sensors to measure the amount of available grass, known as aerial biomass. These drones used two types of technology: LiDAR, which measures the height and shape of the grass, and multispectral cameras, which capture the color and health of the vegetation. With the information collected, the researchers created high-resolution maps—with accuracy up to 20 centimeters—that show the distribution ...