Using Thermal and Night Vision Drone Technology
Forest establishment is one of the most critical phases in the lifecycle of a radiata pine plantation. The first few years after planting determine not only survival rates, but also long-term productivity. Yet during this period, young trees are highly vulnerable to browsing and damage from pest species.
Traditionally, identifying where pest pressure is highest has been difficult — often relying on ground surveys, indirect indicators, or reactive control after damage has already occurred. Today, drone-based thermal and night vision technology is changing this approach.
AI a Smarter Approach to Pest Management Using Drones
By combining AI detection, identification, and spatial analysis, drone-based monitoring transforms pest management from a reactive task into a data-driven decision process.
The result is:
- Faster identification of emerging risk areas
- Better informed control planning
- Reduced operational cost through targeted intervention
- Improved forest establishment outcomes
Seeing What Was Previously Hidden
Many of the pests that impact young radiata pine stands — including possums, deer, pigs, and rabbits — are most active at night. Detecting them during daylight hours can be inconsistent and inefficient.
Drone-based surveys conducted at night provide a step change in visibility:
- Thermal imaging detects heat signatures across the landscape
- Night vision sensors confirm species and behaviour
- Movement patterns assist rapid identification in real-time [Innovation…- YouTube]
This paired approach allows operators to not only detect animals but confidently identify species and track their activity.
From Detection to Density Mapping
A key advantage of drone-based monitoring is the ability to convert individual detections into spatial density insights.
During operations:
- Animals are detected and located using onboard sensors and rangefinding
- Each detection is georeferenced to an exact ground position
- Data is aggregated into density maps and heat layers
These outputs reveal:
- High-pressure browsing zones
- Movement corridors and feeding areas
- Differences in pest activity across terrain and stand age
As demonstrated in operational surveys, density mapping can clearly highlight areas where pest activity is concentrated, supporting more effective monitoring and control strategies
Why This Matters for Radiata Pine Establishment
In young forests, pest damage is rarely uniform. Instead, it typically occurs in clusters or hotspots, where conditions favour feeding or shelter.
Without spatial insight, control efforts risk being:
- Too broad (wasting resource)
- Poorly targeted (missing critical areas)
- Reactive rather than preventative
Drone-derived density mapping shifts this to a proactive model:
- Early identification of high-risk areas before damage is visible
- Targeted control operations focused on the right locations
- Improved survival and uniformity across the stand
This is particularly important during:
- Post-planting establishment
- Early age tree canopy development
Efficient Coverage at Scale with BVLOS Operations
Interpine specialist certified drone teams, can operate with beyond visual line of sight operations workflows allowing large areas to be surveyed efficiently:
- Systematic flight paths ensure consistent coverage
- Night operations align with peak animal activity
This enables rapid, landscape-scale assessments that were previously difficult to achieve with traditional methods.
As sensor capability and AI-driven detection continue to advance, these systems will increasingly support automated classification and density modelling in real time.
For forest managers, the opportunity is clear — understand pest pressure earlier, act more precisely, and protect establishment investment from the start.