Image monitoring for control of invasive grasses

Abstract

The invention relates to weed mapping, monitoring and control, in particular to the mapping, monitoring and control of invasive annual grasses. A computer system comprises a receiving unit providing a processing unit with images of a geographical area, the images displaying the geographical area at points in time during a phenological cycle of a weed. At least two images depicting a weed at two different phenological stages may be used because two sequentially collected images are required in order to identify a characteristic temporal change. The processing unit analyzes the images to identify image areas showing a spectral signature characteristic of the weed. The processing unit identifies geographical sub-areas corresponding to the identified image areas and to create a weed distribution map with the identified geographical sub-areas marked as areas affected by the weed. The output unit is configured to output the map.