Analysis of the satellite positioning receivers in forest environments: evaluation of GNSS positioning errors under tree canopy. Consejería de Educación, Junta de Castilla y León (LE241A11-2)
The main objective of this research project was to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the interference of the tree canopy when observing GNSS receivers by measuring in static mode (requires post-processing) and in real-time mode. The most important results were: (i) defining a protocol for GNSS observations in forest environments, (ii) the type and model of the receiver is decisive in the accuracy, accuracy and efficiency of positioning, (iii) receivers working only with the GPS constellation were better positioning than receivers working with GPS +GLONASS (Iv) in real time, the best results (accuracy, precision and efficiency) have been obtained when working with a base located in the work area itself, v) the sylvestris pine was the specie that causes the most interference in the GNSS signal and the poplar was the specie that least affects the positioning accuracy, (vi) the forest variables that most affect accuracy are the volume of wood per unit area , the mean diameter, the Hart-Becking index and the mean square diameter.  In addition, three GNSS receiver networks have been set up under a cover of radiata pine, sylvestris pine and poplar.

1. La adquisición de imágenes aéreas de alta resolución espacial mediante cámaras especiales que captan información en las bandas roja e infrarroja, que van montadas sobre un vehículo aéreo no tripulado (VANT) (o UAV: Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle).
2. Estimar el vigor vegetativo de los árboles frutales mediante el cálculo de índices de vegetación (que están relacionados con el vigor de las plantas).
3. Identificar y localizar en las parcelas de frutales las zonas con árboles menos vigorosos, para actuar sólo en las áreas afectadas. 

Esta actuación se encuadró en el Plan TCUE 2015-2017, y fue seleccionada en el marco de un programa operativo cofinanciado por el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) y la Junta de Castilla y León. El proyecto ha logrado crear un sistema que permite la adquisición de imágenes aéreas mediante una cámara fotográfica compacta montada sobre un vehículo aéreo no tripulado (VANT) y procesar estas imágenes con un software de fácil manejo para crear una zonificación automática de los viñedos fotografiados.

System for the vineyards zoning based on automatic classification of multispectral images of high spatial resolution. TCUE 2015-2017. Junta de Castilla y León.

This action was framed in the Plan TCUE 2015-2017, and was selected as part of an operational program co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Junta de Castilla y León. The project has created a system that: i) allows the acquisition of aerial images through a compact camera mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and ii) process these images (with an easy-to-use software) to create an automatic zoning of the photographed vineyards.

Mapping for the Integral Environmental Restoration Project of the Cua River Mining Section (PIRAC). CIUDEN-2011.
The purpose of this technical service was to make topographic mapping of areas degraded by mining in the area of interest of the Comprehensive Environmental Restoration Project of the Cua River (PIRAC) mining section. These lands are located in the municipality of Fabero (León) and occupy an approximate area of 70 ha. Areas where more detail is required field data were taken for 1: 1000 scale mapping, while in areas where less detail is required data were taken for 1: 5000 scale mapping. The topographic survey was done with real-time dual-frequency GPS receivers (RTK) with radar-based corrections (RTCM). The reference system used will be ERTS89, representing the points in UTM projection (spindle / zone 29N).

Application of Geomatics (Geographic Information Systems and remote sensing of high spatial and spectral) for the estimation of productive and quality variables of the vine: GEOVID. ITACyL-2009, Junta de Castilla y León.

In this work we have studied the temporal and spatial variability of parameters related to the quality and yield of grapes. To identify homogenous areas of the vineyard, quality variables  and vine vigor variables were used. The best results were obtained for the qualitative variables in the vineyard of the Merlot variety.
As a final result, it has been possible to delineate homogeneous areas in the vineyard that must be treated with differentiated viticultural techniques to correct the deficiencies of the areas that have a lower viticultural potential and thus achieve the production objectives of the winery.

Evaluation of wine potential in vineyards of DO Bierzo by Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing Techniques. TCUE 2015-2017.Junta de Castilla y León.

This applied research allowed the creation of a tool, based on GIS, for the location of the vineyards of grape suppliers to Bodega Martín Códax SAU, in the DO Bierzo. It is a tool that contains the location and attributes (yield, grape quality, vine grower, etc.) and that works on any mobile phone with Android OS. In addition, a high resolution ortho-rectified imagery was created with the classification of a vineyard according to the vigor of the vineyard.

Development and implementation of the Geographic Information System for the
Banco de Tierras del Bierzo (BaTiBiSIG). Consejo Comarcal del Bierzo, Diputación de León.
The Land Bank of Bierzo (BTB) is an intermediation center created by the Consejo Comarcal del Bierzo, whose purpose is the mobilization of land with an agricultural, livestock or forestry vocation. The Geographic Information System of the Bierzo Land Bank (GISBiBa) is implemented with gvSIG software. The project has three components: one dedicated to the consultation and visualization of the BTB plots, another is used to consult the urban information of the municipalities of Bierzo and the last one is used for updating the parcel of BTB. The BTB has 820 plots (total area of 199.71 ha) belonging to 172 owners, who have an average of 5 plots and an average area of 1.16 ha.

Ecological inputs and biostimulants for the production of upmarket wine and oil. AGROECO – IDI-20120889. CDTI, Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad.

The objective of this project was the development of an integrated system of management of organic vine and olive groves (distributed in provinces of Castilla y León) seeking to improve the quality of the fruit, and therefore wine and oil. The work of the GEOINCA research group consisted of making the experimental designs, measurements of reflectance in the field and creation of the georeferenced database. In addition, GEOINCA processed the georeferenced data for the estimation of viticultural variables with non-destructive field techniques and mapping of the spatial variables of interest.

As a result of the project, a program has been established to apply to the soil by-products of the manufacture of sugar and its monitoring by geospatial technologies (GIS and Remote Sensing).

Integration of Geomatics in agricultural production. Development of the Geographic Information System for the quality fruit trees of the Bierzo (FRUBIGIS). Asociación Berciana de Agricultores 2009..

This research paper shows the utility of GIS techniques to improve fruit yield. The main goal is to develop a tool for managing information regarding field plots and owners belonging to the Manzana Reineta del Bierzo Designation of Origin and the Pera Conferencia del Bierzo Guarantee Trademark. This tool will allow performing territorial analyses to assess the optimal areas for producing high quality fruit in El Bierzo, and it will help in the official procedures required for these products.

Development and implementation of a precision viticulture system in the Bierzo Denomination of Origin, through the integration of performance monitors, Geographic Information Systems and high resolution spatial resolution. LE002B07. Consejería de Educación, Junta de Castilla y León.              
The objective of the project was modellling an efficient wine production system based on the knowledge of the variables that determine the quality of the grapes (soil, plant material, etc.), in order to establish a block management system in the vineyard.
A protocol has been developed for mapping of vine variables of interest (probable alcoholic degree, must pH, total polyphenol index, etc.) by spatial interpolation. Regarding the application of remote sensing techniques to viticulture, a methodology has been used to estimate the area occupied by the vine at the municipal level, applying analysis in images of average spatial resolution. Sorting two Landsat images of two different dates and combining them into a single one improves the reliability up to 30% with respect to the use of a single image, although supposes that a high number of pixels remain unclassified.

Modelling the probability of lightning-induced forest fire occurrence in the province of León (NW Spain). Convocatoria de Ayudas a Proyectos ULE 2006-2007, Diputación de León.

El modelo obtenido es útil en la valoración explícita del riesgo de incendios, en la identificación de zonas de riesgo elevado, así como en el diseño de estrategias para la gestión de incendios forestales a largo plazo. Spatial relationships between lightning-induced forest fires and topography, vegetation, climate and lightning characteristics were analyzed in the province of León (NW Spain). The study was based on reported lightning-induced forest fires in the period 2002-2007. A statistical model based on logistic regression was developed to estimate the probability of occurrence of a lightning-induced fire in a 3 3 km grid. The importance of accurate location of the ignition point was also investigated in order to evaluate the sensitivity of the model developed to uncertainty of the location. The model developed with accurate ignition point data showed a better predictive ability than the model constructed with all the ignition points available. The former model was therefore selected for long-term prediction of the occurrence of lightning-induced fires in the province. According to this model, the probability of a forest stand being affected by lightning-induced fire increased with decreasing altitude, and when there was a high proportion of coniferous species in the stand, a high percentage of lightning strikes in forest areas and a high number of dry storm days in the area. The model will be useful in the spatially explicit assessment of fire risk, the planning and coordination of regional efforts to identify areas at greatest risk, and in designing long-term wildfire management strategies.

Precision and Accuracy of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Mapping Products as a function of the Number of Ground Control Points Used.

The aim of this research project is to know how the precision and accuracy of a photogrammetric model created from images taken with UAV and processed by SfM (Structure from Motion) techniques evolve, as the number of control points on the ground is increased. The study is based in an UAV project with more than 2500 photographs and more than 100 Ground Control Points. The study compares RMSEs measured at the control points versus RMSEs measured at Ground Check Points, thus calculating the overestimation of assessing the geometric quality of a model when only control points are considered.

The results showed that defoliation at stand level can be successfully mapped using Landsat OLI imagery, since the overall accuracy of the classification was higher than 75%. As expected, the ”intermediate defoliation” class showed the lowest accuracy among the three. At stand level, using the UAV imagery as input data showed similar accuracies, although some areas without vegetation were considered severely defoliated areas, since the analysis which was carried out for this image was not a multi-date analysis. Regarding the estimation of defoliation at tree level, the most accurate results were obtained when the images of each stand were classified independently. The most and least defoliated classes (1-25% and 75-100%) showed higher accuracies, while the intermediate classes (25-50% and 50-75%) showed a higher level of confusion. More research is being conducted in order to establish the correlation between degree of defoliation at tree level and the radial growth.

Radiometric calibration of multispectral aerial images. Estimation of above-ground biomass in grasslands. JCYL 2008/00101/001.

The main objectives of this research work were: (i) to establish a procedure for the radiometric calibration of images from the airborne photogrammetric camera Ultracam XP/WA and (ii) to estimate the above-ground biomass (dry weight of the green fraction) in grasslands using those calibrated images. The empirical line calibration and three multispectral images (A, B, C) were used. Three different types of calibration targets were used: (i) 1 m x 1 m portable rigid targets (gray scale), (ii) 2 m x 2 m non rigid targets made of fabric (gray scale and colour) and (iii) target areas (not portable). 27 different combinations of these targets were tested to calibrate the images. The most suitable calibrations were used to obtain the at-surface reflectance images (Ar, Br, Cr), which were used to estimate the biomass. The calibration targets consisting of portable rigid panels provided the most accurate radiometric calibration (R2 = 0.99; RMSE ≤ 0.014 %; RMSE (%) = 3.64). The most accurate estimation of above-ground biomass was obtained by using Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) and at-surface reflectance of the Cr image (R2=0.90; RMSE=4.096 g/m2; RMSE (%) = 12.92), although the differences between images were not significantly different. Using the vegetation indices NDVI (R2=0.80; RMSE=5.593 g/m2; RMSE (%) = 18.81), SR (R2= 0.78; RMSE=5.864g/m2; RMSE (%) = 18.49), NLI (R2=0.88; RMSE= 4,267g/m2; RMSE (%) = 13.46) or SAVI (R2=0.85; RMSE=4.867 g/m2; RMSE (%) = 15.35) the estimates were less accurate.

WP3 requiere la coordinación de socios, actividades y flujos de datos. INIA-CIFOR supervisará el desarrollo de los informes de trabajo y los estudios de caso, así como la difusión de los resultados y el análisis entre los participantes del WP.

Assessing the distribution and damage of Dryocosmus kuriphilus, a chestnut tree pest, in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula: biology, phenology, and natural control by native parasitoids

In this project we aim to provide general recommendations of places to proceed with introducing the parasitoid of Dryocosmus kuriphilus (due to high risks of high damage) and places where introductions may not be needed because of native natural enemies that provide similar biological control. Thus the introduction of the parasitoid can be done in an appropriate way with minimal damage to the environment.

La propuesta que se presenta parte de la hipótesis de que la severidad del fuego, entendida como la magnitud de los efectos del fuego sobre un ecosistema, es un aspecto clave a tener en cuenta en la planificación de las estrategias de gestión dirigidas a la protección contra incendios: prevención, extinción y restauración, y sus interrelaciones. En consecuencia, se pretende desarrollar metodologías, herramientas y tecnologías de gestión y planificación del paisaje para reducir el impacto de los incendios, aplicables tanto antes, como durante y después del fuego

La propuesta parte de la hipótesis de que el conocimiento de la vulnerabilidad al fuego, es un elemento crucial para planificar las estrategias de gestión dirigidas a la defensa integrada contra incendios forestales. Por lo tanto, el principal objetivo del presente proyecto es la caracterización y análisis de manera integral de los componentes que determinan la vulnerabilidad de sistemas forestales a los incendios con objeto de sentar las bases para la elaboración de un sistema normalizado que permita su uso generalizado en sistemas forestales ibéricos.