IPB Forestry Information Center Holds Research Collaboration Discussion
In order to facilitate the socialization of Collaborative Research Center 990: Ecological and Socioeconomic Function of Tropical Low Land Forest Transformation System (CRC 990: EFForTS), Information Center of Faculty of Forestry, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) held a Discussion of Research Methods on Tree and Palm Water Use Assessed by Drone-based Imagery at Semt Room Lt-2 Tanoto Foundation Information Center (TFIC) Building, Faculty of Forestry IPB Dramaga Bogor (24/7).
The discussion material was presented by Joyson Ahongshangbam, a doctoral student of Tropical Silviculture and Forest Ecology, Georg-August University of Goettingen, Germany. The discussion was guided by Dr. Hendrayanto, MAgr from the Department of Forest Management, Faculty of Forestry IPB and Prof. Dr. Dirk Holscher from Goettingen Univesity who are members of the research team A02 CRC990: EFForT. The discussion was attended by 45 participants consisting of lecturers, undergraduate and postgraduate students of various study programs at IPB.
"Discussion material is a research method used by Joyson and Florian Ellsaesser. His research aims to estimate the use of water by plants based on the canopy volume model of oil palm plantations and agroforestry and to estimate water use (evapotranspiration) at palm oil stands using the energy balance model of thermal imagery, "said Dr. Hendrayanto.
Thermal images and canopy parameters for photogrammetric modeling of canopy volume are obtained from measurements using thermal sensors and cameras brought by drone aircraft. The next measurement is the measurement of sap flux with various sensors so that the calculation of the estimated energy balance by using various models, such as: Dual temperature difference (DTD) model, Two source energy balance (TSEB) model, and Deriving Atmosphere Turbulent Transport Useful To Dummies Using Temperature (DATTUTDUT) model, also model Eddy Covariance (Sub Project A03). Of the two, the photogrammetric technique approach used is the use of canopy parameters recorded by the drone-carrying sensors for the purpose of increasing the scale of the sap flux measurement results.
According to Dr. Hendrayanto, from the results of his research, his temporary conclusion is first, there is a strong relationship between the use of water by plants and the canopy parameters recorded by the drone-carrying sensors, which can reduce uncertainty in up-scaling sap-flux measurements and is easy to assess the use of water by plants on a wide scale. Second, the surface energy balance model using thermal image data can predict large-scale energy and water flows, but use for other types of vegetation and climate types need further calibration.
In addition to discussing the method of estimating the use of water by plants, especially the palm, this discussion also raised the issue of water scarcity due to the development of oil palm plantation, socio-economic smallholders, and companies. (flw)
