NSERC grant for the use of drone imaging in forestry
QUEBEC CITY, April 4, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - TÉLUQ University, in partnership with Groupe DDM, has received a $25,000 grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) under the Engage Grant partner program for universities. The grant will fund the project "Using drone computer vision to estimate the number of planting microsites."
"Thanks to research, drones are being used more and more in applications with a real impact on the economy, society, and the environment," said TÉLUQ director general Martin Noël. "This project is yet another great example that will allow our researchers to develop artificial intelligence technologies for the forest industry. I am very pleased that our university is a pioneer in this field."
Professor Wassim Bouachir of TÉLUQ University's Department of Science and Technology, a researcher at LICEF research center and the project leader, adds that the project "will lead to innovative drone imaging solutions. This work is now possible thanks to the infrastructure of SmartForests Canada, a pan-Canadian initiative recently funded by the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and in which TÉLUQ University plays a key role."
Project researchers main objective will be to use drones to develop computer image recognition technology for managing the forest floor.
Computer vision techniques will allow forest workers to determine the required number of plants more quickly and efficiently, reducing human intervention and associated costs.
NSERC
NSERC invests over $1 billion each year in natural sciences and engineering research in Canada. Our investments deliver discoveries by over 11,000 world-caliber professors/researchers, produce breakthroughs, and enable partnerships and collaborations with business. This helps inform R&D, solve scale-up challenges, and reduce the risks of developing high-potential technology.
Groupe DDM
Groupe DDM (Del Degan, Massé et Associés inc.) has worked in the field of forestry since 1987. Through its work on a wide range of projects, Groupe DDM has developed methods that help teams complete projects more effectively and efficiently. It is also able to provide training in forest inventory survey and compilation techniques, photo-interpretation, and digital mapping.
TÉLUQ University
Founded in 1972 to make knowledge accessible, TÉLUQ is the only French-language university in North America offering all its courses via distance learning. Every year, nearly 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students choose the flexibility of TÉLUQ University for their university education.
Source:
Denis Gilbert
Communications and Public Affairs Department
418-657-2747, extension 5282
1-800-463-4728, extension 5282
[email protected]
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SOURCE Université TÉLUQ
Denis Gilbert, Communications and Public Affairs Department, 418-657-2747, extension 5282, 1-800-463-4728, extension 5282, [email protected]
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