Drones and AI detect invasive problem plants

According to a press release, a Swiss research consortium wants to use drones and AI to locate the growth of invasive alien plants, known as neophytes, from the air. They can displace native plants, cause economic damage in agriculture or impair the function of infrastructure facilities. The problem of the spread of neophytes has been the subject of increased public debate since the federal government announced a ban on the sale of popular but harmful garden plants on September 1, 2024. These include cherry laurel, hemp palm, Japanese knotweed and the poisonous narrow-leaved ragwort.

The research consortium consists of vegetation ecologists and data and sensor experts from the public-private and non-profit technology innovation center CSEM, the University of Zurich, the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, SBB and the earth observation experts at ExoLabs GmbH. The project to tackle this problem from the air is supported by the Swiss Innovation Agency, Innosuisse.

Until now, neophytes have mainly been mapped using time-consuming and cost-intensive inspections. The sophisticated localization from a great height by the neophyte radar is to be made possible by new approaches in plant recognition that work with AI. The project aims to provide the basis for targeted measures to effectively suppress neophytes.

According to the press release, this will also open up new business models for private and public service providers. ce/mm