TL;DR:
- WVU researchers are using sensors, drones, and machine learning to combat the invasive shrub, multiflora rose.
- The project, supported by a grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, aims to develop software that can detect, map, treat, and monitor invasive species.
- Drones equipped with sensors will collect environmental data to train the software and enable the targeted delivery of herbicides.
- The initiative offers benefits such as protecting native plants, reducing herbicide overspray, cutting costs, and enhancing safety in treacherous areas.
- WVU is collaborating with private partners CNX and Resource Environmental Solutions to facilitate success.
- The project also provides valuable real-world experience for student researchers.
- WVU aims to expand its research to address other invasive species and related challenges.
Main AI News:
The latest development in the ongoing battle against invasive species has taken flight at West Virginia University (WVU). Through an innovative integration of sensors, drones, and machine learning, WVU researchers are aiming to target and combat the thorny foe known as multiflora rose. With its unexpected white blooms and red berries, this seemingly benign shrub poses a serious threat to native plants across more than 40 states, including West Virginia and neighboring Pennsylvania.
To support this groundbreaking initiative, the Pittsburgh-based Richard King Mellon Foundation has granted $175,000 to the Natural Resource Analysis Center (NRAC) at WVU’s Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design. Leveraging their expertise in drone technology, the NRAC team plans to equip drones with specialized sensors to collect environmental data in a designated area of southwestern Pennsylvania over multiple seasons. This data, combined with cutting-edge machine learning technology, will be utilized to develop sophisticated software capable of detecting and identifying multiflora rose and other invasive species. Furthermore, this software could pave the way for the targeted delivery of herbicides through drones, ensuring a precise and efficient approach to combatting the invasive shrub.
Walter Veselka, grants administrator for NRAC, expressed his optimism about merging precision agriculture and machine learning, stating, “You do research not knowing the result, but we think—based on the success precision agriculture is having and the way machine learning is growing—this is kind of the next step in merging these technologies and making them useful for West Virginia and Pennsylvania, all over Appalachia.”
The potential benefits of this project extend beyond the immediate Appalachian region. Invasive species like multiflora rose to possess a competitive advantage that hinders the growth of native plants and disrupts the carbon life cycle. The development of a targeted treatment tool could allow native species to flourish while minimizing the harmful overspray of herbicides. Moreover, the use of drones for herbicide delivery may offer cost-saving benefits for municipalities, utility companies, and conservation groups by reducing herbicide usage. Additionally, employing drones in treacherous areas that are otherwise difficult to access could enhance safety and efficiency.
NRAC Director Paul Kinder emphasized the project’s aim to provide cost-effective solutions that benefit the community, stating, “We’re interested in how you apply some of these tools and technologies in a way that’s useful to people in a cost-effective way. We really are building a capability that we want to be able to share.”
Beyond the tangible advantages, the project offers educational opportunities for student researchers. Donn Bartram, a graduate student pursuing his master’s degree in energy environments at Davis College, emphasized the value of real-world experience gained through participation in this initiative. He remarked, “This is a great experience. I learn not only in a classroom but out in the field as well. This real-world experience is more beneficial than anything you could get in a classroom.”
This multifaceted project builds upon ongoing drone-based research conducted by NRAC in partnership with the U.S. Office of Surface Mine Reclamation and Enforcement. Their previous study focused on autumn olive, a common invasive brush species in West Virginia that poses challenges to reclamation efforts. Kinder expressed gratitude for the Richard King Mellon Foundation’s support, stating, “I’m very thankful for this funding from the Richard King Mellon Foundation. We have an existing grant that got us started down this path, but this one really opens doors for us. It lets us be flexible and take some risks. It’s just amazing to me that the Foundation has that reach and willingness to take a chance on researchers down here in West Virginia. I’m really appreciative.”
Established in 1947, the Richard King Mellon Foundation is the largest foundation in southwestern Pennsylvania and ranks among the 50 largest foundations globally. Committed to promoting greater prosperity in the region and supporting environmental conservation efforts nationwide, the Foundation issued a national request for proposals to identify innovative approaches for addressing invasive species. The WVU initiative stood out among various projects across the country, with researchers utilizing drones and machine learning to locate and potentially eliminate invasive plant species that threaten sensitive landscapes’ ecological integrity.
To ensure the success of this ambitious endeavor, WVU is collaborating with two private partners. CNX, a Canonsburg-based natural gas company, is providing reclaimed mine land for the project’s implementation, while Resource Environmental Solutions, an ecological restoration company, is offering technical assistance in herbicide selection and deployment.
While the bulk of data collection and analysis will focus on multiflora rose during the upcoming 2024 spring growing season, NRAC’s team is already utilizing existing autumn olive data to glean insights about multiflora rose. Kinder expressed his hope of securing additional funding to explore other plant species and related challenges, including invasive insects. Ultimately, his goal is to develop a comprehensive guide or methodology that empowers farmers, land managers, and other stakeholders to effectively utilize modern technologies as these resources continue to improve in quality and accessibility.
With the generous support of the Richard King Mellon Foundation, WVU is taking a significant leap forward in the fight against invasive species. By harnessing the power of drones, sensors, and machine learning, researchers are poised to revolutionize the detection, monitoring, and treatment of multiflora rose and other invasive plants. As WVU continues to expand its research capabilities, it is poised to contribute to a greater understanding of how these cutting-edge tools can be harnessed to adapt and adjust to the challenges posed by climate change.
The grant, awarded through the WVU Foundation—a nonprofit organization dedicated to receiving and administering private donations on behalf of the University—underscores the Richard King Mellon Foundation’s commitment to fostering prosperity and environmental conservation efforts across the nation. Sam Reiman, director of the Foundation, emphasized their national initiative and commended WVU’s innovative approach, stating, “We issued a national request for proposals to identify promising approaches to address invasive species. This led to grants to groups across the country, including this innovative initiative at West Virginia University, where researchers are using drones and machine learning to find and potentially eliminate invasive plant species that threaten the underlying ecological integrity of sensitive landscapes.”
Conclusion:
WVU’s pioneering integration of sensors, drones, and machine learning technologies to combat invasive species marks a significant advancement in the market. By combining precise data collection, advanced software, and targeted herbicide delivery, this innovative approach offers a potential breakthrough for addressing invasive species not only in West Virginia and Pennsylvania but across Appalachia and beyond. The project’s cost-effectiveness, environmental benefits, and educational opportunities for students create a positive outlook for the market’s future. As research continues and technology improves, the ability to combat invasive species and adapt to climate change using cutting-edge tools will become increasingly accessible and impactful.
