JERUSALEM, July 30 (Xinhua) — Israeli researchers created a low-cost method using ordinary video cameras to monitor plant health in 3D, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem said Wednesday in a statement.
The technology, described in Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, analyzes video clips from multiple angles to build 3D models of crops like tomatoes, avoiding destructive sampling and expensive sensors, read the statement.
Researchers captured more than 300 videos of greenhouse-grown dwarf tomatoes. Using motion analysis and machine learning, their system reconstructed leaf coverage with 96 percent accuracy, outperforming traditional 2D methods even when leaves overlapped or moved.
The technology works with standard red-green-blue cameras, making it adaptable for global farms and greenhouses regardless of crop type, read the statement. ■