CSIRO Uses LiDAR Drone to Measure Pasture Feed

CSIRO researchers are testing a LiDAR-equipped drone and ground measurements to estimate how much pasture feed is available to cattle more quickly and consistently.

How the measurement works

The research uses LiDAR pulses from a drone to create a three-dimensional representation of pasture. The field team then compares the aerial data with conventional cutting, weighing and sampling work in the paddock.

The purpose is not simply to produce an attractive aerial map. The useful output is an estimate of available feed that can help graziers make decisions about stocking, grazing rotations and when a paddock needs rest.

Why LiDAR is useful here

RGB imagery can show color and broad patterns, but pasture height and structure are difficult to estimate reliably from a normal photograph. LiDAR adds distance measurements that can describe the shape of vegetation and the ground beneath it.

The remaining challenge is calibration. Vegetation type, density, moisture, wind, terrain and animal activity can all change the relationship between a point cloud and the amount of feed that cattle can actually reach.

A drone workflow, not a drone-only answer

The research combines aircraft, sensor, flight planning, data processing and field sampling. That is typical of serious agricultural drone work: the aircraft gathers repeatable data, but agronomists still need models and ground truth to turn measurements into decisions.

The approach could eventually support more frequent pasture checks across large properties. Whether it is economical will depend on sensor cost, processing time, weather tolerance and how much labor is saved compared with manual sampling.

The value is in repeatable decisions

CSIRO's work shows how LiDAR-equipped drones can move beyond mapping into practical farm management. The important milestone is not the flight itself, but whether the resulting estimate is accurate enough to change a grazing decision.

Sources

Reported facts and context are based on Phys.org reporting on CSIRO research, CSIRO. This is an original English news brief, not a full reproduction of any source.