Eyes In The Sky: Using Drones To Safeguard Our Forests
Originally from Nepal, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) PhD candidate Shiva Pariyar is breaking new ground with remote sensing research that could help reduce economic and environmental losses caused by pest damage in non-native eucalyptus species.
'In New Zealand, plantation forestry is dominated by Pinus radiata (pine), which needs chemical treatment to make the timber durable,' Pariyar explains. 'To avoid the environmental risks of chemicals leaching into the soil and water, New Zealand Dryland Forest Innovation (NZDFI) has introduced naturally durable eucalyptus species as a more sustainable alternative.'
However, these eucalyptus trees, imported from Australia, are vulnerable to paropsine beetles, also known as leaf-chewing beetles, and other pests. 'Leaves are the most important part of the tree. Damage or defoliation significantly reduces the tree's ability to photosynthesise, affecting their growth and forest productivity.'
One of his supervisors, Associate Professor Steve Pawson, says New Zealand cultivates over 15,000 hectares of eucalyptus, with the impact of paropsine beetles varying widely depending on the severity of the attack and the type of eucalypt production system. 'Potential yield loss is estimated at $10 million per year, with control costs currently estimated at $1 to $2.6 million,' he says.
Using drone-mounted light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and multispectral sensors, and high-resolution satellite imagery from trial sites across Marlborough and North Canterbury, he is developing a new model to detect and quantify the spatial extent, intensity, frequency and timing of eucalyptus defoliation both at the individual tree-level and across entire landscapes.
'Human eyes can't always pick up subtle changes in canopy greenness or stress levels, but the technology we use can. Ground-based measurements are costly, time-consuming, labour intensive and often impractical in remote or dangerous environments.
'Without timely and accurate information, forest managers are unable to respond to insect outbreaks effectively that may cause long-term ecological and economic damage. My research outcome supports forest managers and policy makers to take both proactive and reactive measures to improve forest health and vitality of eucalyptus plantation.'
His research supports the expansion of targeted plantations of 100,000 hectares of naturally durable eucalyptus in New Zealand by 2050.
'If the trial is successful,' says Pariyar, 'this model could be used not just here but globally—wherever eucalyptus is planted as a sustainable alternative to chemically treated pine.
'I wanted to build on my skills in the field of remote sensing and technology. And luckily, I found this opportunity at UC to explore and expand my theoretical knowledge and practical understanding including recent technologies.
'UC has given me all the facilities that I need, including learning how to operate drones. Now I can prepare flight plans, fly drones and analyse data for future use.'
Pariyar is currently participating in the Research Student Showcase, an annual event for postgraduate students that offers valuable training workshops, great prizes, and the opportunity to present their research to a broader audience.
His project is supported by the UC Doctoral Scholarship, NZDFI, and the School of Forestry, with supervision from Dr Vega Xu, Associate Professor Steve Pawson, Professor Justin Morgenroth, and Dr Ning Ye at UC's School of Forestry.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
UC Students Landing Internship At NASA's JPL
Two UC students have landed a rare opportunity to intern at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California, contributing to space and climate research. Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) PhD candidates Felix Goddard and Jack Patterson are working alongside scientists and engineers involved in world-leading NASA missions during their prestigious three-month internship at JPL. Both were awarded New Zealand Space Agency Scholarships in early June by Space Minister Honourable Judith Collins KC, along with five other students from universities. Goddard is completing a PhD in Physics with a focus on atmospheric and climate sciences. 'At first glance, my PhD seems pretty disconnected from the work at JPL, but satellite technology is vitally important for Earth observation and NASA has a whole series of satellites and instruments that have provided crucial data for studying the atmosphere,' he says. He is uncovering new ways to understand airborne particles and their impact on our climate. As part of an international project using the Multi-angle Imaging Spectro Radiometer (MISR) aboard NASA's Terra satellite, Goddard is analysing images to better detect and understand atmospheric particles like dust and smoke. His day-to-day work involves developing computer code to process vast amounts of satellite data. 'In every other room there's someone else who has an insane story about some project they worked on that pushed the bounds of science or technology. It reminds you that it's just people achieving all of these incredible things,' Goddard says. 'Felix and Jack's internships at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory are an outstanding achievement that reflects the calibre of students we're nurturing at UC,' says Professor Stuart Parsons, UC Amo Matua | Executive Dean Science. 'They're not only excelling academically but contributing to global science and innovation. 'New Zealand's space sector needs scientific minds who can analyse complex data, model climate systems, and develop intelligent technologies. Degrees in physics, computer science, and aerospace engineering at UC provide that vital foundation. 'We're committed to building New Zealand's capability in space and climate science. Through strong research, partnerships, and real-world learning, UC students are helping shape the future of this growing sector.' Fellow student Jack Patterson is completing a PhD in Computer Science focusing on exploring deep learning techniques to tackle challenges involved in surveying and characterising planetary surfaces, including the Moon. 'This project at JPL has given me the opportunity to get hands-on experience building machine learning pipelines in a new (to me) application area: autonomous robotics,' Patterson says. 'The work I'm doing with anomaly detection aligns closely with my PhD research, as both involve identifying rare or unexpected patterns in complex, high-dimensional data streams, whether from spacecraft systems or astronomical observations. 'It's inspiring to see engineers, scientists, and researchers from completely different backgrounds working together seamlessly towards common goals. The scale and ambition of the missions, combined with the trust placed in early-career researchers to contribute meaningfully, has been incredibly motivating.'
Scoop
30-07-2025
- Scoop
2025 ENVI Winners Showcase The Best Of Engineering
The winners of the 2025 ENVI Awards - the most prestigious industry awards and the premier recognition of engineering excellence – have been recently announced by Engineering New Zealand. 'The ENVI Awards are a chance to celebrate our amazing engineers and inspirational engineering work across the past two years,' says Engineering New Zealand Chief Executive Richard Templer. 'They shine a spotlight on New Zealand's most inspiring engineers – the innovators, the leaders and the changemakers shaping our future. These awards honour the passion, dedication and bold thinking that define our profession.' This year we had a record number of entries across our nine award categories – with our volunteer judges having the tough job of whittling down all the outstanding entries to 30 finalists. It was a difficult task given the remarkable calibre of the entries, but the winners stood out in their technical excellence and contribution to New Zealand. 'We were incredibly grateful to have Fletcher Construction as our principal sponsor this year. Their support helped us elevate engineering achievements on a national stage,' says Templer. 'We were also fortunate to have Michelle Dickinson, also known as Nanogirl, as our host for the ENVI Awards evening - bringing energy, insight, and a deep appreciation for the engineering stories we celebrated.' The winners for the nine ENVI awards are listed below. Student Engineer Award (sponsored by McConnell Dowell) Winner – Finn Trass, University of Canterbury This award recognises an undergraduate engineering student or group of students demonstrating outstanding design and innovation in their final year tertiary project. It celebrates the next generation of engineering talent and their potential to drive innovation in the field. Judges praised Finn's vanadium recovery project as original and rigorous, with potential impact on New Zealand's vanadium supply. His work demonstrated strong technical innovation, consideration of real-world scalability, clear constraints and success metrics, and a high standard of academic communication. Young Engineer Award (sponsored by MAS) Winner – Sabina Piras, WSP This award recognises early-career engineers who've already made significant accomplishments and show promise for future leadership in the profession. It highlights the importance of nurturing talent and celebrates those making a mark early in their careers. Sabina leads major infrastructure projects with technical excellence and empathy. Judges praised her commitment to knowledge-sharing, mentoring and community connection – from Puketapu Bridge rebuild, to lecturing and shaping national engineering standards. Engineering Educator Award (sponsored by University of Auckland) Winner – Philippa Martin, University of Canterbury This award honours an individual who excels in inspiring the next generation of engineers and has made an outstanding contribution to engineering education in Aotearoa. It recognises the crucial role educators play in shaping the future of the profession. An award-winning educator and long-time champion of diversity and inclusion, Philippa has transformed the first-year engineering experience at the University of Canterbury. Judges praised her sustained impact, leadership through the pandemic and exceptional teaching effectiveness over two decades in academia. Sustainability Champion Award (sponsored by WSP) Winner – Phoebe Moses, Beca This award recognises an engineer who has made an exceptional contribution to sustainable practices and environmental stewardship. It celebrates an individual at the forefront of addressing environmental challenges and promoting a sustainable future. Phoebe is a nationally influential carbon advisor, having led over 50 teams to reduce emissions by more than 20,000 tonnes. Judges commended her leadership, communication skills and measurable impact across engineering sectors from structural to transport, shaping best practice and enabling systemic change. Te Toa Takitahi Te Ao Māori Engineering Impact Award (sponsored by Water New Zealand) Winner – Mahi Maioro Professionals, with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Pikiao and Ministry for the Environment Te Toa Takitahi recognises an engineer or project group positively impacting Te Ao Māori through their mahi by way of innovation, fostering hononga and realising successful project delivery and outcomes. Mahi Maioro Professionals deliver locally led, iwi-connected solutions grounded in kaupapa Māori. Judges highlighted their deep partnership with iwi, innovative use of the mauri-O-meter to monitor mauri ora and their integration of Mātauranga Māori and science to empower communities and protect wai. Transformational Leader Award (sponsored by HERA) Winner – Craig West, Downer This award celebrates an individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, inspiring others to embrace change and reshape their organisation, industry or the engineering profession. It recognises leaders who have driven significant transformation and set new standards of excellence. Craig champions Māori leadership and drives transformational change across Aotearoa's engineering and construction sector. Judges praised his inspiring leadership, industry influence and cultural impact – with standout initiatives in collaborative contracting and deep recognition within and beyond his organisation. Innovative Engineer Award (sponsored by Cadpro) Winner – Adrian Dickison, Beca This award recognises an engineer who has demonstrated exceptional creativity and innovation. They advance the field of engineering with groundbreaking ideas and solutions in delivering a project or product. The award celebrates those who push the boundaries of what's possible in engineering. Adrian's Maestro system applies closed-loop machine learning to optimise industrial refrigeration, delivering significant energy savings. Judges noted the strong technical merit, in-market deployment and innovative application of existing methods in a new context, demonstrating clear potential for scalable industry impact. Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award (sponsored by Downer) Winner – Timani Samau, McConnell Dowell This award recognises an individual who has made a profound and lasting contribution to the promotion of diversity and inclusion within the engineering profession. It celebrates those actively working to create a more equitable and representative engineering community. Timani's deeply personal and impactful leadership has changed diversity and inclusion at McConnell Dowell. Judges noted Timani's advocacy for Pasifika communities, gender diversity and grassroots change – including found the Pasifika Working Group (TAPA) and driving tangible, systemic progress. Community Impact Award (sponsored by Gallagher Insurance) Winner – Stan Schwalger, McConnell Dowell This award recognises an engineer who has made a significant and positive social, cultural, and/or economic impact on a community, iwi, or New Zealand society. It celebrates individuals whose work demonstrates a deep commitment to improving the lives of others through engineering. Stan has led lasting change for Māori and Pasifika engineers through the creation of SPIES and SPPEEx to foster mentorship, equity and leadership among these communities. Judges recognised his 30+ years of cultural advocacy, educational impact and dedication to empowering future generations in engineering.
Scoop
24-07-2025
- Scoop
UC Scientist To Serve On United Nations Panel
Press Release – University of Canterbury Laura Revell, Associate Professor in Atmospheric Chemistry at Te Whare Wnanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC), is the only New Zealand representative on the independent Scientific Panel on the Effects of Nuclear War. A University of Canterbury academic has been appointed to a United Nations expert panel examining the physical effects and social impact of nuclear war. Laura Revell, Associate Professor in Atmospheric Chemistry at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC), is the only New Zealand representative on the independent Scientific Panel on the Effects of Nuclear War. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced the 21-member expert panel this week, saying it would examine the physical effects and societal consequences of a nuclear war on a local, regional and planetary scale in the days, weeks and decades following a nuclear war. The panel is tasked with publishing a comprehensive report, making key conclusions, and identifying areas requiring future research. Associate Professor Revell was nominated by the Royal Society Te Apārangi and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for the panel because of her expertise in atmospheric chemistry, climate modelling, and recent research into the environmental consequences of a rapidly intensifying rocket launch industry. She is also a member of the UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, which assesses the effects of ozone depletion and UV radiation on life on Earth. 'Obviously we live in uncertain geopolitical times and it's unnerving that research into the consequences of nuclear war is relevant again, four decades since the United Nations last studied its effects,' she says. 'I'm honoured to serve on this panel which I believe will contribute to a greater understanding of the far-reaching consequences of this kind of event.' A report prepared by the scientific panel will be considered by the United Nations General Assembly in 2027.
