Leaf Area Index Meter

The Leaf Area Index Meter is used for studying plant canopies at various heights. It employs a fisheye lens and CCD image sensor to capture canopy images, then utilizes specialized analysis software to derive relevant canopy metrics and parameters. Using a fisheye lens for imaging simplifies crown data collection, requiring only a single operation instead of the multiple fixed-point measurements traditionally needed over an entire day. Moreover, the imaging method actively avoids crown voids that do not contribute to structural parameter calculations and circumvents obstacles incompatible with measurement computations.

The Leaf Area Index (LAI) meter operates on the principle that canopy porosity correlates with canopy structure. Based on Beer's law—which describes light attenuation through media—it employs a semi-theoretical, semi-empirical formula. Under defined assumptions about plant canopies, it calculates structural parameters by measuring canopy porosity. This principle is universally adopted by canopy instruments worldwide. Under this framework, the LAI meter employs a method of analyzing images of the sky hemisphere beneath the canopy to measure canopy porosity. This approach stands as the most precise, labor-saving, time-efficient, and convenient method among all available techniques.

• The fisheye lens automatically maintains a horizontal orientation: A compact fisheye camera lens, specifically designed for measuring plant canopy structures, is mounted on a handheld gimbal stabilizer. This setup automatically keeps the lens level without requiring a tripod.

• The fisheye lens extends into the canopy: Mounted at the end of an arm, its compact size and integrated measuring rod allow easy horizontal forward or vertical upward extension to different canopy heights. This enables rapid stratum-by-stratum measurements, generating vertical distribution maps of light transmittance and leaf area index within the stand.

• Unreasonable canopy sections can be masked: When performing regional analysis of canopies in different directions, ground features and unreasonable canopy sections (such as missing trees or edge row issues) can be arbitrarily masked.

• By selecting different zenith angle start and end angles, you can avoid canopy void conditions that do not meet the parameters for calculating canopy structure. Manually adjusting thresholds allows for more accurate measurement of parameters such as leaf area index.

• Image Analysis Software: The image analysis software allows arbitrary definition of analysis regions (10 zones for zenith angle and 10 zones for azimuth angle).

• Detection results can be directly transmitted to a dedicated cloud-based agricultural data center, with a dedicated account provided.

• Real-time display of GPS satellite positioning latitude and longitude clearly indicates the current detection location.