Detection and monitoring of insect pests in Eucalyptus plantations using satellite and unmanned aerial vehicle data

Eucalyptus plantations are essential for the viability of local communities in South Africa. Invasive pests threaten their sustainability. Gonipterus is a leaf-feeding beetle that defoliates eucalyptus trees. Conventional methods for detecting infestation are spatially restrictive. In this project, we explore the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and time-series Sentinel-2 imagery to detect potential outbreaks of Gonipterus in an early stage.