Field test of beach litter assessment by commercial aerial drone

Hoi Shing Lo; Leung Chun Wong; Shu Hin Kwok; Yan Kin Lee; Beverly Hoi Ki Po; Chun Yuen Wong; Nora Fung Yee Tam; Siu Gin Cheung

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110823

Field test of beach litter assessment by commercial aerial drone

Hoi Shing Lo, Leung Chun Wong, Shu Hin Kwok, Yan Kin Lee, Beverly Hoi Ki Po, Chun Yuen Wong, Nora Fung Yee Tam, Siu Gin Cheung

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

46 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The visual survey is the most common method to quantify and characterize beach litter. However, it is very labor intensive and difficult to carry out on beaches which are remote or difficult to access. We suggest an alternative approach for assessing beach litter using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or aerial drone, with automated image requisition and processing. Litter of different sizes, colours, and materials were placed randomly on two beaches. Images of beaches with different substrates were obtained by the drone at different operating heights and light conditions and litter on the beaches was identified from the photos by untrained personnel. The quantification of beach litter using the drone was three times faster than that by visual census. This study has demonstrated the potential of using the drone as a cost-effective and an efficient sampling method in routine beach litter monitoring programs.

Original language	English
Article number	110823
Journal	Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume	151
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110823
Publication status	Published - Feb 2020
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Beach litter assessment
Drone

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10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110823

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title = "Field test of beach litter assessment by commercial aerial drone",

abstract = "The visual survey is the most common method to quantify and characterize beach litter. However, it is very labor intensive and difficult to carry out on beaches which are remote or difficult to access. We suggest an alternative approach for assessing beach litter using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or aerial drone, with automated image requisition and processing. Litter of different sizes, colours, and materials were placed randomly on two beaches. Images of beaches with different substrates were obtained by the drone at different operating heights and light conditions and litter on the beaches was identified from the photos by untrained personnel. The quantification of beach litter using the drone was three times faster than that by visual census. This study has demonstrated the potential of using the drone as a cost-effective and an efficient sampling method in routine beach litter monitoring programs.",

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AU - Lo, Hoi Shing

AU - Wong, Leung Chun

AU - Kwok, Shu Hin

AU - Lee, Yan Kin

AU - Po, Beverly Hoi Ki

AU - Wong, Chun Yuen

AU - Tam, Nora Fung Yee

AU - Cheung, Siu Gin

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AB - The visual survey is the most common method to quantify and characterize beach litter. However, it is very labor intensive and difficult to carry out on beaches which are remote or difficult to access. We suggest an alternative approach for assessing beach litter using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or aerial drone, with automated image requisition and processing. Litter of different sizes, colours, and materials were placed randomly on two beaches. Images of beaches with different substrates were obtained by the drone at different operating heights and light conditions and litter on the beaches was identified from the photos by untrained personnel. The quantification of beach litter using the drone was three times faster than that by visual census. This study has demonstrated the potential of using the drone as a cost-effective and an efficient sampling method in routine beach litter monitoring programs.

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Field test of beach litter assessment by commercial aerial drone

Abstract

Keywords

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