Modeling Biometric Variables of Olive Trees Using Linear Regression and Spectral Indices from UAV RGB Imagery
Abstract
This study evaluated the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to estimate biometric variables of Olea europaea L. in a commercial orchard in São Gabriel, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A total of 349 trees were sampled for total height, stem circumference at 60 cm above ground level, and canopy dimensions. RGB imagery acquired with a DJI Mavic 3M was processed in Agisoft Metashape to generate an orthomosaic, digital models, and vegetation indices. Six RGB-derived indices were used as predictors in linear regression models for stem diameter at 60 cm, total height, and canopy area. Models including vegetation indices showed better performance, with higher adjusted R² and lower errors. UAV-derived metrics were consistently correlated with field measurements, indicating strong potential for inventory, monitoring, and management of olive orchards.
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Walteman, E. C.; Schunemann, A. L.; Silveira, B. D. D.; Bueno, G. D.; Brenner, A. C. F.; Cirolini, S. F. S.; Duran, P. P. M.; Garrastazu, F. V.; Marangon, G. P.; Lisboa, G. D. S. (2026). Modeling Biometric Variables of Olive Trees Using Linear Regression and Spectral Indices from UAV RGB Imagery. TreeDimensional Journal, 16(e026292), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.55746/treed.2026.09.292.
@article{walteman2026,
title={Modeling Biometric Variables of Olive Trees Using Linear Regression and Spectral Indices from UAV RGB Imagery},
author={Walteman, Ediane Cavalheiro and Schunemann, Adriano Luis and Silveira, Bruna Denardin da and Bueno, Giuliano Dalenogare and Brenner, Ana Carolina Fagundes and Cirolini, Samuel Fernando Sanches and Duran, Pietro Pimentel Morales and Garrastazu, Fernanda Varella and Marangon, Gabriel Paes and Lisboa, Gerson dos Santos},
journal={TreeDimensional Journal},
year={2026},
volume={16},
number={e026292},
pages={1-12},
doi={10.55746/treed.2026.09.292}
}TY - JOUR AU - Walteman, Ediane Cavalheiro AU - Schunemann, Adriano Luis AU - Silveira, Bruna Denardin da AU - Bueno, Giuliano Dalenogare AU - Brenner, Ana Carolina Fagundes AU - Cirolini, Samuel Fernando Sanches AU - Duran, Pietro Pimentel Morales AU - Garrastazu, Fernanda Varella AU - Marangon, Gabriel Paes AU - Lisboa, Gerson dos Santos TI - Modeling Biometric Variables of Olive Trees Using Linear Regression and Spectral Indices from UAV RGB Imagery JO - TreeDimensional Journal PY - 2026 VL - 16 IS - e026292 SP - 1 EP - 12 DO - 10.55746/treed.2026.09.292 AB - This study evaluated the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to estimate biometric variables of Olea europaea L. in a commercial orchard in São Gabriel, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A total of 349 trees were sampled for total height, stem circumference at 60 cm above ground level, and canopy dimensions. RGB imagery acquired with a DJI Mavic 3M was processed in Agisoft Metashape to generate an orthomosaic, digital models, and vegetation indices. Six RGB-derived indices were used as predictors in linear regression models for stem diameter at 60 cm, total height, and canopy area. Models including vegetation indices showed better performance, with higher adjusted R² and lower errors. UAV-derived metrics were consistently correlated with field measurements, indicating strong potential for inventory, monitoring, and management of olive orchards. KW - Forest inventory KW - UAV KW - Digital Surface Models KW - Individual Tree Mapping. ER -
Walteman, E. C.; Schunemann, A. L.; Silveira, B. D. D.; Bueno, G. D.; Brenner, A. C. F.; Cirolini, S. F. S.; Duran, P. P. M.; Garrastazu, F. V.; Marangon, G. P.; Lisboa, G. D. S. (2026). Modeling Biometric Variables of Olive Trees Using Linear Regression and Spectral Indices from UAV RGB Imagery. TreeDimensional Journal, 16(e026292), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.55746/treed.2026.09.292. Import via Mendeley Web Importer using DOI 10.55746/treed.2026.09.292
Add to Zotero using DOI 10.55746/treed.2026.09.292 Walteman, E. C.; Schunemann, A. L.; Silveira, B. D. D.; Bueno, G. D.; Brenner, A. C. F.; Cirolini, S. F. S.; Duran, P. P. M.; Garrastazu, F. V.; Marangon, G. P.; Lisboa, G. D. S. (2026). Modeling Biometric Variables of Olive Trees Using Linear Regression and Spectral Indices from UAV RGB Imagery. TreeDimensional Journal, 16(e026292), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.55746/treed.2026.09.292.
Walteman, E. C.; Schunemann, A. L.; Silveira, B. D. D.; Bueno, G. D.; Brenner, A. C. F.; Cirolini, S. F. S.; Duran, P. P. M.; Garrastazu, F. V.; Marangon, G. P.; Lisboa, G. D. S. (2026). Modeling Biometric Variables of Olive Trees Using Linear Regression and Spectral Indices from UAV RGB Imagery. TreeDimensional Journal, 16(e026292), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.55746/treed.2026.09.292.