From 14 to 18 July 2025, DRYAD project partners carried out a successful drone campaign in Companhia das Lezírias and Vila Viçosa located in the Alentejo Demonstration Region (DR3), Portugal. The fieldwork was conducted through the collaboration of Gabriel Parodi and Diana Chavarro-Rincón from the University of Twente (UT), Pedro Gonçalves and Alain Francés from The National Laboratory of Energy and Geology (LNEG), and María C. Caldeira and Danielle Lacerda from Agronomy Institute of the University of Lisbon (ISA).
The objective of this campaign was to collect remote sensing and in-situ data to support a data-driven approach to Nature-based Solutions (NbS), with a particular focus on the early detection of tree mortality. Drone-based data acquisition included RGB imagery, multispectral data, and thermal imagery. This dataset, combined with in-situ measurements and modelling, will be used to simulate vegetation stress responses and identify trees at mortality risk. The data collected covers two of the pilot demonstration areas within the region.
Despite challenging weather conditions due to high temperatures, the drone flights were executed without incident. The campaign represented an excellent example of interdisciplinary and international cooperation among DRYAD partners. Data processing is currently ongoing.
Take a look at the pictures and video created for the campaign!
