Elaboración de un algoritmo aplicado a imágenes obtenidas por dron para la cuantificación de fitoplancton

Abstract

This thesis proposes a new strategy employing the use of UAV images (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) for the study of Phytoplankton. The purpose is to build a mathematical model that allows obtaining Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) from UAV images. With the chlorophyll-a estimate, the approximate amount of phytoplankton in mg m − 3 is estimated. The study area is the Tota lagoon, located in Boyacá (Colombia). The results indicate that chlorophyll-a towards the interior of the Tota lagoon has a very uniform behavior around 10-12 mgm − 3, in addition the image processing in these areas is difficult by the changes in brightness between the contiguous images in the water produced by the specular surface of the water. The contribution of this research is to provide a first approach in the study of Phytoplankton from images captured on board a UAV with the aim of finding a technique that is fast, economical and accurate that allows making decisions that contribute to the care, preservation and mitigation of the problems that deteriorate an aquatic ecosystem.