Leaf analyzer

Analyses Hemispherical Images Calculates canopy structure parameters and solar radiation indices Predicts radiation levels beneath canopy The HemiView canopy image analysis system provides the hardware and software needed to acquire and analyse hemispherical images of forest canopies. Designed for field use Images are obtained looking upwards from beneath the plant canopy, or from the forest floor, using a 180° fisheye lens and a high resolution digital camera. Uniform sky conditions are required, such as exist just before sunrise or sunset, or when the sky is evenly overcast. The digital camera is mounted in a Self-levelling Mount to ensure it is held horizontally, whatever the mounting angle. The Mount also provides markers for the horizon and north-south axis, to assist with image alignment. Powerful image analysis The HemiView canopy image analysis system processes the image data file to obtain information about canopy structure e.g. Leaf Area Index (LAI), gap fraction and distribution of openings. By combining this information with radiation data, HemiView can predict the PAR intercepted and the radiation levels beneath the canopy. The software also calculates radiation indices, canopy indices, suntrack overlay and the direct and diffuse site factors; advanced graphing facilities help visualise the data. Data can be exported in several common formats. The leaf area of a single tree can be calculated from HemiView outputs by using an Excel spreadsheet provided with the software.