Grassland measurement cart
Seeing the grass at chick height
Measuring grass cover per metre and sensor height, as a practical alternative to the labour-intensive cutting and photography method.
Organisations involved
Measurements at several heights
A vegetation profile
Mobile use in the field
A faster measurement of vegetation density
Researchers needed a fast, objective way to measure vegetation density. The previous method used a one-metre-wide white board. Grass was cut away except for a 30-centimetre strip, and a camera one metre away took a photograph. Black and white pixels provided a measure of cover.
Measurement cart, sensors and software
We developed the cart with an industrial designer, who made the metal frame. We provided the sensors, electronics, software, 4G connection and website. Vegetation interrupts laser beams at different heights as the cart moves through the grass.
Cover percentages per metre and height
Researchers receive a cover percentage for each sensor height per metre travelled, such as 20% at the first height and 40% at the second. This gives a vegetation-density profile for research into how meadow-bird chicks can move through grassland. It measures vegetation structure rather than chick movement itself.
