Comparing Integrated Vegetation Management Treatment Options of Powerline Rights-of-Ways: Effects on Plant Communities and Wildlife Diversity: Phase Two
2019, Claudia Luke, Co-PI Christopher M. Halle, Sonoma State University
Through a grant provided by TREE Fund to Sonoma State University, a fledgling long-term right-of-way (ROW) research network has been established in the western United States over the past two years. The hope is to establish a long-running network similar to the “Bramble and Byrnes” study begun in Pennsylvania in 1953. This new network consists of three sites in slightly different ecosystems (Figure 1). Researchers are using the sites to compare the efficacy of mechanical only vs. mechanical plus herbicide treatment in establishing low-growing native plant communities. The effects on local animals and pollinators are also being studied. With the help of a new TREE Fund grant, these studies are being continued, with the goal of publishing the initial observations after an additional two years. In addition to the “main” vegetation studies, we are using some funds as seed money to attract “non-traditional” researchers. For example, we are working with computer science faculty and students to use the latest image recognition technology to analyze wildlife camera observations (Figure 2). This camera study began as a simple guided class project, and has proven to be useful for screening “false alarms” – images triggered by simple vegetation motion or cloud shadows moving across the ground.
A fledgling western Integrated Vegetation Management Network has been established in the western United States with funding provided by the TREE Fund (through a directed Utility Arborist Research Fund Grant). The research network has been established at three sites: Fairfield Osborn Preserve at Sonoma State University, Pepperwood Preserve, and Eldorado National Forest (Figure 6a). The focus of this network is to compare the efficacy and long-term ecosystem effects of mechanical only versus mechanical- and herbicide-combined treatments across a range of complicated western habitats.
This specific grant enabled the partners to collect a minimum of three years of observations at each site, providing a data set that is long-term enough to begin analysis for publication. Due to the Covid pandemic, the observations are not contiguous over three years, which may actually be a strength of the study, given the longer monitoring time.
One of the major highlights during COVID lockdown was the publication of the manuscript Classifying False Alarms in Camera Trap Images using Convolutional Neural Networks [Ref 2]. Camera trap image datasets, collected to document the influence of vegetation management on wildlife movement, often contain large numbers of “false alarms”. False alarms are triggered by vegetation blowing in the wind or cloud shadows moving across the ground. Distinguishing them from “true capture events” (images of actual animals, human, vehicle) requires a substantial amount of personnel time.
The student team and professors found that by tuning the Google Tensorflow model, it could be adapted to different uses. By using strict classification criteria, all false alarms could be excluded from the images, at the expense of also classifying some of the animal images as false alarms [Fig 6b]. This tuning can be altered for strict research questions.
In terms of vegetation management, the partners are currently engaged in completing analysis of the vegetation and pollinator observations obtained by student teams over the past several years. Two pleasant surprises have been: (1) the ease with which the student teams have been able to implement the observational protocols in the field (Figures 6c, 6d), and (2) developing an organizational chart that has allowed us to overcome barriers against recruiting students across academic institutions. We are focusing on identifying native plant species of interest, and comparing pollinator utilization of these plants with untreated areas outside of the rights-of-ways.
The real payoff of this study was that it fostered collaboration between biology student interns and students of other disciplines. In the artificial intelligence example above, the technical students learned about the difficulties of field research, and the biology interns overcame their fear of working with technology. The biological interns have all either entered the field of vegetation management, or have joined other environmental research organizations since graduating. The computer science team lead (Granados) has entered graduate school, and is engaged in a similar field of study.
Year: 2019
Funding Duration: 2 years
Grant Program: Utility Arborist Research Fund Grant
Grant Title: Comparing Integrated Vegetation Management Treatment Options of Powerline Rights-of-Ways: Effects on Plant Communities and Wildlife Diversity: Phase Two
Researcher: Claudia Luke
Key words:
Publications:
Grandos, J, 2018. Github False Alarm Code Repository, https://github.com/g-eoj/cv-tl-keras/tree/ssu. The code repository may be used as the starting point for wildlife professionals to implement their custom solutions for classification of wildlife images. It includes a README file that describes the machine setup process for computer model training and testing, and a sample usage.
Granados, J., C. Halle, and G. Gill, 2020. Classifying False Alarms in Camera Trap Images using Convolutional Neural Networks, in Computational Science
and Computational Intelligence, (CSCI) 2020 International Conference, DOI: 10.1109/CSCI51800.2020.00270. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9458176
Halle, C. (2022). Classifying False Alarms in Camera Trap Images using Convolutional Neural Networks, as part of Academic Panel during the 13th International Symposium Environmental Concerns in Rights-of-Way Management. Presentation also emphasized the need and a plan for better nationwide collaboration. Full Recorded Panel Presentation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8xcNXShWMI. (Halle portion of panel presentation from timestamps 43:27 – 55:05).
Halle, C., 2023a. Engaging Students of All Disciplines in Environmental Issues: Leveraging Research Grants to Break Down Academic Silos (Part 1), Tree Press, November 2023, https://myemail.constantcontact.com/TREE-Press–November-
2023.html?soid=1102923281304&aid=qxq5FvmNzco.
Halle, C., 2023b. Engaging Students of All Disciplines in Environmental Issues: Leveraging Research Grants to Break Down Academic Silos (Part 2), Tree Press, December 2023, https://myemail.constantcontact.com/TREE-Press–December-
2023.html?soid=1102923281304&aid=rmj-5kOZ3_M.
Halle, C., C. Mahan, D. Krause. and E. Brown (2018). Future Vegetation Management “Observatories”: The Value of Industry / Academic Partnerships in Understanding Ecological Impacts of Rights-of-Way Vegetation Management and Engaging Students of All Disciplines in Practical Environmental Issues, Environmental Concerns in Rights-of-Way Management, 12th International Symposium, Sept 26-28, 2018, Denver, Colorado. (Proceedings Still Being Published).
Wininger, K., V. Wojcik, and C. Halle (2018). A comparison of pollinator communities in ROWs and unmanaged lands: understanding habitat opportunities in California ROWs, Environmental Concerns in Rights-of-Way Management, 12th International Symposium, Sept 26-28, 2018, Denver, Colorado. (Proceedings Still Being Published).
Professional Presentations:
TREE Fund Webinar Series – https://youtu.be/ukwSPS42ZhU?si=r5RM2n1kPHv0AIYt
Beesley, P. (2018). Utility Right-of-Way Management that Supports Pollinators and Safe Energy Transmission, Natural Areas Association Webinar,
https://www.naturalareas.org/webinars.php , April 2018.
Halle, C. (2018). Future Vegetation Management “Observatories”: The Value of Industry / Academic Partnerships in Understanding Ecological Impacts of Rights-of-Way Vegetation Management and Engaging Students of All Disciplines in Practical Environmental Issues, Trees and Utilities Conference, Omaha, Nebraska, August 2018.
Smith, J.E., and C Halle (2018). Utility Arborist Research Fund: Work in Progress, Work to Come, webinar presented by TREE Fund and Sonoma State for the Utility Arborist Association, https://treefund.org/webinars, May 2018.
Luke, C., and C. Halle (2017a). Nature!Tech Collaborative: An Industry/Academic Partnership, and the Establishment of a Western US Vegetation Management Monitoring Network, Utility Arborist Association Regional Meeting, San Francisco, California, April 2017.
Luke, C., and C. Halle (2017b). Nature!Tech Collaborative: Establishing a Western U.S. IVM Research Network: Initial Report, Engaging an Environmentally Ready Generation, and Lessons Learned, Utility Arborist Association Regional Meeting, Sacramento, California, October 2017. (presentation sent to meeting because of Sonoma County fires and local evacuations).
Luke, C., and C. Halle (2018). Nature!Tech Collaborative: Establishing a Western U.S. IVM Research Network: Initial Report, Engaging an Environmentally Ready Generation, and Lessons Learned, Western Chapter International Society of Arboriculture Conference, Santa Rosa, California, April 2018.
For more information on this project, contact the researcher via TREE Fund at treefund@treefund.org.