From: yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: NASA technology assistance pays off for southwest Florida county [Release 115-92/KSC] (Forwarded)
Apparently-To: sci-space-news@ames.arc.nasa.gov
Followup-To: sci.space
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 20:24:08 GMT

[Oranges in spaces? :-) -PEY]

          Bruce Buckingham
          407/867-2468                                      Aug. 27, 1992

          KSC RELEASE NO. 115 - 92


          NASA TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE PAYS OFF FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COUNTY

               A decade ago Charlotte County, Fla., was appraising its
          thousands of acres of citrus groves much like they and other
          Florida counties had been doing for years -- physically counting
          each and every individual tree. But over the past 10 years, this
          sleepy gulf coast community has come to recognize the benefits of
          space technology by implementing an infrared appraisal process
          that is now saving the taxpayers of Charlotte Country $100,000 a
          year.

               Instead of sending men into the groves with counters, high
          flying aircraft fitted with infrared scanners are doing all the
          leg work. Assessments that used to take seven months to complete
          are now being done in less than seven weeks, and the savings are
          being transferred directly to the taxpayers.

               "It was increasingly difficult to complete the appraisals of
          our then 8,000 acres and still submit a timely appraisal to the
          State of Florida," said Oliver Lowe, Charlotte County Property
          Appraiser. "I knew there had to be a better, more economical
          way."

               The idea of using the NASA-derived technology to count and
          assess the health of citrus trees appealed to Lowe and his staff
          after they saw some examples of infrared photography. They knew
          it would assist them in appraising the taxable value of citrus
          groves.

               "We decided to get aerial photos of our orange groves using
          color infrared photography," Lowe said at a demonstration of the
          technology last week in Port Charlotte, Fla. The interest from
          citrus growers and Country managers that came on the heels of the
          concept was incredible.


               In 1982, Dr. Carlos Blazquez of the University of Florida
          Citrus Research and Education Center heard of Charlotte County's
          endeavors and offered his assistance. A world renowned expert in
          infrared photography, his expertise proved an invaluable asset.

               The first flights over the Charlotte County groves using
          infrared photography occurred in 1983. Not only did the data
          reveal how many trees existed in the groves, but it told which
          ones were not healthy and should not even be tallied in the
          assessment process.

               "We were amazed at what we were able to see," Lowe said.
          "And we quickly found out that we were able to greatly speed up
          our annual appraisal process."

               With the preliminary infrared photography system well in
          use, Dr. Blazquez began to speak with his many contacts in the
          infrared photography and computer fields. His search led him to
          NASA at Kennedy Space Center.

               Now, 10 years later, the County, with NASA's assistance, is
          moving away from the simple light table operation where the
          individual trees are counted by hand from the infrared
          photographs, to a highly specialized computer counting and
          analysis system. This system will do all the counting and
          determine the health of the trees automatically.

               Dave Roberts, NASA's chief engineer on this project, said
          this computerized system is more accurate than having a person
          actually go out into the groves and count the trees or having
          someone sit and count trees at a light table. "Computers are so
          stupid they don't get bored," Roberts said. "They are relentless
          in their counting."

               This system is especially helpful now that Charlotte
          County's citrus production area has tripled from 8,000 acres to
          almost 25,000 acres.

               Surrounding counties are also interested in what Charlotte
          County is doing, especially those with 100,000-plus acres of
          groves to assess each year.

               In 1990, five Florida counties -- Highlands, St. Lucie,
          Indian River, Manatee and Palm Beach -- banded with Charlotte
          County to help fund a computerized, automatic tree counting
          system.

               A subsequent contract was worked out with KSC's Office of
          Technology Utilization and the six-county group and NASA agreed
          to lay out a total of $50,000 to set up the initial computer
          counting system.

               The NASA-developed technology will not only count citrus
          trees but will detect the presence of disease and the
          deterioration of crops.

               "If there is a question about a specific tree, the computer
          can single it out and reveal any problems," said Blazquez.

               This same computer technology has been used to count and
          analyze timber for many years in mid-western states. Eventually,
          the six Florida counties plan to use satellite remote sensing to
          obtain the infrared data rather than depend on the aerial
          photography. This will save even more money over time.

               But the greater advantage, according to NASA and Lowe, is
          being able to look at the productive canopy of the groves and
          make the proper assessments based on that information. More
          productive areas would no longer be given the same status as the
          less productive areas. The infrared photography is also able to
          identify poor soil and stressed regions that may never produce an
          abundant crop. The bottom line: a more economical use of tax
          dollars, with each grower treated equally.

               "We owe a lot to everyone who has helped us along the way,
          and NASA has been one of the great partners in this case. They
          are to be commended for the time and energy they have put into
          this project," Lowe said. "We have only touched the tip of the
          iceberg of what infrared photography and NASA technology can do
          for us."
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