REDOX
Remote Early Detection of Xylella

The spread of Xylella Phastidiosa in the Apulian olive groves is a phenomenon that threatens the cultivation of the olive tree at a European level. The contrast to disease and its spread starts from the ability to identify sick plants. Currently the identification is proceeding from the physical inspection of the plants, from the extraction of samples and from laboratory analyzes. This procedure presents characteristics of necessary resources (cost, time), and initial recognition capacity that is not very suitable for the criticality of the disease.

The REDOX project intends to develop the ability to recognize early disease, that is, before its visual manifestation, and fast, that is, of large areas cultivated in a short time. The project is based on the use of airborne sensors on aircraft with and / or without pilot on board and on the analysis of the data acquired by developing the best knowledge available today at the CNR of Bari, also gained in European contexts.

The project aims to create a system for the identification of olive trees diseased by Xylella fastidiosa through remote sensing techniques from aircraft, drone and land surveys at the first onset of symptoms, making monitoring activities faster, more sustainable and more precise and precise. As part of the project, the tools and methods of aerial surveying, the data processing procedures will be defined, standardized and tested at a prototype level to create an integrated process that can underlie a continuous monitoring service of large areas, even tens of thousands of square kilometers as an entire region, with high levels of accuracy and reduced costs compared to the current ones. Specific U-Space services will support air operators (manned or unmanned) in the design, authorization and implementation of reconnaissance missions, favoring the maintenance of safety conditions both for airspace and commercial traffic and for land infrastructures.

The final objective of the project is to create a system for the identification of olive trees affected by Xylella fastidiosa through remote sensing techniques from aircraft, drone and terrestrial surveys even before the onset of symptoms visible to the naked eye, enhancing the results of scientific study conducted from Zarco-Tejada PJ, et al (2018) Forecastual symptoms of Xylella fastidiosa infection revealed in spectral plant-trait alterations.