Field-Based Refinement

Summary

The tool divides the field into smaller tiles and performs plot extraction for each tile for precise angle estimation.

Main steps:

• Creating tiles

• Detecting and editing row and alley for each tile

• Reviewing and exporting detections for the entire field

Refinement Scope: Use for large fields (>100 meters in length or width)

Plot Extraction must be performed prior to field refinement. Certain parameters are inherited from Plot Extraction and cannot be altered at this stage.

Parameters

Create

• Create: Generate default tiles and display tile boundary in the graphic view. Users can adjust the number of tiles using the spin box.

• OK: Proceed to the next step with the current tiles. The tool will load the first tile automatically.

Detect

• Process Tile ID: Current tile ID.

• Rotation Angle: Angle between the North and the planting direction (range: -45 degrees to 45 degrees). Users can use the spin box to adjust the angle until the rows are either vertical or horizontal.

• Row Direction: Direction (horizontal or vertical) of the plant row in the rotated dataset shown in the graphic view.

• Row Detection Options:

  • Centers: Detect the centers of the plant rows.

  • Gaps: Detect the gaps between adjacent rows or plots.

Row Direction and Row Detection Options are inherited from Plot Extraction and cannot be changed here.

• Row and Alley Detection Parameters (default values are set automatically based on the plot extraction parameters):

  • Minimum Spacing for Row: Minimum distance between two adjacent row centers or gaps.

  • Minimum Spacing for Alley: Minimum distance between two adjacent alleys.

  • Detection Sensitivity for Row: Row detection sensitivity from high (left) to low (right). Lower sensitivity values result in fewer detections.

  • Detection Sensitivity for Alley: Alley detection sensitivity from high (left) to low (right). Lower sensitivity values result in fewer detections.

The sliders for the detection sensitivity will be enabled upon the first detection.

• Detect Rows/Alleys: Performs row and alley detection and displays the detections as straight lines in the graphic view.

• Edit:

  • In the graphic view, user can select and move the detections to fine-tune their locations. For vertical/horizontal detections, only the shift along X/Y direction matters.

  • Add Row: Adds a new row (default location: to the left of the field).

  • Add Alley: Adds a new alley (default location: to the top of the field).

  • Delete Selected Item: Removes the selected detection.

  • Update IDs: Sorts the detections based on their locations and updates their IDs. Note: The IDs will not update automatically when detections move. Users should use this function to update IDs after moving the detections.

• Export Detections for Current Tile: Records the detection results for the current tile and proceeds to the next tile. The “Review” block will be enabled upon looping through all tiles.

Review

• Review Detections: Displays the detections from all tiles in the graphic view for the user’s review.

• Delete Selected Item: Removes the selected detection. Note: At this stage, users can only delete extra items (no adding or moving).

• Export Plots: Creates segment boundaries based on the detected lines and exports them to the ./field_refinement folder. Outputs:

  • As-designed plots (PREFIX_plots_as-designed.geojson): Plots with user-defined width and length. Typically, the exact planned dimensions for plots or individual segments.

  • As-detected plots (PREFIX_plots_as-detected.geojson): Plots with auto-detected width and length.

  • (Optional) Centroids (PREFIX_centroids.geojson)

  • (Optional) Centerlines (PREFIX_centerlines.geojson)