USING REMOTE-SENSING TO DETECT AND MONITOR A WESTERN PINE-BEETLE INFESTATION IN WEST TEXAS

We studied the feasibility of using remote sensing techniques to detec t and monitor an infestation of western pine beetles, Dendroctonus bre vicomis LeConte, in a ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex. Laud. , forest in the Davis Mountains of west Texas. Aerial photography and videography were used in this study. Color-infrared (CIR) and conventi onal color aerial photography were evaluated and compared on four date s over a 10-week period. Although both films were useful for detecting and monitoring stressed trees, CIR film was better because trees with early stress symptoms could be more clearly delineated from trees sho wing no symptoms. Trees under moderate to severe stress could also be distinguished better with CIR film. CIR videography was evaluated on a single date and also showed potential for detecting pine beetle infes tations.