TLS Radiometric Analysis for Monitoring Plant Diseases in Apulia's Olive Groves

Threats to agricultural environments are constantly rising due to global trade, dangerous infections, harmful pathogens, anthropogenic pressure, and climate change. Simultaneously, the world’s population is increasing at a rate of approximately 70 million people per year, driving the demand for food and emphasizing the need for effective crop health monitoring strategies. In Southern Italy, the Apulia region is famous for its centuries-old olive groves, recognized by UNESCO for their cultural and landscape significance. However, this vital resource is seriously threatened by the Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) bacterium, which was first identified in Apulia in 2013. Over the past decade, the infection has spread rapidly in Salento, causing irreversible damage and gradually extending throughout the region. To control this pathogen, the Apulia region has created a geodatabase of areas affected by Xf (i.e., infected, containment, and buffer zones), which is available through web mapping services. Various techniques, including non-invasive geomatics and remote sensing methods, have been employed to monitor the progression of the disease. This study presents preliminary results from the analysis of high-resolution three-dimensional point clouds acquired in the Gorgognolo area using a terrestrial Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor. To identify the impact of Xf on olive trees and to monitor the development of the infection, the work focuses on radiometric metrics, i.e. intensity. The results demonstrate how remote sensing technologies can be used to track plant diseases and assess the progression of infection.