In the field of root research, micro-rhizotron photography technology is renowned for its exceptional high-resolution capabilities, yet it falls short in capturing large image areas at once. On the contrary, scanning technology can cover vast regions but with slightly reduced resolution.
The LK-1580 Compound Root Growth Dynamic Monitoring System ingeniously combines photography and scanning, leveraging the strengths of both. Through an integrated control software, users can seamlessly switch between photography and scanning modes within the rhizotron, enabling rapid acquisition of high-resolution local images while efficiently capturing broad, panoramic views. This software also boasts powerful image stitching functionality, ensuring efficient and seamless synthesis of large-scale images. Additionally, the system's imaging capabilities integrate six spectral bands, facilitating the easy discrimination between live and dead roots, catering to a diverse range of research needs.
One major challenge in root research lies in image processing. Traditional root analysis software often requires manual, labor-intensive image tracing for data extraction. The LK-1580 Compound Root Growth Dynamic Monitoring System, equipped with the iRoot intelligent root tracing software, revolutionizes this process by automatically processing and analyzing vast quantities of images through advanced machine learning techniques. This software not only handles images in batches but also precisely quantifies various morphological parameters such as root length, diameter, volume, and surface area, providing detailed data to enable researchers to gain a profound understanding of root growth and development. This system not only enhances research efficiency but also offers a comprehensive and reliable solution for root studies.
System Features:
- Dual-Mode Monitoring: The integrated design seamlessly blends "photography" and "scanning" modes.
- High-resolution photography for precise identification of fine roots and observation of root symbionts, including plant root hairs, fungi, and soil fauna.
- Scanning technology captures large image areas at once, with automatic rotation for accurate and rapid circular positioning, facilitating the rapid acquisition of fine root morphological parameters and simplified calculation of root biomass and turnove.
- Multi-Spectral Imaging: A standout feature utilizing multiple spectral bands, including red, green, blue, white light, UV, and fluorescence, for refined imaging under various lighting conditions. This feature enables the effective differentiation between live and dead roots, satisfying diverse research requirements.
- Enhances image clarity and contrast, revealing subtle root structural changes that may be missed under single light sources.
- Enables observation of specific physiological features, such as root health, lesions, and vitality changes, particularly in UV and fluorescence modes.
- Lightweight and Portable: The entire system fits in a backpack, weighing just 1.8kg for the imaging module, offering unmatched convenience.
- Intelligent Root Analysis Software (iRoot)
- Based on machine learning and neural network modeling, iRoot-2024 automates the analysis of root images captured from rhizotrons or other complex backgrounds.
- One-click analysis for total root length, average diameter, total projected area, total volume, tip count, and more.
- Visualization of probability maps, binary images, tip distributions, horizon length maps, skeleton diagrams, and more.
- Assessment of segmentation effectiveness through overlay color and diameter maps.
- Highly Integrated Control Software:
- Features stepless light source brightness adjustment and one-touch 360° imaging with automatic curved surface correction and image stitching.
- Adjustable camera angles for precise positioning, real-time preview and calibration for what-you-see-is-what-you-get results.
- Convenient retrieval of historical images for temporal comparison.
Technical Specifications:
- Imaging Method: Integrated dual-mode monitoring with "photography" and "scanning," enabling 360° imaging with automatic curved surface correction and image stitching.
- Rhizotron Specifications: Outer diameter 70mm, inner diameter 64mm, wall thickness 2.5mm, made from imported PMMA with 92% light transmittance.
- Scanning Image Dimensions:210*204.1mm, with scanning speeds of ≤10 seconds and resolutions of 300, 600, or 1200 dpi.
- Camera Image Specs: Approximately 20*20mm, 4800dpi resolution, jpg format, captured in <1 second per image.
- Image Naming: Adheres to ICAP naming conventions, including file name, rhizotron number, position, date, time, cycle, collector, and angle.
- Light Sources: Incorporates red, green, blue, UV, white, and fluorescent lights.
- Control unit:tablet computer, compliant with EU and China product certifications, equipped with Windows 10 operating system;
- Connection cable: USB cable;
- Power supply module: 12V (3A) power supply with a universal charger, equipped with a built-in rechargeable lithium battery set; capable of continuous operation for over 7 hours in the field;
- Positioning ruler: made of aluminum, 2m in length, with standard distance of 20mm between positioning holes; capable of connecting up to 3 positioning rulers consecutively;
- Angle positioning:featuring automatic rotation imaging, enabling accurate and rapid circular positioning;
- Control software: integrates photography and scanning functions, automatically calibrates curved surfaces and stitches images, controls the automatic rotation and resolution of the scanning module, allows for arbitrary adjustment of the imaging module's angle and light source brightness, follows the ICAP naming convention, and is compatible with various analysis software;
- Imaging module weight:8kg, overall machine weight: 5kg
- Imaging module dimensions (D✖H): 63mm✖333mm;
- Working Environment：0℃～50℃,Relative humidity: 0-100% RH (no condensation)；
- Analysis Software:
(1) iRoot-2024 employs the U-net convolutional neural network method based on image semantic segmentation to identify root system images captured by micro-root canal scanning. It can automatically generate process images such as probability maps, binary maps, grading maps, root tip distribution maps, horizon length maps, and skeleton maps, as well as recognition results including total root length, total projected area, total surface area, average diameter, total volume, total number of root tips, and grading parameters for different diameters. It provides visual displays of probability maps, binary maps, root tip distribution maps, horizon length maps, and skeleton maps. The segmentation effect can be checked through overlay color maps and overlay diameter maps.
(2) WinRHIZO TRON is a highly powerful professional root analysis software specifically designed for various forms of root measurements. It enables morphological (length, area, volume, etc.), topological, architectural, and color-based analyses through manual root tracing. Widely used in the field of root research, it offers comprehensive capabilities for detailed analysis.
Basic Configuration
1 control tablet computer, 1 set of high-definition imaging module, 1 set of high-definition scanning module, 1 data cable, 1 set of positioning ruler, 1 positioning handle, 1 power cord, 20 micro-root canals made of imported materials, 1 set of control software, and 1 set of root image analysis software.
Origin and Manufacturer：China Eco-mind
