WinDIAS Leaf Image Analysis System

• Advanced leaf area meter
• Measures area, perimeter, length, width, object count and more
• Measures diseased, healthy and pest-damaged leaf area
• Point and click colour selection
• Conveyor option for high speed leaf processing

Latest enhancements

• Lower prices for conveyor belt systems
• LED lighting with adjustable brightness
• Improved seed counting capability
• Enhanced Area of Interest drawing tool

The recently upgraded WinDIAS 3 Leaf Image Analysis System provides fast, accurate measurement of leaf area and leaf features – making it ideal for plant pathology and phenotyping applications. WinDIAS’s analysis features are well suited to applications where precise colour discrimination is critical.

Video – Introduction to WinDIAS

Delta-T Devices was one of the first companies to develop leaf imaging technology for disease area estimation. The WinDIAS 3 leaf area measurement system builds on that expertise, making use of high-resolution camera and scanner technology to provide researchers with an analysis tool that is powerful and yet easy to use.

The WinDIAS system is available in three versions – Entry Level System (with A4 scanner), Standard System (with video camera), and Rapid System (which adds a conveyor belt unit, and can process up to 800 leaves an hour).

WinDIAS features

Rapid thresholding

Three thresholds can be set, each based on a different user-defined range of colours. The primary threshold is used for the main zones of interest in the image, e.g. healthy areas. The secondary and tertiary thresholds are used for other zones, e.g. diseased or variegated areas. Thresholds are set by a simple point and click with the mouse in a region of interest. The areas selected are immediately visible as overlays on the image.

Measurement and editing

WinDIAS analyses the thresholded regions to measure area, perimeter, length, width, circularity, elongation and shape factor. Calibration is carried out against a ruler. Images can be edited on-screen, enabling the user to retouch boundaries, separate objects that overlap, remove undesirable “noise” and holes, add or erase lines or rectangles, and fill bounded areas in any colour.

Object count

Seeds, needles, or other small objects can be quickly counted by WinDIAS (even when touching). Colour thresholding enables easy discrimination of different types of object, or disease spots. Dust and debris can be excluded by defining a minimum object area.

Exchange of data and images

WinDIAS imports images in bmp, jpg and tif formats, and results can be saved as txt files for easy import into Excel. For reporting and further analysis, all results and images from WinDIAS are easily exchanged with other Windows applications.

Fast batch processing of image files

WinDIAS can automatically analyse large numbers of leaf images by operating as a virtual conveyor. This feature saves a great deal of time when processing images acquired in the field or when sent in for processing from a remote research lab. Images in bmp, jpg, or tif format are all suitable for processing.

Batch processing mode is simple to use – just select the folder holding the target images. WinDIAS will then automatically load each image in turn, measure it, and save the results back into the same folder.

 

 

Conveyor Belt Unit

The Conveyor Belt Unit comes as default with the Rapid System (or can be purchased separately to upgrade the Standard System). It enables rapid throughput of large numbers of leaves (up to 800 per hour) and also allows for measurement of intact long leaves. e.g. maize.

The Conveyor Belt Unit’s twin transparent belts carry the leaves past the downward facing video camera – each leaf being automatically captured, analysed and processed. A lightbox provides background illumination and top lighting optimises colour discrimination.

Leaves which are too long to fit within the field of view of the video camera can be analysed with the aid of the Conveyor Belt Unit. Typically, a leaf 30 cm long by 2 cm wide can be measured in 4 seconds.

Reference Target Set type WD-RTS-1

The WD-RTS-1 comprises precision reference images (for thickness, perimeter and particle count etc.) supplied on acetate film and a colour rendition chart. The references can be used to check the WinDIAS colour selection default threshold, to check or adjust the colour camera, and to check or re-establish lighting conditions.

 

Applications

Agronomy, plant physiology and phenotyping:
WinDIAS provides a flexible resource with many laboratory applications – from simple leaf area measurement to the analysis of complex distributions of colour. The addition of the Conveyor Belt Unit accessory opens up further applications – see above.

Forestry
WinDIAS can be used with both broadleaf and coniferous species. The surface area of pine needles can be estimated by multiplying the projected area by a conversion factor.

Plant pathology and crop protection
WinDIAS is optimised for the rapid analysis of area by colour difference, creating many applications in plant pathology and plant protection. Examples include: necrosis caused by fungi and bacteria, leaf tip burn and leaf spotting, nutrient deficiency symptoms, viral infection and leaf senescence.

Other applications
WinDIAS is very versatile. For example, it can assist with the analysis of aerial photos to estimate ground cover, and can be used with a suitable zoom lens or a USB microscope to measure and count very small objects.

 

Recent upgrades to WinDIAS 3

We’ve taken advantage of new camera and lighting technology to upgrade and simplify WinDIAS. The changes have not only improved performance – they have also enabled us to reduce the price of the Rapid System.

WinDIAS Camera
The Standard (static) and Rapid (conveyor) Systems now both come with a global shutter camera that is capable of operating at conveyor belt speeds. It means that Standard Systems can later be upgraded to a Rapid System simply by adding a Conveyor Belt Unit (previously a new camera was required as well).

LED Top Lighting
The new LED lights provide better colour balance and offer individual control over the brightness of the lights, enabling superior discrimination of leaf colour. In addition, the LED lights run cooler than the old tungsten bulbs, minimising leaf wilting. The long lifespan of LED bulbs removes the need to buy expensive replacement specialist bulbs.

Seed Counting
The seed counting function can now be used even with seeds that touch (uses average area method).

Area of Interest drawing tool
In previous WinDIAS versions users could create rectangular Areas of Interest by clicking and dragging with the mouse. A free-form lasso tool has now been added, enabling users to draw complex shapes that more accurately define the area to be analysed.

 

Upgrading Older Systems

Software Upgrades

Customers using older version of WinDIAS software can upgrade to the new version FREE OF CHARGE (requires USB Copy Protection Dongle that came with the original software) Software download page.

Hardware Upgrades

Older WinDIAS systems may include components, such as the camera stand and conveyor, that are compatible with the new lighting and camera accessories. Please contact Delta-T for guidance before ordering hardware upgrades.

 

LAI – Leaf Area Index

There are more ways of getting to LAI than just measuring individual leaves. We also offer SunScan – which uses an innovative technique for estimating LAI non-destructively in crop canopies.