Norka Maria Fortuny-Fernandez

Dr. Norka Maria Fortuny-Fernandez

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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5 August 2026 in Remote Sensing
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Journal Article
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NFNorka Maria Fortuny-Fernandez
Norka Maria Fortuny-Fernandez
EAEmma Aimeé Juárez Acosta
Emma Aimeé Juárez Acosta
Pablo Martínez ZurimendiPablo Martínez Zurimendi
Pablo Martínez Zurimendi
DGDavid García-Callejas
David García-Callejas
ADAnne Ashby Damon
Anne Ashby Damon
Yuri Jorge Peña-RamirezYuri Jorge Peña-Ramirez
Yuri Jorge Peña-Ramirez
Understanding the spatial structure of tree communities is fundamental for evaluating ecological interactions and management dynamics in agroforestry systems. However, the structural complexity and small spatial scale of traditional agroecosystems often limit the use of conventional remote sensing approaches. Recent advances in drone-based photogrammetry offer new opportunities to reconstruct the three-dimensional structure of vegetation at high spatial resolution and to quantify tree-level structural attributes. In this study, we applied aerial photogrammetry from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to characterize the spatial structure of agroforestry systems in traditional home gardens (THGs) in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. The immediate neighborhood structure of the tree community of 20 THGs distributed along a south–north precipitation gradient was analyzed using two focal species as anchor references: Spondias purpurea and Annona muricata. High-resolution orthomosaics and three-dimensional point cloud models were generated to estimate structural attributes, including tree height, crown area, crown surface area, and canopy volume, which were combined with field measurements of diameter at breast height. Spatial indices describing aggregation, dominance, and neighborhood diversity were calculated to evaluate tree spatial organization and potential interaction patterns. The UAV-derived structural metrics revealed significant differences in canopy architecture across regions and between focal species. Regardless of the focal species, trees in the southern region exhibited greater height, crown diameter, and canopy volume than those in the northern region. Moreover, the spatial arrangement of tree communities also differed depending on which focal species was considered as the anchor, suggesting contrasting strategies of canopy dominance and spatial coexistence. Finally, our results validate the use of drone-based photogrammetry as an effective approach for capturing fine-scale spatial structure in complex agroforestry systems. By enabling detailed three-dimensional reconstruction of tree canopies, UAV remote sensing offers an affordable, simple approach to investigate neighborhood interactions, management effects, and structural dynamics in traditional agroecosystems that are difficult to assess using conventional field- or satellite-based methods.