Author
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Hunt Jr, Earle |
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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 7/31/2015 Publication Date: 9/9/2015 Citation: Hunt Jr, E.R. 2015. UAS remote sensing for precision agriculture: An independent assessment. Meeting Abstract. available:http://www.asprspotomac.org/GeoTech2015-Hunt.html. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) are recognized as potentially important remote-sensing platforms for precision agriculture. However, research is required to determine which sensors and data processing methods are required to use sUAS in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Oregon State University, Boeing Research and Technology and ARS set up a nitrogen rate experiment in potatoes at the Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center. With an FAA Certificate of Authorization, overflights with a Tetracam Hawkeye parafoil and Agricultural Digital Camera sensor were used to collect color-infrared imagery with pixel sizes from 2.0 to 2.5 cm, depending on altitude above ground level. Calibrated spectral vegetation indices such as NDVI and Green NDVI were not able to detect plots with nitrogen deficiency early enough for variable rate nitrogen application. Therefore, UAS remote sensing is not as good as current methods using “On-The-Go” tractor-mounted sensors. Color and color-infrared images acquired 2-m above the canopy indicated that very small pixel sizes may be better to separate effects of nitrogen deficiency, insect pests, and weeds. UAS may become advantageous in precision agriculture with new sensors and image processing methods based on the smaller pixel sizes (< 0.5 cm). |
