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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fort Collins, Colorado » Center for Agricultural Resources Research » Water Management and Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #347905
Research Project: Improving the Sustainability of Irrigated Farming Systems in Semi-Arid Regions

Location: Water Management and Systems Research

Title: Remote Sensing for Irrigation using Unmanned Aerial Systems

Author
item Yemoto, Kevin
item Zhang, Huihui

Submitted to: Irrigation Today
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/14/2017
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Collection of remotely sensed data for irrigation management have seen a shift from traditional satellite and aerial based imagery to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). UAS platforms offer low cost systems that are simple to operate with customizable payloads that can be reconfigured to fit specific applications. UAS platforms also provide images with higher spatial resolutions, and offer greater flexibility in terms of timing and frequency of data collection over traditional remote sensing systems. Images from UAS platforms can be used for a wide range of tasks. UAS platforms are becoming a simple and promising tool to acquire spatial information within fields and assist with decision-making.

Technical Abstract: Collection of remotely sensed data for irrigation management have seen a shift from traditional satellite and aerial based imagery to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). UAS platforms offer low cost systems that are simple to operate with customizable payloads that can be reconfigured to fit specific applications. UAS platforms also provide images with higher spatial resolutions, and offer greater flexibility in terms of timing and frequency of data collection over traditional remote sensing systems. Images from RGB, multispectral and thermal cameras commonly installed on UAS platforms can be used for a wide range of tasks; from a basic visual inspections, to determining real time crop coefficients for estimating water use, to calculating vegetation index such as NDVI for a visual representation of crop health and biomass. UAS platforms are becoming a simple and promising tool to acquire spatial information within fields and assist with decision-making.