Integrating Spray Plane-Based Remote Sensing and Rapid Image Processing with Variable-Rate Aerial Application

By

Steven J Thomson and R.R. Price

Contact: Steven J. Thomson.  email:  sthomson@ars.usda.gov

Summary:

Agricultural aircraft are ideal platforms for remote sensing of field variables since they can be scheduled frequently. Rapid image analysis, image registration, and creation of prescription files could allow a remote sensing run on one pass and a variable-rate spray run on the next pass if calculations could be made on board the aircraft or loaded after landing between runs. For imaging work, practical on-farm success has been shown using vegetation indices that indicate crop vigor, primarily for application of cotton defoliant and growth regulators. Images used to derive these indices have been obtained using general aviation aircraft, although agricultural aircraft can be used as well. Factors impeding progress for integrating remote sensing data and variable-rate application in near-real time include slow image processing/registration and issues with the application system. This paper discusses these issues, presents some examples of remote sensing from agricultural aircraft, and presents summary data on variable-rate system accuracy.

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