UAV Use


The Blog Post for this assignment centers on the use of UAV’s and its growth in the field of precision agriculture. The use of UAV’s is currently being used to replace previous methods of monitoring crop health thru land surveying, and data recording. The previous methods of land surveying were first performed by physically walking and observation. The advancement of surveying continued by introducing horseback, then machinery such as automobiles, and finally manned aircraft.
Recently, the use of unmanned air vehicles have become a tool of interest. The UAV introduced the benefits of performing the task at a lower cost than previous methods and was also performed the task with accuracy and efficiency.
The use of land surveying/crop measurement software is installed within the UAV payload to produce crop data images based on a wide array of measurement parameters established by the operator using the software, and a computer. The software can be used to measure varying forms of data such as heat absorption, moisture retention, or even heat dissipation based on the adjustments performed by the operator.
The ability to combine wide areas of acreage survey photos is also a benefit using modern measurement software packages. One example of such a procedure is given by Miller “UAS imagery and software images are stitched together to display separated bands of light which show areas of crop health. The information helps farmers address the problems of insect infestations, crop disease, weeds, poor drainage or lack of moisture” (Miller, 2016).
Using the UAV platform and surveying software packages allows farmers to address crop issues before they become a major problem. The benefits of these combined technologies allow a cost savings to the farmer by reducing the cost of labor materials to address crop issues before they become widespread, and to the consumer by passing on the savings at the point of consumer purchase.
The use of UAV’s by farmers continually shows positive cost saving results, and healthier crops. The farmers whom employ the modern tools also have a positive outlook on the technology as displayed by Sarah Lovas a farmer in North Dakota “If we’re going to farm large fields with large equipment, we need to be able to address those levels on a micro level, I do that all the time, but I think a UAS could help me do it better” (Miller, 2016).


Reference
Miller, P.C. (2016, October 24). Growing UAS Precision Agriculture. UAS Magazine,
Retrieved from http://uasmagazine.com/articles/1574/growing-uas-precision-agriculture

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