It is vital to see agriculture as an interconnected network for the core purpose of producing food and meeting demand, reducing food waste. Introducing new technologies such as drones provides the opportunity to perfect this network and make it more efficient and sustainable. In fact, drones now play a key role and offer an innovative approach to monitoring crops, spraying and other functions.
With their ability to cover large areas in record time, drones allow problems to be detected quickly and corrective measures to be taken. The use of pesticides and fertilisers not only reduces costs but also minimises environmental impact. As well as monitoring crops and spraying, drones perform a crucial role by providing detailed land mapping. This topographic information is essential for optimising the distribution of resources and improving efficiency in agricultural management.
The classification of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, depends on the propulsion system, as follows:
• Fixed-Wing UAVs: Efficient and autonomous, ideal for covering large areas.
• Rotary-Wing UAVs: With rotating propellors, perfect for detailed surveys and following curved trajectories.
Furthermore, if multispectral cameras are incorporated, the monitoring ability is increased by making use of the electromagnetic spectrum. This wave energy is organised in different wavelength bands, beyond those visible to the human eye. Multispectral remote sensing, by measuring the energy reflected or emitted in multiple bands, offers a more complete image of the land and crops.
In short, the combination of drones and multispectral cameras is taking agriculture to new heights, providing a greater amount of data, which is also more precise, for efficient and sustainable management. The future of agriculture is in the air!
