This three-day course provides a two-day introduction to micro aerial robotics in forestry and agriculture, followed by an third day to expand the course to multispectral imaging and thermography using drones.
Drones can be used in farm and forestry management for precision agriculture, crop scouting, and forestry monitoring through aerial mapping, sensor data collection, and targeted application of resources like water, fertilizers, and pesticides. They help those responsible for managing farmland or forestry carry out tasks like disease detection, yield estimation, and planting seedlings, while also supporting sustainable practices and improving efficiency by providing real-time, high-resolution data from above.
This two-day introduction to micro aerial robotics in forestry and agriculture and additional 1-day multispectral useage, is suitable for those with some or no previous experience of flying drones and will be suited to those working in the forestry or agriculture sectors, or for land and estate owners. As well as the fundamentals of flight and drone operation, participants will complete the online certified drone operation course to allowing you to fly drones in accordance with new regulations (UK Legal ID and Registration Requirements and UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)).
Day three of the course will cover the use of multispectral imagery and thermal imaging, some examples of usage are:
Multispectral imaging:
- Precision agriculture: Analyzes crop health by capturing variations in plant reflectance across different wavelengths (e.g., near-infrared) to identify weeds, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies. It also aids in yield prediction and targeted spraying with fertilizers or pesticides.
- Environmental monitoring: Detects changes in land use like deforestation, urban development, or land degradation. It can also be used for mineral and water resource mapping.
- Mapping and surveying: Provides detailed topographical information and land use mapping.
Thermal imaging:
- Infrastructure inspection: Identifies "hotspots" in power lines or thermal bridges in buildings, which indicate potential faults or energy loss.
- Agriculture: Can identify issues like groundwater seeps or stress in crops, complementing multispectral data.
Combined use:
- Some advanced drone sensors capture multispectral, RGB, and thermal data simultaneously in a single flight, making them powerful tools for comprehensive analysis in a single mission.
- Combining both types of data can provide more detailed insights. For example, a thermal image can show an area's temperature, while a multispectral image can show that area's vegetation health at the same time.
