UAS Based Technology Applications in Pecan Orchards

ARSC Group

April 10, 2020

What is a UAS?

A UAS is a system:

Unmanned Aircraft
Ground Control Station
Command & Control Link(s)

Also known as:
–Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
–Remotely Piloted Aircraft
System (RPAS)
–RC Model Aircraft
–Drone

The Small UAS Rule Part 107 Basics

UAS operators must obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate
Visual line-of-sight, daylight operations
400 feet or below in uncontrolled (Class G) airspace; other airspace use requires authorization
UAS must weigh less than 55 lbs. and be registered
Register your drone

Applications of UAV’s in Agriculture

Precision Drone Application Expands In the U.S.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of UAV remote sensing in agriculture

Use of drones or satellites in agriculture

The Gamaya hyperspectral imaging camera is specifically optimised for deployment on drones and caters for many of the existing applications, while facilitating a wide range of radically new usage scenarios in agricultural domain. The use of drones is a good way to automate the process of data acquisition, while dramatically reducing the costs of operating an aerial platform.

https://medium.com

How does UAV remote sensing work?

Sandino et al., 2018 **https://doi.org/10.3390/s18040944**

San Simon Pecan Orchards

**San Simon Pecan Orchard** Phymatotrichopsis Root Rot in Pecan

Pecan orchards around San Simon - work with Josh Sherman

Calibration of multispectral drone data (Micasense)

Micasense multispectral sensor
Calibration panel
Flightplanning

Atlas Flight Instructions

Atlas Flight allows you to quickly and easily plan missions for your DJI drone and RedEdge or Parrot Sequoia multispectral cameras. With just a few taps, you'll be collecting data: just set your desired altitude, speed, and overlap. Atlas Flight will configure the optimal flight path and camera's settings automatically.

https://support.micasense.com

RedEdge-MX - MicaSense

RedEdge-MX The RedEdge-MX is a rugged, built-to-last, professional multispectral sensor, now with a metallic enclosure for extreme durability. It captures the spectral bands required for basic crop health indexes and additional bands needed for advanced analytics. CRP Calibrated Reflectance Panel included in kit. DLS 2 RedEdge-MX comes with DLS 2, our next generation light sensor.

https://micasense.com

Spectral response of plants to solar electromagnetic energy

Micasense –Rededge multispectral spectral characteristics

How does UAV remote sensing work?

Remote sensing technology
Sensors (spectral, spatial resolution)
Visible imagery
Multispectral imagery
2-D and 3-D visible imagery
orthomosaic & SfM
Thermal imagery
Lidar Imagery
Hyperspectral imagery

Multispectral and RGB UAV based observations and products to inform agriculture

Background and Introduction

Root rot is a soil fungus that causes rapid wilt and death of pecan trees
Root rot costs millions of $$
Remote sensed monitoring and inventory of pecan trees to examine impact of fungicide treatments

Methodology

Remotely sensed data
Autonomous Flight Planning
2-D and 3D data processing of many images
RGB, reflectance data and product generation

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s) (The future…?)

Creating Imagery from UAV’s

UAVs are programmed to fly a course at a set elevation.
At a predetermined time interval, photographs are taken.
These photos overlap to create a seamless image compiled of a collage of pictures and or a 3D scene.

RGB mosaic 6-20-19. 0.018m spatial resolution.

Flightplanning software (Altizure and ATLAS)

Data processing software - Pix4D or Agisoft metashape

Pecan data acquisition & Mission planning

Area of Interest:
Pecan field (32° 13’ 41.92”N, 109° 09’ 27.67” W)

Study area is ~800 m tall and 800 m wide ~ 64 ha total

Equipment:

Phantom 4 professional multi-rotor (Registration Number A3PX97933 or FA343NTRWC)
Stock RGB imagery and Rededge-M multispectral camera
IOS Altizure and Atlas mission planner
Agisoft Photoscan and Pix4D

Imagery Deliverable:

True Color Orthomosaic (~ 3.2 cm ground sampling distance @ 120 m agl)
Multispectral 5 band reflectance Orthomosaic (~8.2 cm ground sampling distance; 129m agl)

Imagery Product Accuracy:

Using direct georeferencing methods with ground control
Expected horizontal accuracy within 1 m
Expected scaling accuracy within 1 m