UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS FOR AGRICULTURAL GEOPHYSICS

Abstract

Agricultural production within the U.S. is posed to substantially benefit from the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), commonly known as drones. Predictions are that 80% of domestic sales of UASs will be for agriculture. However, current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules effectively restrict most UAS commercial applications within U.S. airspace. The FAA is mandated by Congress to implement UAS commercial flight regulations by September 2015, which will almost certainly entail pilot licensing. UAS technology within the U.S. by its own commercial developers and academic researchers have been severely stymied by the FAA limits against commercial use and R&D of UASs in its own airspace. For inexpensive agricultural applications, domestic hobbyist and recreational enthusiasts are making great advancements using U.S. airspace. These advancements in payload delivery in the hobbyist market is substantially lowering costs. Not limited by severe commercial airspace restrictions, foreign research and development concerns are achieving significant results using their own airspace. This presentation will review foreign and domestic agricultural geophysics applications, survey techniques, and airframe platforms for measuring crop stress, soil moisture, drainage, soil compaction, hard pans, fertility, and canopy growth stages. In most instances, these methods can be conducted in tandem with inexpensive photogrammetry. Reconnoitering methods for pests, disease, and weed infestations will be discussed.