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Verify The Effectiveness Of UAS-Mounted Sensors In Field Crop And Livestock Production Management Issues
1S. Bajwa, 2J. Nowatzki, 3W. Harnisch, 1B. Schatz, 2V. Anderson
1. North Dakota State University
2. North Dakota State Univesityrsity
3. Pulsar Operational Boundary, Inc.
This research project is a “proof-of-concept” demonstrating specific UAS applications in production agriculture. Project personnel will use UAS-mounted sensors to collect data of ongoing crop and livestock research projects during the 2014 crop season at the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Carrington Research Extension Center (CREC). Project personnel will collaborate with NDSU research scientists conducting research at the CREC. During the first year of the project researchers will use UAS-mounted sensors to regularly monitor the on-going research projects. The primary goal of this project is a proof-of-concept of the usefulness and effectiveness of UAS in crop and livestock management in North Dakota. Project personnel will identify effective UAS applications in crop and livestock management. During the second year of the project researchers will develop data processing methods and tools to convert image data to information that farmers, ranchers and consultants can use in their businesses.
 
Results from this research will be used to develop methods to convert image data to information (such as crop emergence, stand count, soil surface salinity, crop fertility status, disease incidence, grazing animal health, bedding temperature distribution, etc.) that could be used by agricultural producers and crop consultants. The project results will be usable for business models for ND crop and livestock consulting companies, and UAS manufactures and distributors.
 
All UAS remote sensing data will be correlated to data collected on the ground by the principal investigators throughout the season. UAS applications for this project will be completed during 2014.
The expected outcomes of this project are to: 1) validate specific uses of UAS in crop and livestock production management decisions; 2) identify significant UAS services for the Private Sector Partners; and 3) promote the commercialization of unmanned aircraft systems using sensors to manage specific crop and livestock management decisions.
 
The objectives of this project are to determine specific uses of UAS in ND agriculture.
  1. Evaluate the of use UAS with thermal and infrared sensors to monitor commercial sized crop fields and research plots at the Carrington Research Extension Center (CREC) to identify plant emergence, plant populations, nutrient deficiencies, disease symptoms, insect damage, weed infestations, weed management practices, plant vigor, moisture stress, expected yield, impacts of tillage and crop rotations, crop senescence, and the impact of soil salinity.
  2. Monitor five commercial fields (three under corn and two under soybean) in Stutsman County farmed by Jim Reimers to demonstrate effectiveness of UAS on commercial farms to distinguish multiple varieties of corn or soybeans in the same fields, and nutrient deficiency symptoms in corn and soybeans. 
  3. Evaluate UAS platforms and sensors to monitor livestock animal movements to detect diseased animal and estrus in beef cattle, measure feedlot surface temperatures of various bedding materials, identify and count animals, identify rogue animals, and measure the temperature compost piles.
 
Keyword: unmanned aircraft systems, remote sensing, UAV, thermal imaging, precision agriculture
S. Bajwa    J. Nowatzki    W. Harnisch    B. Schatz    V. Anderson    Applications of UAVs (unmanned aircraft vehicle systems) in precision agriculture    Oral    2014
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