Multispectral Orchard Mapping

Affordable RedEdge Multispectral Orchard Mapping

RedEdge Multispectral orchard mapping is a powerful tool to check the health of individual trees in an orchard, to map the emergence of pests and diseases in orchard trees, to monitor the development and health of individual trees and to help calculate when, and in what order, to harvest tree crops.

Unlike NDVI which captures only one light band, RedEdge Multispectral captures five spectral bands including the ultra-sensitive RedEdge NIR band. This allows for much greater sensitivity for detection of emerging issues (and for monitoring of the effectiveness of treatments) and for a much broader set of measurement indexes to be created to support farm management decision-making.

Micasense Rededge multispectral image

Our Micasense RedEdge M sensor captures precision images which can be analysed to individual plant and tree levelOur RedEdge Multispectral mapping camera collects data across five light bands (three visible and two invisible) to create a range of usable outputs including:

  • Raw sensor data that can be interpreted by your agronomist (if not, we can put you in touch with our agronomist) to predict harvest readiness.
  • RGB (true colour) imagery that can show you a big picture view of your orchards in fine detail.
  • Traditional NDVI data that can be used to evaluate tree health (except ours is better because our light sensors correct for different seasons and times of day that otherwise limit the usefulness of NDVI mapping).
  • NDRE mapping data that is far more sensitive to light than NDVI and can detect tree health issues much earlier and much more accurately.
  • Chlorophyll mapping data that can evaluate the vitality of individual trees by mapping their ability to photosynthesise sunlight.
  • OSAVI mapping data that can differentiate and identify interactions between soil and vegetation.
  • CIR mapping data that can be used to identify, among other things, the response of trees to nearby natural water or pooled water after rain.
  • DEM/DSM/DTM mapping that can be used to predict water flows across the orchard, potential for soil loss due to erosion, available sunlight for each row and tree and where to establish soil traps for best effect.

This data can be used in a number of ways to better inform orchard management decision-making, identify issues earlier so they can be addressed at lower cost, and monitor the effectiveness of decisions already being implemented, for example:

  • Count seedlings at planting stage to rapidly identify which seedlings are growing well, which are struggling and which have failed to prosper at all and need to be replanted.
  • Count trees during development and at maturity to help identify areas where trees are struggling due to water or nutrient deficiencies, where ground cover is being lost due to lack of sunlight or water, or where erosion is exposing roots to pest and diseases.
  • Assess losses after a storm or fire by providing detailed evidence of the effect of a major disaster like fire, hail or storms, and make insurance claims faster and easier.
  • Assess tree height and canopy overgrowth by evaluating elevation data from multispectral DEM imagery.
  • Identify emerging threats to the orchard, especially fungal diseases which can rapidly spread from tree to tree and destroy large parts of the orchard.

Queensland Drones assists its clients with multispectral analysis to better inform:

  • Pest and disease identification – so you can optimise use of pesticides and sprays by detecting problems earlier and more precisely.
  • Soil fertility – measure the effects of adding nutrients or fertilisers and decide if fields need to be rotated.
  • Plant counting – see how many seedlings have germinated and decide if replanting or thinning is required.
  • Yield estimation – estimate the potential yield and harvest timing of a crop well before harvest time.
  • Irrigation measurement – see where irrigation is needed and how effectively it is operating across a crop.
  • Damage assessment – to ensure rapid and accurate insurance claims after storms and other disasters.
  • Terrain modelling – to predict water flow and water accumulation to plan dams and drainage tiles.

We provide on-farm mapping services throughout the growing season – pre-planting, sowing, irrigating, fertilising, scouting and pre-harvesting – and we can integrate our data with your existing farm management, agronomic or ESRI systems.

Contact us now on 1300 025 111 to discuss your orchard mapping needs, or request a quote

Find out more about Multispectral Mapping for Crops and Vegetation

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