Performance and cost of field scouting for weeds and diseases using imagery obtained with an unmanned aerial vehicle

The Challenge

While image processing software continues to improve and acute aerial orthoimages can be produced at a lower cost, can Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s) be a technology used to scout fields effectively at an affordable cost?

The Project

Test the feasibility of using images obtained from a UAV to estimate the distribution of weeds and diseases in six major crop sin southern Alberta. Cost evaluation of feasibility compared to standard scouting methods will also be analyzed.

The Results

The use of UAV’s as a tool in field to help with disease and weed detection is useful, although if contracted out is not an affordable method. Contracted prices can increase 10 times per acre ($4 to $40) compared to regular scouting. If the grower/farm owned their UAV, the cost becomes more feasible per acre ($11.50/acre).

Grower Benefits

Although more cost effective when the grower/farm owns its UAV, proper training and understanding of software is required to ensure the technology is being used efficiently and economically.