Remote Sensing in Agriculture: University Report and Analysis

This report examines the application of remote sensing technology in agriculture, focusing on the advancements made through unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The primary research by Hunt et al. (2014) is analyzed, highlighting the use of UAS-based high-pixel scanning for improved ground surface precision. The study compares the efficiency of 1-millimeter and 1-meter pixel imaging systems in assessing biomass and leaf chlorophyll content in agricultural plots. The results demonstrate that smaller pixel sizes provide better accuracy in ground surface precision, as evidenced by Pearson's correlation r-values. The report also acknowledges the potential for cost-effectiveness analysis to determine the practicality of UAS-based remote sensing in agriculture, suggesting that this technology could revolutionize agricultural practices if proven economically viable. References to related studies are also included.

Running head: APPLICATION OF REMOTE SENSING IN AGRICULTURE
APPLICATION OF REMOTE SENSING IN AGRICULTURE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1APPLICATION OF REMOTE SENSING IN AGRICULTURE
Chosen primary research: Hunt, E.R., Daughtry, C.S., Mirsky, S.B. and Hively, W.D.,
2014, Remote sensing with simulated unmanned aircraft imagery for precision agriculture
applications
From past 10 years the remote sensing technology is widely used to detect various
properties of the ground, especially those are highly influential in agricultural activities.
Satellite based thermal imaging system is a conventional method of biophysical and the
biochemical scanning for monitoring vegetation quality of the ground (Wójtowicz,
Wójtowicz and Piekarczyk 2016). Low altitude ground scanning is another ground breaking
intervention in this remote sensing system that. In 2014, Hunt, E.R., Daughtry, C.S., Mirsky,
S.B. and Hively, W.D., studied a new possible advancement of this technology though
introducing unmanned aircraft based high pixel scanning. The study certainly has a
significant value in remote sensing technical advancement which con enhance the ability of
scanning ground for agricultural assessment.
In the experimental study Hunt et al (2014), has used the unmanned aircraft system or
UAS as remote sensor carrier for precision agriculture by claiming that it has better ability to
acquire images with very small pixel size as well as better precision of ground surface. In
order to testify this claim the researchers conducted an experiment where a Fuji IS-Pro UVIR
digital camera was used to get images from 3-m height. Both RBG (Red Blue Green) true
colour imaging and UV-IR cut filter were used to show whether 1 millimetre pixel imaging
has significantly better capability of ground surface precision than 1 meter pixel imaging
system. To avoid any potential bias in sampling the study was conducted on multiple plots of
vegetated land situated in Beltsville Agricultural Research Centre. The chosen plots were
planted with Cereal rye (Secale cereale), for monitoring the produced differences in biomass
and leaf chlorophyll content of the chosen plots. The greenness of the chosen plots was
measure through Triangular Greenness Index (TGI) and co-related with the real chlorophyll

2APPLICATION OF REMOTE SENSING IN AGRICULTURE
content through using Pierson’s Correlation r-value test. At the same time, the Green
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (GNDVI) was co-related with above ground
biomass. For both of assessment both 1 millimetre2 and 1 meter2 pixel imaging was conducted
to compare the scanning efficiency.
After conducting the study when the researcher had all the results and reports they
found that small pixel size based imaging system does have real advantage over larger pixel
imaging for ground surface precision. The co-relation test showed that the Pearson’s
correlation r-value for 1 millimetre pixel rye cover scanning is 0.73, where the 1 metre pixel
GNDVI has the correlation r-value of 0.58. It clearly showed that when it come to biomass
scanning smaller pixel serves better than larger pixel GNDVI scanning. Similarly, in colour
photography based greenness testing smaller pixel based TGI scanning has the correlation r-
value of -0.72 where the 1meter pixel scanning has r-value of -0.14. It also showed that for
colour imaging based scanning smaller pixel serves significantly better than larger pixel.
Moreover, this study successfully proved that UAS based small pixel remote sensing is not a
“west of money” technology; rather it has significant advantage over conventional one that
deserves practical implication.
This study can be considered as a ground breaking discovery in remote sensing
technology in agricultural precision system. Now through mounting a millimetre pixel
camera in a unmanned drone a much better ground precision can be acquired for agricultural
study. It is also an additional advancement in low altitude remote scanning. Through
possessing better precision, the land quality and vegetation capability can be scanned with
more accuracy. However, cost effectiveness of this new technology could be a questionable
fact, because nowhere in this study the financial estimation has been done. Therefore, to
assess its practicality economic evaluation will be required (Zhang, Walters and Kovacs,

3APPLICATION OF REMOTE SENSING IN AGRICULTURE
2014). If it is also proven economically efficient, then we can have a new era or remote
sensing technology with Unmanned Aircraft.

4APPLICATION OF REMOTE SENSING IN AGRICULTURE
References:
Hunt, E.R., Daughtry, C.S., Mirsky, S.B. and Hively, W.D., 2014. Remote sensing with
simulated unmanned aircraft imagery for precision agriculture applications. IEEE Journal of
Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, 7(11), pp.4566-4571.
Wójtowicz, M., Wójtowicz, A. and Piekarczyk, J., 2016. Application of remote sensing
methods in agriculture. Communications in Biometry and Crop Science, 11(1), pp.31-50.
Zhang, C., Walters, D. and Kovacs, J.M., 2014. Applications of low altitude remote sensing
in agriculture upon farmers' requests–a case study in northeastern Ontario, Canada. PloS one,
9(11), p.e112894.