Use of UAS for Acquiring Data to Support Management in Precision Agriculture: The Aggieair Experience.

Precision agriculture is a farming approach based on finely adjusting agricultural inputs and in-field practices through the use of high-resolution, site-specific information and spatial imagery to improve productivity and farm profitability. Success in precision agriculture depends on acquiring actionable information at high spatial resolution and at a temporal frequency appropriate for timely responses. An unmanned aerial system (UAS), or “drone” platform, named AggieAir^TM, was designed and developed to address the spatial imagery requirements needed in precision agriculture. AggieAir acquires high-resolution imagery (0.15m -0.6 m) in the visual, near infrared and thermal infrared spectrum. Spectral data obtained from AggieAir are used to develop soil moisture, plant chlorophyll, leaf nitrogen and actual evapotranspiration estimates to be used in precision agriculture. This presentation will focus on experience in using the AggieAir system to develop information products of possible interest in precision agriculture.  The discussion will include information about the direction and rate of development of UAS technology and the current and anticipated future state of the regulatory environment for use of these systems in the U.S.