Free Image Processing, Help Us Develop And Improve Pasture Drone.
Our Goal?
Integrating drones as a tool for pasture management.
Drones have proven themselves as a useful tool for inspection and animal management, but how can we expand their use to better utilize this rapidly growing technology?
1207 Businesses in the Forestry And Ag sector utilize drones as of June 2020.
(CAA New Zealand Drone Research June 2020)
How Do We Use Drones To Measure Pasture Cover?
Click The Arrows Below
How Do We Use Drones To Measure Pasture Cover?
Drones do not solely measure the pasture cover. Combined with specialized computer software's and proven measurement techniques, the drone acts as a tool to assist this process.
The drone fly's a grid pattern over the farm, only capturing images. It fly's 400ft above the ground and captures 3 images per Hectare. Covering 5.6 Hectares A minute (in calm conditions, wind will slow performance).
These images are imported into a specialized computer program, where they are processed and stitched together, creating a high quality birds eye view map.
The software analyses soil reflectance to determine the biomass density. Providing a coverage figure for each paddock. This is not a Dry Matter value.
Ground samples, in a pre defined area, must be collected using a calibrated measurement tool such as a plate meter. Test plots are 400 Square meters, 20m long and wide. Two tests are needed. A high value 2900KgDm/ha or more, and 1800 KgDm/Ha or lower. Walking a methodical grid pattern over the whole area, taking many readings to ensure accuracy.
Dry matter readings from ground samples are compared to the drones coverage value for the same area. Allowing us to create an equation which replicates this result over the whole farm.
A dry matter average cover is attached to each paddock on the farm, which is exported to a csv format which can be uploaded into pasture management software's.
Current Requirements
Consistent lighting. The ambient lighting must remain consistent throughout the entire mapping mission.
Overcast days are the best mapping days as the ambient lighting remains consistent over the whole mapping mission.
Clear sunny days are the next best option. but only when the sun is high in the sky. Late Autumn, Winter and early Spring are troublesome months as the sun sits too low in the sky, even at midday.
Shadows can be cast by long grass and weeds. Gullies and steep faces are also cast in shadow which affects consistency.
Why do we need Ground Samples?
Ambient lighting is the number 1 factor which affects readings and consistency. Because ambient lighting can be extremely variable day to day. We need to calibrate the drones readings.
As we collect more data, one day there will be no need for ground samples, as we can use an equation which matches the ambient lighting for the reading.
We Are Creating A Pasture Measurement Tool
We aim to allow farmers to use drones as a tool to assist their preferred pasture measurement style. We are not a pasture management platform, we are simply a tool to assist measurement of pasture cover. Our drone has been optimized to work with conventional and proven measurement methods such as a Rising Plate Meter or a Tow behind. Pasture drone takes data from comprehensively measured test plots on farm, and replicates this over the whole farm. Saving time an labor compared to measuring every paddock on the farm.
The drone takes the measurement from the test plot, and replicates this comprehensive measurement style over the whole farm.
What Do You Receive From The Data You Collect?
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Pasture Cover For Paddocks In Rotation
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Interactive Coverage Heat Map
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Interactive Birds Eye View Map