When the first satellite was launched to explore space, it was hard to imagine that it would be used to meet the needs of agriculture. Their destination was new galaxies, not fields. Today, advanced technologies allow us to observe the Earth in near real-time and use its data for an unlimited number of applications, including agriculture.
With the emergence of new competitive options, the question arises: “why to use satellites if there are drones for the field and agriculture?”. To clarify this matter, we need to find out what each of them can do and how they can complement each other.
Table of Contents
Field Monitoring
When it comes to precision, agricultural drones are unrivaled. They can approach the ground and take shots that distinguish between weeds and crops or show each plant looking for diseases or pests. Drones can approach the surface at an acute angle very close to 0, allowing 3D models to be created. However, when high precision is not required, high-resolution images seem unnecessary.
There are also cases where drones or UAVs and satellites do not compete with each other but rather complement each other. When you detect a problem area on a satellite image, you can update it with a drone or the Scouting app and resolve the problem accordingly.
Here is a brief comparison of possibilities and benefits:
- The range of a satellite is wider: it captures the entire territory at once. Drone surveillance takes longer and may require multiple UAV flights.
- A spatial image is complete: there is no need to put together several shots taken by drones in a single orthographic plane, and there is no “mosaic” effect.
- Satellite images are georeferenced and therefore indicate the location of the problem area in the field.
- No UAV pilot/operator or licenses/permits are required. Drones for agriculture must be operated by specialists with flight licenses issued by the authorities.
- Satellite data is stored in files. Thus, you can travel back in time and see what happened in the area at a certain moment. With this information, you can easily analyze trends in the region. You, too, keep track of frequently recurring problems in the field and decide if that land is worth buying, as Clay Mitchell from Iowa does. The drone images only show the current state.
Other apps
What else are drones used for in agriculture other than to monitor the situation?
Crop spraying satellites and drones complement each other effectively. On the other hand, there are other unique characteristics that they possess.
Satellites can provide the following information:
- measure microwave radiation on our planet;
- predict rainfall or droughts, extreme weather events;
- determine the composition of the soil;
- show the stage of development of the crop;
- indicate problem areas, inefficient or uncultivated areas;
- estimate current and future performance;
- Show the dynamics of agricultural activities (compared to previous years).
This enables decisions to be made regarding the nutrient application, drainage construction, additional water supply, etc.
Drone surveillance can prevent theft; They also show in detail the irrigation process and the use of PPE. These nuances are too subtle for satellite images.
Limitations on Aerial Observations
1. Weather conditions. Drones fly below clouds, so cloudy weather is still acceptable to them. However, they are sensitive to gusts of wind. Anyway, the weather conditions are temporary.
2. Area scope. Certain restrictions make the use of drones totally impossible. Thus, they are prohibited in the vicinity of controlled areas, such as military targets or airports.
Drones must be visible to the operator, so their use is also restricted in space. Furthermore, its use in neighboring territories must often be agreed with other farmers who may not like it being able to check their fields as well.
3. Time. Satellites fly around the Earth within a certain time interval, that is, every 3 or 5 days. When you need to check an area immediately, it’s quicker to activate a drone.
The productivity of drones is highly dependent on their batteries. Therefore, its duration of use is limited.
4. Price. Drones for agriculture are not cheap, neither to buy nor to rent. The larger the area to monitor, the higher the expenses. A satellite covers the entire territory with a single shot, no matter how large it is.
Drones are good for surveying small areas or when high precision is needed. Satellites strike a perfect balance between proper resolution and analyzed area. They are cheaper almost in 100% of the cases.
5. Digital data processing. Spatial images can be processed on agricultural cloud platforms that provide access to many tools, while farmers have to process the images from agricultural drones or UAVs with external software. This also increases costs.
Сrop Monitoring – Your Eye in the Sky
It makes sense to use satellites, drones or combine them depending on the purpose. Perhaps satellite observation is a good way to start, as it is simpler, more accessible, and more cost-effective than agricultural drones. Platforms like Crop Monitoring can give you the best result at a good price.
This online platform provides satellite tracking and related services. Not only does it offer recent and historical field records, but it also enables its users to:
- create vegetation indices such as NDVI, EVI, SAVI, ARVI, GCI, or NDWI;
- automate surveillance of the state of the field through alerts;
- perform zoning and classification of crops;
- manage meteorological risks (winter death, cold shock, and thermal shock);
- identify the growth stages of crops;
- predict yields, optimize the use of fertilizers;
- compare field performance with average trends in the region;
- explore the fields (including task management and synchronization).
So What’s Better: Satellites or Drones for Agriculture?
With satellites and drones, agriculture undergoes drastic changes for the better. Recent innovations allow farmers to inspect their fields more easily. As a result, they can produce larger crops.
Obviously, the choice depends on the needs of each one. When it comes to large farms, the ability to survey vast territories is much more important than high-quality images. So, in this case, the spatial images are more than enough.
They also provide farmers with regular automatic updates and do not require additional software to process the images obtained. With satellite tracking, there is no need to purchase and install hardware. Online platforms provide access to all the tools necessary for data processing. You do not have to obtain licenses or hire trained pilots.
The large platforms offer an “all-inclusive” package to manage their fields without headaches and make agriculture more productive, considering every detail. At no additional expense, satellites control all risks. Thus, farmers can detect all threats early and respond quickly to improve the situation.
It is a strategy in which you always win. First, you save money by using more expensive technologies only when they are actually required. Second, you make more money by addressing the problem immediately, thus avoiding losses.