The suitability of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for the evaluation of experimental fields and crops.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the possibility of monitoring experimental plots by using a remote-controlled flying model adapted to perform low altitude non-metric photographs. In the first part of the paper, the advantages and disadvantages of a moto-glider construction flight as a platform were discussed. The second part presents issues associated with the acquisition and development of photographs taken with this type of construction. The study was conducted in 2008–2010 in the fields of the research farm in Wielkopolska, Poland (N 52.585°, E 16.640°), which belong to the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation, Pulawy. The photographs were taken over crops of winter wheat, spring barley and maize grown on the plots (size of 36 × 36 m), covering an area of about four hectares. The flights were made at various altitudes (20–700 m above ground level) at selected plant growth stages.