Development of low-cost remote sensing tools and methods for supporting smallholder agriculture

• DOI: 10.1007/s12518-019-00292-5
• Publication Date: 2019-12-26T07:02:50Z
• Authors: Gonzalo Cucho-Padin; Hildo Loayza; Susan Palacios; Mario Balcazar; Mariella Carbajal; Roberto Quiroz
• Keywords: Image stitching; Precision Agriculture

Abstract Agricultural UAV-based remote sensing tools to facilitate decision-making for increasing productivity in developing countries were developed and tested. Specifically, a high-quality multispectral sensor sophisticated-yet-user-friendly data processing techniques (software) under an open-access policy implemented. The sensor—IMAGRI-CIP—is low-cost adaptable multi-sensor array that allows acquiring low-SNR images from UAV platform used estimate vegetation indexes such as NDVI. Also, set of software included wavelet-based image alignment, stitching, crop classification have been implemented made available the community. A validation field experiment carried out at International Potato Center facilities (Lima, Peru) test is reported. thorough comparison study with wide-used commercial agricultural camera showed IMAGRI-CIP provides highly correlated NDVI values ( R 2 ≥ 0.8). Additionally, application was conducted Kilosa, Tanzania, smallholder farm settings, featuring high-heterogeneous plots. Results high accuracy (> 82 % ) identify 13 different crops either mono-crop or mixed-crops.