Precision Agriculture Drone Services
We help growers, agronomists, and ag‑retailers see crop stress early, act precisely, and reduce inputs. Our multispectral cameras and Pix4Dfields workflows produce NDVI/NDRE maps, plant vigor analytics, and variable‑rate prescriptions that connect with existing equipment and platforms.
Why Multispectral Mapping?
Detect Stress Earlier
Spectral indices reveal stress from nutrient deficiency, disease, pests, or water variability days to weeks before visible symptoms appear.
Targeted Decisions
Create zone maps and variable‑rate prescriptions to spot‑spray or adjust fertility only where needed, reducing inputs and passes.
Actionable Deliverables
Farmer‑friendly PDFs, web maps, shapefiles/GeoTIFFs, and guidance files ready for John Deere Operations Center and modern spray drones.
Our Four‑Step Workflow
Plan & Map in Pix4Dfields
Define field boundaries, flight altitude, sidelap/overlap, and ground sampling distance. We set spectral bands (Red, Green, Blue, Red Edge, NIR) and sun conditions to ensure radiometric consistency.
Capture with Multispectral UAS
We fly FAA‑compliant patterns using calibrated multispectral cameras (with irradiance sensors and panel calibration) to acquire band‑aligned imagery across the field.
Execute Precise Flight Patterns
Automated grid missions with high forward/side overlap (typically 75–80%) and consistent ground speed yield clean orthomosaics and accurate vegetation indices.
Analyze & Deliver
In Pix4Dfields, we compute NDVI, NDRE, and custom indices, create zones, and export PDFs, GeoTIFFs, shapefiles, and application maps. We can also produce spot‑spray prescriptions for targeted treatments.
Need a same‑day decision? Ask about our Rapid Turnaround option for time‑sensitive issues like disease pressure or irrigation faults.
The Science: What the Spectrum Says About Chlorophyll
Electromagnetic Clues
Healthy plants absorb most red light (≈ 620–700 nm) for photosynthesis and reflect more near‑infrared (NIR) (≈ 750–900 nm) due to internal leaf structure. Under stress, plants typically reflect more red and less NIR. This spectral shift correlates with chlorophyll content and cellular integrity.
From Pixels to Indices
NDVI = (NIR – Red) / (NIR + Red) gauges vigor and biomass; NDRE swaps Red for Red Edge to better read chlorophyll in dense canopies. We can also compute SAVI, GNDVI, VARI, and more to match crop stage and management goals.
- Early season: NDVI for emergence and stand variability
- Mid to late season: NDRE for chlorophyll and nitrogen tracking
- Canopy stress: Combine indices + zonation for root‑cause scouting
Deliverables & Integrations
Grower‑Friendly Reports
One‑page PDFs with map legends, field statistics, and notes. Great for quick decisions and record‑keeping.
Same‑day options
GIS & Machine Files
GeoTIFFs, shapefiles, and prescriptions (zones/thresholds) ready for controllers and agronomy platforms.
GeoTIFF • SHP • CSV
Ops Center & Spray Drones
We package data for John Deere Operations Center and create spot‑spray missions for compatible spraying drones to cut chemical use.
Fewer inputs, targeted impact
Common Questions
What crops do you support? Row, specialty, pasture—ask about your crop.
How accurate are the maps?
Can you integrate with my agronomist and equipment?
Do you offer spraying?
Get a Field Quote
Tell us your crop, acres, and timing. We’ll propose a flight plan, deliverables, and pricing options—including per‑acre, per‑mission, or seasonal monitoring bundles.
What to Expect
- Discovery call to align on goals and timing
- Flight plan & quote
- Field mapping and calibration flight
- Maps & indices delivered within agreed window
- Optional: Ops Center upload & spot‑spray prescription
Prefer email or a purchase order? We can work with your existing vendor process.
Crop Health Monitoring with Drones
Drones equipped with multispectral sensors are invaluable tools for monitoring crop health.
Sensors capture data in specific bands of the electromagnetic spectrum.
By analyzing these spectral bands, we detect stress factors, and optimize inputs like water, nutrients, and pesticides.
Multispectral Sensors: Capture data in several specific wavelengths of light, typically including red, green, blue, near-infrared (NIR), and sometimes red-edge bands.
Hyperspectral Sensors: Capture data in hundreds of narrow spectral bands, allowing for highly detailed analysis but typically at a higher cost.
Thermal Sensors: Measure surface temperature, which can indicate water stress or disease.
High-Resolution RGB Cameras: Useful for visual inspection and creating orthomosaics.
Vegetation Indices
Vegetation indices (V.I.) measure values from specific wavelengths (e.g., red and near-infrared).
Variations in reflected light from plants highlight differences in health that are invisible to the naked eye.
How Vegetation Indices Work
Healthy vegetation absorbs most visible light (especially red) for photosynthesis and reflects a large portion of near-infrared light.
Stressed vegetation reflects more red light and less NIR light due to reduced chlorophyll content and cellular structure changes.
By analyzing these reflectance patterns, vegetation indices can provide insights into:
Photosynthetic activity
Chlorophyll content
Plant water content
Biomass and growth stage
Early signs of stress (e.g., pests, disease, drought)
Contact us.
contact@ncdroneco.com
(828) 289-0217