Agricultural Drone Services | NC Drone Co
Ag Precision • Multispectral • Pix4Dfields

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.

FAA Part 107 Certified AUVSI TOP Level 3 John Deere Ops Center Compatible Spot‑Spray Ready

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

1

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.

2

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.

3

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.

4

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.

Red (R) Red Edge (RE) Near‑Infrared (NIR)

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

Pix4Dfields John Deere Ops Center Variable‑Rate & Spot‑Spray Shapefile/GeoTIFF Export

Common Questions

What crops do you support? Row, specialty, pasture—ask about your crop.
We regularly fly corn, soybeans, small grains, cotton, vegetables, orchards, vineyards, and pasture/range. We tailor indices and timing by crop stage.
How accurate are the maps?
With proper calibration and flight planning, spectral maps are consistent and repeatable for decision‑making, zonation, and trend analysis. For GNSS‑grade positioning or advanced analytics, we can add GCPs or RTK where beneficial.
Can you integrate with my agronomist and equipment?
Yes. We share web maps/PDFs for quick review and deliver shapefiles/GeoTIFFs or prescription files compatible with common platforms, including John Deere Operations Center.
Do you offer spraying?
We generate spot‑spray zones and can coordinate with qualified spray operators or spraying drones to execute targeted applications.

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.

Agricultural Drone Services

Actionable aerial insights for North Carolina & the Southeast — precision agriculture, multispectral analysis, variable-rate applications, and more.

  • High-res RGB, multispectral, and thermal surveys
  • Vegetation indices: NDVI, NDRE, GNDVI
  • Crop vigor & stress maps, growth-stage monitoring
  • Prescription zones for targeted interventions

  • Irrigation optimization & moisture-stress detection
  • Disease & pest hotspot identification
  • Drainage problems & compaction indicators
  • Pasture & canopy temperature mapping

  • Variable-rate application & precise spot treatments
  • Reduced drift, minimal soil compaction
  • Coverage logs & real-time application mapping
  • Ideal for hard-to-reach zones & late-season passes

  • AI-assisted plant counts & spacing verification
  • Emergence scoring & replant decision support
  • Early vigor benchmarking across hybrids/varieties

  • Orthomosaics (RGB/multispectral) with survey-grade alignment*
  • DSM/DTM, contours, slope & aspect for drainage planning
  • Volumetrics: stockpiles, silage, & earthworks
  • *RTK/PPK available where required

  • Headcounts, herd distribution & welfare checks
  • Forage quality, regrowth & grazing pattern analysis
  • Water/shade resource mapping over large tracts

  • Row alignment, canopy density & fruit-zone insights
  • Flowering/pollination monitoring & stress detection
  • Block-level variability & targeted interventions

  • Pix4Dfields, DroneDeploy, Ag Leader SMS, & GIS exports
  • Shapefiles, GeoTIFFs, PDFs, & variable-rate prescriptions
  • Side-by-side comparisons & change detection