UAV-based Soil Moisture Mapper and Visualization for Soybean Fields

Investigators

Objectives

  1. Design and implement a UAV-based sensing system to measure high-resolution SM in soybean fields for precision irrigation applications
  2. Conduct multiple field campaigns to collect datasets for training and validation
  3. Develop an ML model to estimate SM via learning complex relations between UAV-based measurements and the ground SM
  4. Develop a near real-time UAV-based platform so that the end-user, such as a farmer, can directly see a complete SM map of the soybean field on his controlling system, such as a smartphone or a computer, after completing UAV flights.

Expected End Results

A smart irrigation system that applies proper water to the right place at the right time will not only increase soybean yield but also save water usage. Determining the available soil moisture as the soybean moves into reproductive stages is an essential requirement to initiate and apply proper irrigation. Especially in heterogeneous fields, this SM measurement could be challenging and time-consuming with traditional SM probes.

Project Status

Current