Using Satellite Imagery for
Variable Rate Maps
Curtis Dick
What Satellite Imagery is useful for
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Designating Management Zones
Building Variable Rate Maps
Helping Identify Problems in Growing fields
Help identifying where to soil sample
Measuring Biomass
Satellite Imagery Technology
• Agri-ImiGIS
▫ Started in 1994 in North Dakota by providing satellite
images for a variety of farming applications
▫ Currently provide 2 types of images (both have NDVI
capabilities)
▫ Main use is for building management zones
▫ Also provide products that allows producers to have
access to the system via an app
▫ The products allow for soil sampling and other
practices to be tied into the imagery into a browser
base
Landsat vs. Rapid Eye
Landsat
Rapid Eye
Major Uses in Oklahoma
• A very successful use in
Oklahoma has been with
variable rate Growth Regulator
in Cotton Production
• The Images allow a producer
or consultant to see the
differences in a growing field
• Landsat is updated every 16
days no matter if there is cloud
cover or not
• Rapid Eye takes 4-5 pictures
during a growing season and
will stay in an area until it gets
a clear picture
Hard to tell in a growing field the
amount of an input certain plants need
Drones
• Around 140 different type of drones available for
use
• Prices range from $100,000 to $12,800
• As of right now primary purpose is for
surveillance
senseFly
• Switzerland based company
that produces two types of
Drones
▫ Swinglet CAM
▫ eBee
Are Drones Useful?
Advantages
Disadvantages
• Are very easy to operate
• Do not fly well in winds over
25 mph
• Does not matter if it is cloudy
• Are somewhat costly
• Can have an image of a field in
1 day
• If drones are being used
commercially they can not be
flown over 400 ft elevation in
U.S.
Using Drones for Mapping NDVI Vs Green Seeker
• Swinglet Cam
• http://farmindustrynews.com
/crop-protection/drone-planeyour-future-0
• Green Seeker
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Review
• Best use of satellite imagery seems to be to
measure biomass
• Satellite imagery is a useful tool in developing
management zones, but should probably not be
the only information the zones are based off of.
• Drones for commercial purposes must be flown
below 400ft.
Questions?