Integrating Drone Technology into an Innovative Agrometeorological Methodology for the Precise and Real-Time Estimation of Crop Water Requirements

Precision agriculture has been at the cutting edge of research during recent decade, aiming to reduce water consumption and ensure sustainability in agriculture. The proposed methodology was based on crop stress index (CWSI) applied Greece within ongoing project GreenWaterDrone. innovative approach combines real spatial data, such as infrared canopy temperature, air relative humidity, thermal image taken above field using an aerial micrometeorological station (AMMS) a (IR) camera installed unmanned vehicle (UAV). Following initial calibration phase, where ground (GMMS) crop, no equipment needed be maintained field. Aerial measurements were transferred time sophisticated databases applications over existing mobile networks for further processing estimation actual requirements specific level, dynamically alerting/informing local farmers/agronomists irrigation necessity additionally potential risks concerning their fields. supported services address farmers’, agricultural scientists’, stakeholders’ needs conform regional management sustainable policies. As preliminary results this study, we present indicative original illustrations data from applying assess UAV functionality while evaluate standardize all system processes.