Drone Technology

ARKANSAS LAND AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (ALCDC)

DEMONSTRATION CENTER FOR DRONES

IN GRAZING LANDS MANAGEMENT PROJECT 

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The primary objective of the ALCDC’s incorporation of drones into grazing/pasture management is to equip our Historically underserved clients with a tool that will help them through innovative pasture management, increase their productive in a cost-effective manner Our goal is to establish a Technology Demonstration Center with the incorporation of drones into grazing/pasture management being the principal tool.

 

Grazing management is the total process of organizing livestock to make the best use of the pastures grown or managing the frequency and intensity with which livestock graze pasture. It is of common knowledge that pastures respond differently to grazing, and by understanding the growth characteristics of a pasture, grazing can be used to encourage plant growth and maintain productivity. Grazing management is also a crucial factor in the management of soil, water and nutrients. If not managed well, grazing can lead to severe natural resource degradation.

Some pastures may naturally become less productive as they mature or at various stages of their production cycle. It is important to recognize this and adjust stocking rates accordingly. Overstocking at critical stages may result in irreversible damage to pastures and the need for reseeding. By using planned grazing management on native and improved pastures, producers can improve their operation with minimal inputs.

 

The advantage that drones give is aerial perspective and analysis, allowing a producer to diagnose problems that aren’t always apparent at eye level. The three basic types of detailed views that drones provide are:

1. first person view – real-time views from the drone's camera, streamed to either the controller or a smartphone or tablet. This view helps a producer identify patterns like soil variation, irrigation problems, and even pest and fungal infestations.

2. multispectral imaging- where the drone’s camera captures images and data from the infrared as well as the visual  spectrum, which can be combined to create a view of the crop that highlights differences between healthy and distressed pastures in a way that can’t be seen with the naked eye.

3. time series animation - Finally, a drone can survey a pasture every week, every day, or even every hour and combine the images to create a time-series animation. Producers can use that imagery to follow changes in the pasture grazing crop, revealing trouble spots or opportunities for better pasture management.

 

The major results of the project is reflected in the Fact Sheet that follows’

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