The Evaluation of Rapeseed Culture at the end of the Cold Season Using Aerospace Techniques

Abstract

This paper evaluates the potential of utilization of modern technologies such as GIS instruments, remote sensing, satellite imaging, GPS technology, and drones to monitor agricultural cultures. Two zones are chosen, are cultivated with rapeseed, and suffer the effect of low temperatures during the winter. In the spring, during the vegetation period, farmers ask themselves: “Which is the degree of loss in a culture?”, “Is it worth keeping the culture?”. To answer those questions, the total affected area has to be determined, using two methods: the classic method of finding out the affected area, which uses GPS technology to gather data and GIS to process it. The other method uses satellite imaging and special software to process data. This data is then used to classify pixels and determine the total affected area. After, the results from the two methods are compared. Based on these results, the most effective method can be determined. This method can then be used for determining the affected area resulting from natural phenomena, such as drought, excessive rainfall, gale, etc. Both methods have proved useful in these kind of studies, but the GPS RTK is a more effective way of monitoring the affected area of a rapeseed culture in the end of the cold season.