Chapter 6

Remote Sensing in Precision Agriculture

Thermal Remote Sensing

Thermal remote sensing uses information on the radiation emitted in the thermal infrared (TIR) range of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum. This information is converted into temperature. Two categories can be distinguished within the infrared radiation (IR) region (0.7–100µm), namely, the reflected-IR (0.7–3.0µm) and thermal infrared (TIR) (8–14µm). Unlike the other types of sensors that have been discussed so far that produce images from light reflected from objects on Earth, thermal sensors produce images based on the amount of heat emitted by objects.

Applications of Thermal Remote Sensing in Precision Agriculture

Thermal sensing provides information about water-stressed crops in response to environmental parameters such as rainfall patterns, irrigation, drought tolerance of the crops, etc. Thermal cameras can detect this increase in temperature; therefore, thermal images can provide spatially continuous information concerning the water status of plants in a broader area than that obtained by local measurements. Early signs of plant disease often manifest as localized temperature variations, allowing for prompt identification and treatment before significant crop damage occurs.

Limitations of Thermal Remote Sensing in Precision Agriculture

Despite their utility in irrigation management and canopy temperature extraction, thermal sensors have limited applications that focus on monitoring or inspecting other crop characteristics.

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