Drones for Smarter Farming

This project focuses on creating data-driven farming, putting sensor data, irrigation recommendations, rain probability, and insights into crop health right into the hands of farmers.

Overview

This project focuses on creating data-driven farming, putting sensor data, irrigation recommendations, rain probability, and insights into crop health right into the hands of farmers.

After weeks of research, I had the opportunity to present my project alongside 9 other recipients of the WISE Award at the WISE Research Symposium.

Problem

Farmers need affordable, real-time insight into crop health and water usage without intensive fieldwork. Existing solutions are often costly or inaccessible.

Approach

As part of the WiseUCalgary research program at the University of Calgary, I developed a real-time crop monitoring drone system integrating an esp8266, DHT11, Photoresistor and HC-SRO4, to track field conditions and data remotely, optimizing crop health and water usage. Collaborating with a multidisciplinary team, I gained hands-on experience in sensor integration and data analysis, contributing to a low-cost solution that enhances agricultural efficiency while minimizing fieldwork. This opportunity deepened my understanding of the intersection between technology and sustainable farming practices.

Technical details

IoT sensors · drone-based monitoring · environmental data (temperature, humidity, light) · irrigation and crop-health insights.

Impact

Awarded WISE STEM Award by the University of Calgary. Presented at the WISE Research Symposium. Deepened understanding of technology and sustainable farming practices.

Future directions

Scale farmer-facing insights, refine irrigation recommendations, and expand field validation.