The world of drones, particularly in technology applications, is still in the Do-It-Yourself phase. Despite the many hypes and news, things change so rapidly that it takes time to keep up. Our goal is to present you with the basics that will most likely remain the same in the near future. This way, we can assist you in getting started or deciding whether you should get involved.

This website has several main pages that explain the essential items or processes. Within these pages, you will find links to specific terms and jargon you may encounter while looking for information on drones. Terms were explained as bite-size snippets of information to familiarize yourself with. Many are not specific for viticulture, but still necessary for the daily operation of drones.

Drones are commonly used in agriculture for survey and pest management. For instance, surveying can be as simple as flying a drone along the fence line to check for posts that need repair, which may only require a drone with a good camera. Others use drones to determine a specific vegetation index (click here to learn more) to assess crop health. Depending on your plan, the requirements for sensors and drones may vary. Here is a page that explains what you may need.

Once you obtain a drone, the next step is to develop a workflow that will help you achieve your goals while ensuring safe drone flight.

I hope you will enjoy this website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Mizuho Nita, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Extension Specialist,
Grape Pathology, AHS AREC, Virginia Tech
AND
Kellee Walters and Grace Lilly, Research Associate, Virginia Tech