IoT and Drone-Based Field Monitoring and Surveillance System

In India, agriculture faces numerous challenges, including declining production, shifting climatic patterns, and environmental issues. Drone farming emerges as a promising approach to bolster sustainable agriculture across social, economic, and environmental dimensions. This chapter delves into the advantages of integrating drone technology into India’s agricultural landscape. Over the past decade, advancements in information technology have propelled the widespread adoption of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices, exemplified by the utilization of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in environmental monitoring. The evolution of drone technology in agriculture is a focal point of analysis, highlighting its transformative potential. Precision Agriculture (PA) stands out as a key application domain for drones, enabling tasks such as pesticide spraying and crop monitoring with unparalleled efficiency and precision. Drones equipped with sensors gather real-time data on various agricultural parameters, including crop health, soil conditions, and environmental factors. This data empowers farmers to make informed decisions regarding fertilization, pesticide application, and irrigation practices. The integration of IoT sensors further enhances data collection capabilities, providing insights into soil moisture levels, meteorological conditions, and other critical parameters essential for comprehensive agricultural monitoring. Real-time transmission of data to cloud-based platforms facilitates analysis and visualization, enabling farmers to respond promptly to emerging challenges and optimize resource allocation. Despite the promising prospects of drone technology, persistent challenges such as cost constraints, limited battery life, and the need for enhanced image processing capabilities remain to be addressed. In conclusion, the convergence of drones and IoT holds tremendous potential for revolutionizing agriculture in India, bolstering crop yields, and ensuring food security. Addressing existing barriers is imperative to fully harness the transformative power of these technologies and unlock their benefits for farmers and the agricultural sector as a whole.