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3 ways LiDAR can transform modern farming

With the world population growing unlike ever before, there is a potential crisis on the lack of agricultural land and a threat of food scarcity. Therefore, there is a need for smart farming and efficient cultural practices. LiDAR can help agriculture increase yields and use land more efficiently. This technology is important to prepare the agricultural sector for the future. Keep reading to learn more about how LiDAR plays an important role in agriculture. 

1. LiDAR for efficient management of farmland and resources

LiDAR technology is instrumental in the development of 3D maps of natural and manmade structures. In agricultural fields, LiDAR can measure, observe, and map out the variations in slope, aspect, and elevation. This can help farmers produce incredibly accurate maps of natural resources, determine the exact terrain of the farm, better identify the water catchment areas and the flow of erosion. In return, farmers can then analyze land suitability for a particular crop, identify potential agricultural production zones, and determine the soil type of a particular area. Using this data can lead to long-term productivity and farmers can also come up with preventive measures to reduce or eliminate risks.

2. Using agricultural land with precision agriculture

Another area of application for LiDAR in agriculture is precision farming to reduce expenditure and significantly increase yields. In precision agriculture, the cultivation of land is optimally adapted to the conditions by means of precise recording and evaluation of parameters. These parameters are recorded with sensors including LiDAR sensors. LiDARs attached to tractors can precisely determine the volume, height, and mass of a maize field and thus also the expected yield. Another application can be in monitoring feeding areas, where the sensor measures the fill level so that feed can be refilled at the right time.

3. LiDAR for smart crop management

The traditional method for the creation of maps of cultivated fields is time-consuming, expensive, and prone to human error. But there are new cost-effective alternatives such as using airborne LiDARs. This technology can also be used to estimate the crop quality carry out crop analysis and determine the suitability of the crop to thrive in a particular area. This can be useful in determining the overall crop yield in a given season and help farmers predict and implement measures to increase the overall yield. Another great solution that LiDAR provides to this field is determining the extent to which crops have been damaged and helping farmers devise a recovery strategy.

Agriculture is probably one of the oldest and most traditional trades. Like every other industry, it needs to keep up with the advances in technologies such as the introduction of LiDAR. Using these technologies marks an important step in preparing the industry and society for the future.

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