Accessible, actionable multispectral imaging has been decades in the making. With a wide range of imagined applications still yet to be discovered, multispectral imaging promises to change the future of — and possibly disrupt — any number of fields and industries. For example, researchers at the U.S. National Academy of Sciences have used multispectral infrared sensors to map out blue pigment in paintings, making identifying artworks, as well as evaluating the condition and authenticity of the work, potentially less invasive and more efficient.

Upon reading an article about baby deer—also known as fawns—being accidentally killed by farm machinery during the harvest season, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) student Simon Jobin decided to use his UAS to save the animals from these dangerous situations. According to Jobin, when fawns hear tractors approaching, they lie down in the tall grass instead of running away, which makes them virtually invisible. With this in mind, the UAS is used to scan the field following a set course, as it covers every part of the land. It is crucial that Jobin is up early enough in the morning to conduct these scans, because once the sun warms up the ground, the UAS’ thermal camera can't effectively detect the animals' body heat.

Deveron UAS Corp., which provides enterprise drone data services for agriculture, and is a nationally compliant, Transport Canada-licensed UAS operator, has announced a collaboration with FS PARTNERS (FSP), which is a leading agronomy service provider in Ontario, Canada that has six hubs that span across the province. As a result of the partnership, FSP will offer its customers Deveron’s on-demand UAS data service, and Deveron will fly more farm acres with UAS.

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