Precision Aerial Application Working Group

Chair: Dr. Yubin Lan

USDA ARS, Aerial Application Technology Group, Areawide Pest Management Research Unit, 2771 F&B Road, College... read-more

US United States

TEL: + 979 260 3759

E-mail: Yubin.lan@ars.usda.gov
Vice Chair: Dr. Steven J. Thomson

USDA ARS, Crop Production Systems Research Unit, 141 Experiment Station Road, Stoneville, MS 38776

US United States

TEL: + 662.686 5240

E-mail: Steve.Thomson@ars.usda.gov
Vice Chair: Prof. Xinyu Xue

The Center of Plant Protection, Nanjing Research Institute for Agricultural Mechanization, Ministry of P.R. China, No.... read-more

CN China

TEL: + 025 8434 6243

E-mail: muamkk@hotmail.com
Secretary: Dr. W. Clint Hoffmann

USDA ARS, Aerial Application Technology Group, Areawide Pest Management Research Unit, 2771 F&B Road, College... read-more

US United States

TEL: + 979 260 9521

E-mail: Clint.hoffmann@ars.usda.gov
Secretary: Prof. Ron Lacey

Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843

US United States

TEL: + 979 845 3931

E-mail: ron-lacey@tamu.edu

Mission

The mission of the Precision Aerial Application Working Group is to develop and implement new and improved precision aerial application equipment for safe, efficient, and sustainable crop production and protection.

Objectives

The overall objective of this group is to provide precision aerial application solutions for aerial applicators using cutting edge technologies. The first variable-rate aerial application system was developed about a decade ago in the USA and since then, precision aerial application has benefitted from these technologies. Many areas around the world rely on readily available agricultural airplanes or helicopters for pest management, and variable-rate aerial application provides a way of making effective and precise application of agrochemicals. In the context of precision aerial application, variable-rate control can simply mean terminating spray over field areas that do not require inputs, terminating spray near pre-defined buffer areas determined by Global Positioning, or applying multiple rates to meet the variable needs of the crop. Prescription maps for precision aerial application are developed using remote sensing, Global Positioning, and Geographic Information System technologies. Precision aerial application technology has the potential to benefit the agricultural aviation industry by saving operators and farmers time and money.

Scope

As the first International Precision Aerial Application Group, this new CIGR working group will serve as a valuable resource to the aerial application community. By coordinating research projects across multiple institutions, the role and impact of precision application will increase in aerial application situations.

Activities

This new working group will focus on serving as an organizer and coordinator of researchers involved in Precision Aerial Application. This group via the Officers will organize International Meetings in July 2012 (Texas, USA) and 2014 (China - concurrent with CIGR International meeting). Besides serving as a coordinator to report current research projects, each of meetings will have a session focused on the identification of future research needs and which institutions have the capability to do the research. This will eliminate a repeat of research effort and enhance international collaborations.