University of Louisiana Makes Groundbreaking Discovery In Flight over Fields Technology

For three years, two University of Louisiana Monroe faculty members have flown drones over the same piece of property.

One, a geographer, conducts research. The other, an aviator, puts his years of flight experience, many in the Air Force, to use operating and teaching the new technology. Together they have blazed a trail that holds benefits for both farmers in the field and students in the classroom.

The work of Dr. Paul Karlowitz, associate professor of aviation, and Dr. Sean Chenoweth, assistant professor of geosciences, is yielding information that would empower growers to practice precision agriculture, saving them time and money.

The size of the average farm has grown through the years. It’s difficult, Chenoweth says, for farmers to know exactly what’s happening on all the acreage at any one time.

Farmers often choose the easiest route and treat all of their land with fertilizer and chemicals.

The problems, however, usually are isolated – weeds over here, too much water over there. The alternative to expensive blanket treatment has been walking the rows of crops looking for problems – an inefficient use of time.