FieldAgent Mobile - Data Collection Best Practices

NOTE: FieldAgent Mobile will now alert you when your flight plan will result in missed images. This warning applies to the onboard cameras for all DJI drones, as well as DJI Skyport enabled Sentera Sensors. DJI controlled sensors are only able to capture an image once every two seconds. When your drone is flying fast, it will have moved too far in that time to capture an image with the correct overlap. Reduce the speed of your drone until the warning disappears. You can still fly a mission with this warning, but you may not be able to capture images at your set overlap value.

Collecting data for a specific outcome requires consideration of when, and how the data is collected.
If data is collected at the wrong time, altitude, overlap, or speed, the data may not be useable and may require recollection.

FieldAgent & Fly PHX Presets

Luckily, when flying with Sentera's FieldAgent or Fly PHX applications, the thinking is done for you.   Simply select the camera(s) on your drone and the preset of what you intend to fly for and the correct flight parameters will populate.

General Guidelines

1. Time of Day: Mid Day.  You want to fly when the sun is highest in the sky
   
2. Conditions: Clear, Mostly Clear or Overcast
   

Preset Parameters

Below are some of the flight parameters FieldAgent and Fly PHX use when a preset is selected.  These setting should be used as a starting point. You may want to make adjustments based on crop, time of year, location, and other factors. 

If you need help, contact Sentera Support. 

Elevation Maps

NOTE: For best results, fly the location twice; once in a North-South pattern and once  in an East-West pattern.

Sensor	Overlap	Altitude	Speed
Recommended: P1 35mm on M300	80%	400ft	22mph
Other: Phantom 4 Pro V2, Mavic 2 Pro, P1 24mm
Not Supported: Sentera D4K Analytics, DJI P1 50mm	-	-	-

Stand Counts

NOTE: Processing requires early Season Plant Growth of at least V2 or at least 4 inches or 10 CM from tip to tip for the leaf as viewed from above.

Camera	Overlap	Altitude	Speed	Other
Recommended: Double 4K Analytics	-70% (Alter for # of desired datapoints)	150ft	22mph (DJI Drones)
Other: Phantom 4 Pro V2, Mavic 2 Pro, 6X	-300% (Alter for # of desired datapoints)	50ft	10mph	MUST USE TERRAIN FOLLOWING ON HILLY TERRAIN
Not supported: Non-Color Sensors, DJI P1	-	-	-	-

QuickTile Maps

Camera	Overlap	Altitude	Speed
Recommended: Any camera sensor with more than a 50 degree FOV*	25%	200-400ft Depending on desired resolution	22mph (DJI Drones)
Not Supported: 15 FOV* color photos from the Sentera D4K Analytics sensor	-	-	-

  *FOV (Field of View):  This zoom setting controls the size of the still image to save. It  is the angle of the captured area in a photo from the location of the lens. 

Stitched Imagery Maps

Camera	Overlap	Altitude	Speed
Recommended: Any camera sensor with more than a 50 degree FOV*	75-80%	200-400ft Depending on desired resolution	22mph (DJI Drones)
Not Supported: 15 FOV* color photos from the Sentera D4K Analytics sensor	-	-	-

Tassel Counts

NOTE: Requires photos of late season plant growth, generally between VT and R4.

Camera	Overlap	Altitude	Speed
Recommended: Double 4K Analytics	-70% (Alter for # of desired datapoints)	150ft (46m)	22mph (DJI Drones)
Not supported: Non-Color Sensors, DJI P1	-	-	-

WARNING: Capturing Tassel Counts with the cameras below is in BETA version. Fly at your own risk. There are dangers of flying a drone at lower altitudes. Make sure you use TERRAIN FOLLOWING when flying over hilly terrain.

Camera	Overlapa	Altitude	Speed	Other
In BETA: Phantom 4 Pro V2, Mavic 2 Pro, 6X	-300% (Alter for # of desired datapoints)	30ft above Ground Level	10mph	MUST USE TERRAIN FOLLOWING ON HILLY TERRAIN

Small Fields or Plots

NOTE: Small plots can be challenging to fly, so test different options until you find what works for you. Advanced users can change how and when the sensor is triggered for collecting very small plots. In most cases this requires manual flight.

1. Overlap: 30% to 80%
2. Altitude: 51 to 400 Feet or 16 to 122 Meters
   
3. Speed:  1-18 MPH or 1-8 MPS

Accounting for Wind and Field Shape

Wind:

If the wind is strong and close to, but not above, the aircraft's limit for obtaining high-quality imagery, we recommend that you fly at a slower speed such as the 4-5-meter range. Note, this will increase flight time and the number of batteries needed to complete the flight. You may also want to consider adjusting the aircraft's flight direction so it is flying into and with the wind. This will help keep it on the intended path.

Field Shape:

Adjusting the flight path can make collecting images more efficient and may reduce flight time. Below are two flight patterns for the same field. The North-South flight pattern will produce a better QuickTile image because the drone will not stop and start as often to change direction. 

• Related Articles

• FieldAgent - Mobile Stand Count

  Overview The Mobile Stand Count feature for FieldAgent Mobile (iOS app) is intended for quickly processing shareable Stand Count results from the field’s edge. The video below shows it populating in real time: A map result will be shareable ...

• FieldAgent Desktop - Ordering a Mosaic or Elevation Map

  If a full mosaic will meet your needs better than a QuickTile, but you don't have the necessary software and hardware to create the mosaic yourself, Sentera can create and publish the mosaic for you. Before you order the elevation map, please make ...

• Data Collection Overview

  This demo describes how to use FieldAgent Mobile and Fly PHX to set up for data collection success. FieldAgent on iOS Download and login to FieldAgent on an iPhone or iPad. From the main screen, tap the drone icon to begin flight planning. Browse to ...

• FieldAgent Desktop - User Guide

  Field Agent Desktop User Guide English Engineered in Minneapolis, MN, USA 14 April 2022 Doc #67002 Rev E Copyright © 2022. All rights reserved. Trademark Notice FieldAgent, AgVault, and Incident Light Sensor are registered trademarks of Sentera. ...

• FAQ: FieldAgent - Can I perform Tassel Counts with my Mavic or Phantom?

  WARNING: Fly at your own risk. There are dangers of flying a drone at lower altitudes. Follow the directions below to carefully plan a safe and effective mission. Yes, tassel counts will work with the DJI Phantom 4 Pro or the DJI Mavic 2 Pro (with ...