REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS WITH RGB CAMERA TO MAP COMMERCIAL TABLE TOMATO NURSERIES

Abstract Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) are already a reality in Brazil. They are used in different fields of knowledge to obtain digital products that contribute to the identification, monitoring, control, and precision of the agricultural decision process. However, the cost-benefit of applying this technology to produce seedlings in commercial tomato nurseries needs better evaluation. This research analyzes the use of an RPAS with RGB camera over areas of table tomato seedlings and compares the cartographic products with the information obtained through semi-structured interviews with rural property owners in the States of Goiás, Minas Gerais, and the Federal District (Brasília). The results were not divided into external area applications and internal (greenhouse) mapping, as adopting technology for monitoring the seedling production process inside greenhouses is still economically unfeasible compared to human identification, thus not justifying the investment. Nonetheless, images of the external area provide crucial information for planning a nursery, considering its structural aspects and adequate disposal.