Utilizing quadcopter as LARS image platform to determine the paddy spectral and growth parameter

Low Altitude Remote Sensing (LARS) images from the unmanned radio-controlled quadcopter platform has been utilized in assessing relationship between paddy production and paddy spectral by using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) classification method. Sampling result from six well distributed area were the main feeder in establishing the relationship of paddy growth parameters (paddy age and coverage) with NDVI. Quadratic equation is the best fitted equation to describe the relationship between NDVI and paddy age with R² values ranging from 0.960 to 0.974. Relationship between paddy coverage and NDVI by linear equation with correlation coefficient (R²) from 0.734 to 0.861. From both relationships, it shows that NDVI has the same proclivity with the paddy coverage in its life stage. The climax of paddy index in NDVI is 2 months paddy age. This period is the transition from vegetative to generative stage. Two growth variables were assessed in this research with the total NDVI presented the strongest exponential relationship to paddy production with an R² value of 0.947 and the percentage of paddy estimation precision to 92%. This research enable the prediction of paddy production by using y = 0.0496e^0.0978x equation, with x is the total NDVI and y is the paddy production. The result obtained reflect parameters sufficiency thus acknowledge the potential of light platform Unmanned Aerial Imaging System (UAIS) to estimate paddy production.