Leveraging Drone Technology for Precision Agriculture: A Comprehensive Case Study in Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia

Abstract

The integration of drone technology in precision agriculture offers promising solutions for enhancing crop monitoring, optimizing resource management, and improving sustainability. This study investigates the application of UAV-based remote sensing in Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia, focusing on olive tree cultivation in a semi-arid environment. REMO-M professional drones equipped with RGB and multispectral sensors were deployed to collect high-resolution imagery, enabling advanced geospatial analysis. A comprehensive methodology was implemented, including precise flight planning, image processing, GIS-based mapping, and NDVI assessments to evaluate vegetation health. The results demonstrate the significant contribution of UAV imagery in generating accurate land use classifications, detecting plant health variations, and optimizing water resource distribution. NDVI analysis revealed clear distinctions in vegetation vigor, highlighting areas affected by water stress and nutrient deficiencies. Compared to traditional monitoring methods, drone-based assessments provided high spatial resolution and real-time data, facilitating early detection of agronomic issues. These findings underscore the pivotal role of UAV technology in advancing precision agriculture, particularly in semi-arid regions where climate variability poses challenges to sustainable farming. The study provides a replicable framework for integrating drone-based monitoring into agricultural decision-making, offering strategies to improve productivity, water efficiency, and environmental resilience. The research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on agricultural technology adoption in Tunisia and similar contexts, supporting data-driven approaches to climate-smart agriculture.

Keywords

Drone / Precision agriculture / Multispectral sensors / GIS / Mapping / Sustainability / Climate change

Acknowledgments

We would like to sincerely thank the Tunisian government, represented by the Ministry of Agriculture, for their continuous support and collaboration with Busan Technopark. Their joint efforts have been crucial to the success of this pilot project. We are deeply grateful for their commitment and contribution to its achievement.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, R.G. and R.E.W.; Methodology, R.G. and R.E.W.; Software, R.G. and R.E.W.; Validation, R.G.; Formal Analysis, R.G.; Investigation, R.G.; Resources, R.G.; Data Curation, R.G.; Writing—Original Draft Preparation, R.G. and R.E.W.; Writing—Review & Editing, R.G. and R.E.W.; Visualization, R.G.; Supervision, R.G.; Project Administration, R.G.; Funding Acquisition, R.G.

Ethics Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from upon reasonable request.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Declaration of Competing Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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