On 23 September, FutureWater and HiView welcomed a delegation of six Egyptian water management professionals to the FutureWater office in Wageningen for a hands-on workshop on Climate Smart Agriculture with flying sensors (drones).
The participants represented different departments of Egypt’s water management administration, including the Strategic Management Sector, Minister’s Office, Nile Water Affairs Sector, and Groundwater Sector.
The workshop was delivered by Martijn de Klerk (FutureWater) and Jan van Til (HiView), combining theoretical insights with practical demonstrations of flying sensor technology for agricultural and water resources management.
The morning started with a one-hour presentation introducing FutureWater and HiView, the applications of flying sensors in climate-smart agriculture, and the technical capabilities of different flying sensors. Particular attention was given to the use of high-resolution imagery and vegetation indices, such as NDVI, to monitor crop health, identify water stress, and support more efficient irrigation management.
Following the presentation, the group headed to the floodplains of Wageningen for a two-hour field demonstration. Participants were introduced to several technologies, including:
- eBee fixed-wing: For high-resolution mapping and monitoring of larger areas.
- Quadcopter: For flexible, detailed aerial observations.
- Rapid Eye XS: An affordable multispectral camera developed for rapid vegetation monitoring and NDVI analysis, demonstrated both mounted underneath a drone and using the 12-metre HiPole, which allows observations in locations where flying sensor flights are not practical.
The demonstrations provided participants with a first-hand look at how different flying sensor technologies can support agricultural monitoring and evidence-based water management.
The workshop concluded with a joint lunch at the FutureWater office, providing an opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss potential applications of these technologies in Egypt.
FutureWater and HiView thank the Egyptian delegation for their enthusiastic participation and engaging discussions!
