Multispectral Imaging
See what the human eye cannot. Our drone-mounted multispectral sensors capture data across visible and near-infrared wavelengths to reveal vegetation health, moisture stress, nutrient deficiencies, and environmental conditions invisible in standard photographs.
How Multispectral Imaging Works
NDVI — Normalized Difference Vegetation Index
The most widely used vegetation health index. NDVI measures the difference between near-infrared and red light reflectance to quantify plant vigour. Healthy, photosynthetically active vegetation scores high (0.6–0.9), while stressed, dormant, or dead vegetation scores low. Ideal for broad crop health assessments, yield prediction, and identifying problem areas across your property.
NDRE — Normalized Difference Red Edge
NDRE uses the red edge band instead of visible red, making it more sensitive to chlorophyll content variations in mid-to-late season crops with dense canopy cover. Where NDVI can saturate in thick vegetation, NDRE continues to detect subtle differences in plant nitrogen status and leaf chlorophyll — making it the preferred index for precision fertilizer management and in-season crop scouting.
CWSI — Crop Water Stress Index
CWSI combines multispectral and thermal data to directly measure plant water stress. By comparing canopy temperature against ambient conditions, CWSI pinpoints exactly where crops are under-irrigated or experiencing drought stress — often days before visible wilting occurs. Essential for optimizing irrigation scheduling and conserving water across vineyards, orchards, and broadacre crops.
Quantitative Data
Unlike visual inspection, multispectral data is quantitative and repeatable. Every pixel has a measured reflectance value that can be compared across time, fields, and seasons for objective decision-making. Our AI-powered analysis pipelines accelerate index calculation and anomaly detection across large datasets.
Multispectral Imaging in the Okanagan & BC
Vineyards & Orchards
Map vine or tree vigour block by block. Identify water stress zones, nutrient deficiencies, and disease hotspots before they spread — critical for premium Okanagan wine and fruit production.
Broadacre Farming
Generate field-scale NDVI maps for variable-rate seeding, fertilizer application, and irrigation scheduling on grain, forage, and vegetable crops across BC.
Environmental Monitoring
Assess riparian health, invasive species spread, post-fire vegetation recovery, and wetland conditions using quantitative spectral indices.
Forestry & Reforestation
Monitor seedling survival rates, assess forest health after wildfire or pest outbreaks, and track reforestation progress on cutblocks.
Multispectral Deliverables
Multispectral FAQ
NDVI stands for Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. It measures the difference between near-infrared light (which healthy plants reflect strongly) and red light (which plants absorb for photosynthesis). NDVI values range from -1 to +1, with healthy vegetation typically scoring 0.6–0.9. It's the most widely used remote sensing index for quantifying plant health and vigour.
For agriculture, the most valuable data comes during active growth — typically May through September in the Okanagan. Multiple flights through the season give you a trend analysis. For vineyards, key timing includes post-budbreak, veraison, and pre-harvest. For environmental work, timing depends on what you're measuring — we'll help you plan the optimal survey schedule.
Drone multispectral imaging offers 5–10 cm per pixel resolution compared to satellite data at 3–10 m per pixel. That's roughly 100x more detail. You also fly on your schedule regardless of cloud cover, and data is available within days rather than waiting for satellite revisit windows. For site-level management decisions, drone data is far more actionable.
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Ready to See Your Land in a New Light?
Get a free quote for multispectral drone imaging — we'll recommend the right sensor and timing for your project.