Major Trends in the Development of Aerial Photography Technology for Agricultural Lands

Aerial photography has become an essential tool in agriculture; allowing farmers and agronomists to monitor the condition of agricultural land in real time. ( Research purpose ) This study aims to conduct a retrospective analysis of the evolution of aerial photography technology in agriculture; establish a chronological framework for its development; and provide a comprehensive overview of its advancements. ( Materials and methods ) A systematic literature review was conducted using a historical-analytical approach. The analysis included original works by both domestic and international authors; including monographs; scientific journals; conference proceedings; museum exhibits; photographic materials; and publicly available software source codes. ( Results and discussion ) Four key stages in the development of aerial photography equipment were identified based on advancements in camera technology and the aerial platforms on which they were mounted. A comparative analysis of aerial photography devices was conducted; tracing the evolution from wet collodion plate cameras to modern digital aerial cameras mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). ( Conclusions ) The development of aerial photography equipment for agricultural land mapping has progressed in leaps rather than through gradual increments. Currently; UAVs equipped with visible-spectrum and multispectral cameras are the most relevant for agricultural applications. Future advancements in digital aerial photography cameras will focus on improving spatial resolution; hybridization; and intelligent functionalities.