Features Drainage Management Systems
Using drones to find drainage pipes

Drones capable of obtaining thermal infrared imagery have the potential to create effective and efficient drainage pipe mapping. 

Aging drainage pipe and existing time-consuming methods mean that new methods for finding drainage pipes are needed. Barry Allred, research agriculture engineer for the USDA, and Greg Rouse, geographic information systems coordinator, advocate for new technology to improve methods for mapping agricultural subsurface drainage systems. 

The results of their initial drone survey show that drainage pipe mapping with thermal infrared imagery is promising, but more surveys are needed. | READ MORE