# US 10,768,162 B2 · Systems and methods for producing agricultural prescriptions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,768,162 B2 - Document ID: US10768162B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/923,774 - Filed: 2018-03-16 - Published: 2018-09-20 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-16 - Assignees: Airscout Inc. - Applicants: AirScout Inc. - Inventors: Brian Harold Sutton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768162B2 ## CPC - G06V 20/188: {Vegetation} - G01N 25/56: by investigating moisture content - G01N 33/24: Earth materials (G01N33/42 takes precedence) - G01N 33/246: {for water content} - G06T 7/0016: {involving temporal comparison} - G06T 7/70: Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras (camera calibration G06T7/80) - G01N 33/245: {for agricultural purposes} - G06T 11/65: on geographic maps - G06T 2207/10016: Video; Image sequence - G06T 2207/10032: Satellite or aerial image; Remote sensing - G06T 2207/10048: Infrared image - G06T 2207/30188: Vegetation; Agriculture - G06V 20/194: {using hyperspectral data, i.e. more or other wavelengths than RGB} - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract Methods and systems suitable for producing agricultural prescriptions and/or measuring or monitoring parameters that are used in the production of the prescriptions. According to one aspect, such a method includes obtaining and recording a series of aerial thermal images of a field over a period of time, and analyzing the series of aerial thermal images to determine nutrient mineralization rates for the field. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: obtaining and recording a series of aerial thermal images and a series of aerial visual spectrum images of a field at different times over a period of time during a growing season of a crop growing in the field, at least first and second aerial thermal images of the series of aerial thermal images and at least first and second aerial visual spectrum images of the series of aerial visual spectrum images being obtained at first and second stages of the growing season, respectively; and analyzing and comparing the first aerial thermal image and the first aerial visual spectrum image and analyzing and comparing the second aerial thermal image and the second aerial visual spectrum image to perform at least one of: determine nitrogen mineralization rates for the field; monitor water infiltration rates and soil hydrology of the field by obtaining the series of aerial thermal images and the series of aerial visual spectrum images prior to, during, and after rain events; determine location placement of soil probes to determine nitrogen mineralization in the field, uptake of nitrogen by plants in the field, available nitrogen in the field, and nitrogen required by the plants during growth; and determine locations for soil testing to determine nitrogen mineralization in the field, uptake of nitrogen by plants in the field, available nitrogen in the field, and nitrogen required by the plants during growth. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the series of aerial thermal images and the series of aerial visual spectrum images are analyzed to determine the nitrogen mineralization rates for the field. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the series of aerial thermal images and the series of aerial visual spectrum images are analyzed to also monitor the water infiltration rates and the soil hydrology of the field following rain events. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the series of aerial thermal images and the series of aerial visual spectrum images are analyzed to also determine the location placement of the soil probes or the locations for soil testing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising recording moisture and temperature data with moisture and temperature probes in the field over the period of time, wherein the series of aerial thermal images and the series of aerial visual spectrum images are analyzed in combination with the moisture and temperature data to determine the nitrogen mineralization rates for the field. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising analyzing the series of aerial thermal images and the series of aerial visual spectrum images to determine location placement for the moisture and temperature probes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: analyzing the aerial thermal images and the aerial visual spectrum images to predict a yield estimate for the field; determining a total amount of nitrogen required by the plants in the field during the growing season based on the yield estimate; and then producing a nitrogen-containing fertilization prescription by at least subtracting the amount of nitrogen naturally provided to the field via nitrogen mineralization from the total amount of nitrogen required by the plants. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the series of aerial thermal images and the series of aerial visual spectrum images are analyzed to monitor the water infiltration rates and the soil hydrology of the field following rain events. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the series of aerial thermal images and the series of aerial visual spectrum images are analyzed to determine the location placement of the soil probes to determine the nitrogen mineralization in the field, uptake of nitrogen by plants in the field, available nitrogen in the field, and nitrogen required by the plants during growth. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the series of aerial thermal images and the series of aerial visual spectrum images are analyzed to determine the locations for the soil testing to determine the nitrogen mineralization in the field, uptake of nitrogen by plants in the field, available nitrogen in the field, and nitrogen required by the plants during growth. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the field comprises bare soil having substantially no vegetation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the series of aerial visual spectrum images are indicative of light reflected by organic matter within the field and capture light in the near-infrared, visual, and ultraviolet spectrums, and the series of aerial thermal images are compared to the series of aerial visual spectrum images to compensate for moisture. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A system configured to perform the method of claim 1, the system comprising thermal and visual camera systems installed in an airplane that obtain the series of aerial thermal images and the series of aerial visual spectrum images, respectively. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) A system configured to perform the method of claim 8, the system comprising thermal and visual camera systems installed in an airplane that obtain the series of aerial thermal images and the series of aerial visual spectrum images, respectively. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) A system configured to perform the method of claim 9, the system comprising thermal and visual camera systems installed in an airplane that obtain the series of aerial thermal images and the series of aerial visual spectrum images, respectively. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) A system configured to perform the method of claim 10, the system comprising thermal and visual camera systems installed in an airplane that obtain the series of aerial thermal images and the series of aerial visual spectrum images, respectively. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing and comparing step determines the nitrogen mineralization rates for the field. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing and comparing step monitors the water infiltration rates and soil hydrology of the field by obtaining the series of aerial thermal images and the series of aerial visual spectrum images prior to, during, and after rain events. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing and comparing step determines the location placement of the soil probes to determine nitrogen mineralization in the field, uptake of nitrogen by plants in the field, available nitrogen in the field, and nitrogen required by the plants during growth. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing and comparing step determines the locations for soil testing to determine nitrogen mineralization in the field, uptake of nitrogen by plants in the field, available nitrogen in the field, and nitrogen required by the plants during growth.