Tamme van der Wal
Partner
AeroVision B.V.
The Netherlands

Biography
Ir. Tamme van der Wal graduated from Wageningen University in 1992 in geomatics and agro-meteorology. He started his career in food security forecasting and agricultural policy related research. He works on GIS systems in the support of the Common Agricultural Policy, Remote Sensing for land and agricultural monitoring, and several projects in the Galileo programme concerning precision farming and other applications in the agricultural domain. He stimulates innovations through geo-spatial technology and focusses on user needs, business improvement, information system design and stakeholder involvement. Tamme van der Wal is partner at AeroVision BV, an independent consultant and innovation broker for strategic use of geo-spatial technologies and data. Tamme is currently coordinator of the BIOSCOPE consortium developing an operational service for agricultural monitoring based on satellite remote sensing and Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems. Tamme is also coordinator of the UNIFARM GNSS User Forum for Agriculture.

Abstract
Satellites and RPAs to provide on demand task maps to farmers.

Precision farming is a new agricultural management style that optimises resources by doing the right thing at the right place in the right time. Satellite navigation is a major enabler for arable farming in Europe and with GNSS adoption rates above 50% in several EU countries, front runner farmers are looking ahead for the next innovation. Optimising inputs is a major concern for agriculture: Doing more with less; sustainable intensification. Not only as a means to cut costs but also a way to improve environmental stewardship. Timely crop status information is important to make decisions on where and when to apply irrigation, fertilisation or other crop care measures. BIOSCOPE is a dedicated farm information service that delivers crop status information on demand. Utilising the satellite infrastructure together with Remotely Piloted Aircrafts (RPAs), BIOSCOPE aims at maximum agility and flexibility to deliver the right image at the right time. In his presentation, Tamme will indicate how RPAs are indispensible for a service to support farmers in their crop cultivation decisions. He will address how the BIOSCOPE service fills in the user requirements from farmers and other stakeholders. He will discuss how GNSS as major enabler for precision farming is a critical tool also for RPAs guidance and airspace use.