This online training was provided over a period of 8 weeks for 25 participants selected by NARC (National Agricultural Research Centre) Jordan. The online training consisted of self-paced exercises and regular live (video) sessions provided through the OpenCourseWare website of IHE Delft. The four modules provided in this training will be both practical and technical with information on how to set up a drone unit (including selection of equipment and operational management), hands-on imagery processing, and advisory services to farmers.
The NARC (National Agricultural Research Centre) is the governmental agricultural research institution at the national level in Jordan, and is the national umbrella for the applied scientific research and agricultural consultation.
Training courses, conferences, and specialized workshops are organized by NARC at their research centers throughout the country. This extension service can be improved with information on spatial data and near-real time observations, as can be generated through remote sensing technology. In particular, flying sensor (drone) technology provides added value to agricultural extension services. Flying sensor technology has observed a growing interest and demand in the agricultural sector of Jordan. To meet these training needs, IHE Delft is collaborating with FutureWater and HiView in providing this TMAT (tailor-made training).
The overarching objective of this TMAT program is to provide participants with practical knowledge on flying sensors and its relevance for the agricultural sector. The modules and topics are structured as follows:
- Module 1: Basic Understanding of Flying Sensors (background, technology, and setting up drone units).
- Module 2: Imagery Processing (with ICE, Metashape, and ODM software).
- Module 3: Crop monitoring
- Module 4: Advisory services and data dissemination.
