Professional Journey: Manoj Gadhwal’s roots lie in the fertile lands of Haryana, India, where his early experiences on a family farm ignited a lifelong passion for agriculture. This led him to pursue advanced degrees in agricultural engineering from Punjab Agricultural University, India, laying the foundation for his remarkable career in precision agriculture.

Research Focus: Manoj’s current research endeavors revolve around the innovative use of remote sensing in agricultural crops. His expertise in UAV/satellite-based thermal and multi-spectral imaging, coupled with his skill in geospatial data analysis and crop health monitoring, positions him at the cutting edge of agricultural technology. His primary aim is to transform traditional farming methods, enabling farmers to optimize their production through precise, data-driven crop monitoring.

Impactful Projects:

1. Advancing Precision Irrigation Management:
   • Manoj spearheads a project focusing on the utilization of thermal and multispectral remote sensing. This includes meticulous assessments of thermal infrared (TIR) image quality and accuracy at varied altitudes, primarily using UAV-collected images.
   • His work in high-resolution canopy temperature mapping and analysis of crop water stress, NDVI, and NDRE in corn fields is groundbreaking. It plays a pivotal role in establishing precise irrigation management zones, fundamentally changing how water resources are utilized in agriculture.
   • A significant part of his research involves assessing the accuracy and practicality of UAV, aircraft, and satellite imagery in identifying subtle temperature and pigmentation variations in crop canopies. This has profound implications for fine-scale crop monitoring and management.