This article provides an overview of the various filter types and algorithms available in DroneDeploy, which are determined by the type of camera used to capture the imagery.
General Information about Camera Types
Plant health can be assessed by using standard RGB cameras, modified cameras that capture false-color images, and multispectral cameras. Each type of camera captures a different range of wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, referred to as a "band".
These bands (ie: red, green, blue, red-edge, and near infrared bands) are applied to industry-standard calculations called "vegetation indices" to the help determine plant health.
Standard RGB Cameras: These cameras generally capture Red, Green, and Blue bands. With these bands, you can determine how green the plants are, which helps you assess their health. The only appropriate plant health filter type for Standard RGB Cameras is RGB, and the only appropriate algorithm is VARI. For more information, see our vegetation indices article.
Modified Cameras: Some modified cameras, such as those listed in the article, capture false-color images with Near Infrared (NIR), Green, and Blue bands, and do not capture in Red bands. For convenience when working with image viewing software, the NIR band's data is saved where the Red band's data would normally go, which is why they are called "False-Color".
Multispectral Cameras: These cameras capture wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum of Red, Green, and Blue bands by capturing Red-Edge (RE) and Near Infrared (NIR) bands. When assessing plant health, the RE and NIR bands help you detect vegetative stress by estimating the chlorophyll content in plants. Capturing in the RE and NIR bands allows you to estimate plant health before visible changes in the plant’s coloration. See our supported multispectral cameras here: Hardware for Multispectral Capture
Filter Types and Algorithms for Standard and Modified Cameras
In the Plant Health side panel, you can choose the appropriate Filter Type and algorithm for your camera in the dropdown box.
Filter Types
Below are the list of band orders appropriate for Standard RGB Cameras:
- RGB (Red, Green, Blue)
Below are the list of band orders appropriate for Modified Cameras (with false-color imagery):
- NRG (Near Infrared, Red, Green)
- NGB (Near Infrared, Green, Blue)
- RGN (Red, Green, Near Infrared)
- NB (Near Infrared, Blue)
- NG (Near Infrared, Green)
How to find the correct filter type for your modified camera
Please verify the band order with the company you purchased the filter from. There are many modified cameras, so check with the manufacturer for further information on the correct filter type for your camera.
Example:
If you are using a converted camera from Aerial Media Pros, choose RGN for the filter type.
For Sentera Cameras follow the Sentera Cameras guide
Algorithms
Below are the algorithms appropriate for Standard RGB Cameras:
- VARI (Visible Atmospherically Resistant Index)
Below are the list of algorithms appropriate for Modified Cameras (with false-color imagery). Each are variations of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) or configured to match your camera type:
- NDVI
- NDVI (Sentera NIR)
- NDVI (Sentera High-Precision NIR)
- NDVI (Sentera Double 4K)
- ENDVI: Enhanced Normalized Difference Vegetation Index
- GNDVI: Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index
Filter Types and Algorithms for Multispectral Cameras
Filter Types
The list of band orders available for Multispectral Cameras is shown below:
R-RE-NIR
Note: As of 2024, DroneDeploy only supports one filter type for multispectral captures.
Algorithms
The following algorithms are available for Multispectral Cameras:
NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index)
OSAVI (Optimized Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index)
RDVI (Renormalized Difference Vegetation Index)
SAVI (Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index)
V2.2