Filter and Algorithm Types based on Camera Type

Table of Contents:

1. General Information about Camera Types
2. Camera Types
   1. Standard RGB Cameras
   2. Modified Cameras
   3. Multispectral Cameras
3. Filter Types and Algorithms for Standard and Modified Cameras
   1. Filter Types
      1. How do I find correct filter type for my modified camera?
   2. Algorithms
4. Filter Types and Algorithms for Multispectral Cameras
   1. Filter Types
   2. Algorithms

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. Therefore, the type of camera you have determines the type of calculations we can perform on your plant health images. This article breaks down the types of cameras that DroneDeploy supports, and which filter and algorithm types are available for your capture.

Camera Types

Standard RGB Cameras

In general, standard RGB cameras capture Red, Green, and Blue bands. With these bands, we can determine how green the plants are (ie: greenness values), that help us determine the health of the plants. The only appropriate plant health filter type for standard RGB cameras is RGB. Likewise, the only algorithm appropriate for standard RGB cameras is VARI. More information about this is in our vegetation indices article. 

Modified Cameras

Some modified cameras, such as the ones listed below, capture false-color images with Near Infrared (NIR), Green, and Blue bands. These modified cameras do not capture in Red bands. Our Plant Health toolbox includes the ability to choose NIR filter and algorithm options to enable plant health assessments using false-color imagery from these modified cameras. 

Multispectral Cameras

Multispectral 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 are helpful for detecting vegetative stress by estimating the chlorophyll content in plants. By capturing in the RE and NIR bands, we are able to estimate plant health prior to visible changes in the plant's coloration. The only filter option for multispectral captures is R-RE-NIR, and the only algorithm available is NDVI. See our supported multispectral cameras here: Hardware for Multispectral Capture

Filter Types and Algorithms for Standard and Modified Cameras

Under 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 do I find correct filter type for my modified camera?

Please verify the band order with the company you purchased the filter from. There are modified cameras so please check with the manufacturer for further information on the correct filter type for your camera. 

Aerial Media Pros

If you're using a converted camera from Aerial Media Pros, choose RGN for filter type.

Sentera Cameras

Please follow the Sentera Camera guide here: Sentera Cameras

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

When you navigate to your multispectral capture, the options under your Plant Health side panel will display your multispectral filter and algorithm options. 

Filter Types

Below are the list of band orders available for Multispectral Cameras:

• R-RE-NIR

* As of 2024, DroneDeploy only supports one filter type for multispectral captures

Algorithm

Below are the algorithms 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)