Developing irrigation schemes using drones: eBee X cuts costs by 80%

Drone: eBee X	Area: 2,470 acres / 1,000 hectares
Camera: Aeria X	Data outputs: Orthomosaic
Location: Soum, Burkina Faso	GSD: 2 in / 4 cm

Burkina Faso, located in Africa, has an estimated population of nearly 22 million, with over 40% living in poverty. The country’s economy relies heavily on agriculture, employing 80% of the workforce. However, this sector faces significant challenges due to a short three-month rainy season and the effects of climate change, such as flash floods.

Rain-dependent farming is no longer sustainable in the country. To address this issue, the government is transitioning to irrigated agriculture. These efforts are crucial for improving productivity and ensuring food security.

To support the government, Burkina Faso Flying Labs—a part of a global network using drones for social good—has launched a pilot project to develop irrigation systems.

These systems are designed to supply water to agricultural lands, boosting crop growth and productivity. They offer benefits such as increased yields, better water management, and soil erosion prevention.

For this initiative, the team chose the eBee X drone for its ability to survey large areas with high accuracy. After the survey, the fixed-wing drone demonstrated another significant advantage: an 80% reduction in costs compared to traditional surveying methods.

Project goals: Rapid topographic survey using drones

1 – Rapid topographic survey for irrigation scheme development: The primary goal of the pilot project was to make a rapid survey of an area of 1,000 hectares (2,470 acres) for developing irrigations schemes in the village of Soum, with a focus on ensuring smooth water flow from the beginning to the end of the land. It was a very large area, so traditional surveying methods, such as total stations and terrestrial tools, were time-consuming, labor-intensive and also expensive. The team chose the eBee X drone that facilitated a much faster, accurate, and cost-effective topographic survey.

2 – Regulate water usage among farmers: With over 200 farmers involved in the pilot project, it was essential to establish a clear irrigation schedule, allocate land sections, and plan water usage based on the specific location and needs of the farms. The high-resolution orthomosaic maps generated by the eBee X and the Aeria X RGB drone camera enabled more accurate planning and monitoring, allowing for better management of water resources and reducing potential conflicts over water use.

Claudel Guiella, Project and Training Coordinator at Burkina Faso Flying Labs, highlights the urgency of such initiatives. Citing VertigO, an environmental science journal, Guiella notes that:

“West African farmers have experienced a 30-50% decline in agricultural yields, primarily due to erratic rainfall and persistent drought.”

This Flying Lab initiative is part of the Projet de Développement Hydroagricole de Soum (PDHS), led by the Burkina Faso government. It directly benefits more than 5,000 households, supported by a dam with a water capacity of 155 million cubic meters.

Results: Cost savings and faster decisions with drone-based irrigation surveys

• Strategic impact on irrigation development: The success of the pilot project, which helped design irrigation schemes benefiting over 5,000 households, could have significant implications for Burkina Faso’s national development strategy. This strategy includes plans to develop more than 30,000 hectares (74,130 acres) of irrigated land. The positive feedback from the pilot phase with the eBee X positions the team to effectively collaborate with government stakeholders moving forward.

• 80% of cost savings: The project demonstrated that using drones for topographic surveys resulted in cost savings compared to traditional terrestrial tools. These were primarily driven by reduced time requirements for mapping, as well as lower personnel, equipment, and fuel costs. In just three days, the eBee X drone with an Aeria X RGB camera autonomously surveyed 1,000 ha (2,470 ac) of agricultural land, using the eBee eMotion software to optimize flight paths. 

• Decision–making in just 6 days: The time required to complete the survey was significantly reduced, taking only 6 days—3 for mapping and 3 for post-processing—enabling faster decision-making and planning. The eBee X drone can fly for up to 90 minutes and cover 500 ha (1,235 ac) on a single battery, quickly surveying large areas. In contrast, with conventional surveying techniques, engineers must cover great distances, often walking miles to survey points.

• Assesing degradation of current channels: The high-resolution maps produced by the eBee X enabled a detailed assessment of the condition of the existing irrigation channels. By identifying areas where the channels were degraded or obstructed by crop growth, stakeholders were able to plan necessary repairs and maintenance, ensuring optimal water flow and minimizing water loss. The eBee X data had a Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) of less than 4 cm (2 in). The team chose to use Ground Control Points (GCPs).

The use of the eBee X drone in this pilot project represents a significant advancement in the development of irrigation systems in the country, offering accurate, fast, and cost-effective land surveys.

Integrating such innovative technologies will be key to overcoming the challenges posed by climate change and to achieving food security and economic stability.

For more information on how the eBee X drone can help with your agricultural projects, contact us today.

The story was also captured by Forbes.