Title:	Modeling Sugar Cane Evapotranspiration Using UAV Thermal and Multispectral Images in Northeast Brazil.
Authors:	OLIVEIRA JUNIOR, M. E. de NASCIMENTO, A. F. do CARNEIRO, E. A. BERTRAND, G. F. JORGE, L. A. de C. COBALCHINI, E. R. O. WENDLAND, E. BORGES, V. P. MELO, D. de C. D.
Affiliation:	FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF PARAÍBA; FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF PARAÍBA; FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF PARAÍBA; FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF PARAÍBA; LUCIO ANDRE DE CASTRO JORGE, CNPDIA; UNIVERSITY OF SÃO PAULO; UNIVERSITY OF SÃO PAULO; FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF PARAÍBA; FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF PARAÍBA.
Date Issued:	2026
Citation:	AgriEngineering, v. 8, 149, 2026
Pages:	21 p.
Description:	Understanding crop water use is essential for improving agricultural water management and ensuring sustainable food production, especially in regions with limited water re sources. Evapotranspiration (ET) is a key component of the hydrological cycle, directly influencing irrigation planning and crop productivity. However, accurately estimating ET at local scales remains a challenge due to the limitations of conventional measurement methods and the difficulty of integrating high-resolution remote sensing data. This study investigates the estimation of terrestrial evapotranspiration (ET) in a sugarcane cultivation area located in the northern coastal region of Paraíba, Brazil, using meteorological data and aerial images acquired by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). We adapted the PT-JPL model to estimate ET at the local scale, using thermal and multispectral imagery obtained from UAVs. Data validation was performed using surface energy balance measurements obtained from a micrometeorological tower, thereby enabling comparison of estimated and observed ET values. The results demonstrated strong correlations between modeled predictions and field measurements of net radiation (R2 = 0.85), with performance metrics indicating moderate reliability for local-scale simulated ET when compared to flux-tower based ET (R2 = 0.48; RMSE ≈ 0.045 mm/30 min). This research highlights the potential of integrating UAV-based remote sensing with the PT-JPL model to improve understanding of crop water use, support irrigation management, and contribute to sustainable agricul tural practices.
Keywords:	Crop monitoring
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering8040149
Type of Material:	Artigo de periódico
Access:	openAccess
Appears in Collections:	Artigo em periódico indexado (CNPDIA)