WOLFVILLE, NS, May 20, 2015 /CNW/ - Wolfville-based AerHyve Aerial Technologies has announced a strategic partnership with PrecisionHawk. AerHyve analyzes high quality, multi-sensor data from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, aka drones), for use in precision agriculture. PrecisionHawk are world leaders in UAV remote sensing and GIS data processing, and this partnership will provide AerHyve clients with access to PrecisionHawk's industry-leading hardware and software tools. For AerHyve the partnership will bring increased exposure and scalability to their cutting-edge data analysis tools in an emerging global market.

"We value AerHyve for their regional presence and expertise in the development of algorithms for UAV data analysis," said Christopher Dean, PrecisionHawk CEO. "This partnership will allow us to expand and customize our services while equipping AerHyve clients to make more informed business decisions."

"The partnership with PrecisionHawk will empower AerHyve with an end to end system for incorporating aerial data into an agricultural workflow; from innovative UAV hardware to a library of data analysis tools," said John Frost, President, AerHyve Aerial Technologies.

AerHyve can provide agricultural operations with actionable data on the status of their crops that otherwise would be difficult, if not impossible, to access. By processing aerial data with Machine Learning technology AerHyve is able to offer agricultural producers information to make more targeted, resource allocation decisions. AerHyve's initial focus has been on the wild blueberry industry, Nova Scotia's largest fruit crop. However, their technology can be applied to other types of crop analysis.

"Our precision agriculture developments focus on the ability to detect plant health and stresses outside of the normal human range of visualization," says Frost. By pooling multiple data streams like microclimate, surrounding habitat, soil composition and moisture, we're also looking deeper into the patterns of growing cycles and associated anomalies. This information can inform small changes that yield big results."

Frost says their developments will also ultimately be used to optimize harvest and pollination efficacy and increase yields.

Acadia University's Rural Innovation Centre supported AerHyve's development through their small business incubation services. AerHyve also received a 2014-2015 Nova Scotia Productivity & Innovation voucher, and were a finalist for the Annapolis Valley Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Innovator Award (2014).

"The Rural Innovation Centre is home to high-growth potential, innovative startups and AerHyve is leading the charge with their strategic partnership and novel Machine Learning development," says Hope McCallum, manager of the Rural Innovation Centre.

SOURCE AerHyve Aerial Technologies