Frost damage has been a frequent hazard for fruit growers in the Netherlands, getting worse with shifts in the growing season due to climate change. Wind machines can be a more sustainable alternative than sprinkling freshwater for frost protection, especially in regions where freshwater is limited or too brackish.

Last spring, FutureWater and HiView conducted flying sensor flights equipped with a thermal camera to map the temperature effects of wind machines for protecting fruit orchards against frost damage. The work was done in a larger research project with TUDelft aiming at capturing the effect of the wind machines on fruit frost protection at a fruit grower in Krabbedijke, the Netherlands. Read more about this project here.

A video was made to give an impression of the flying sensor activities, watch it here: