State Grid Taizhou Power Supply Company Empowers New "Low-Altitude Economy & Smart Farmland" Model

On April 15, at the 110kV Dongxing Substation in Jingjiang,Taizhou, Jiangsu, a drone autonomously conducted inspections of power facilities and nearly 100 mu (16.47 acres) of adjacent farmland along a pre-programmed route before returning to its UAV docking station for automated recharging. Simultaneously, real-time crop spectral analysis maps were transmitted to local village committees, providing critical data support for agricultural decision-making.

Under traditional farming practices, comprehensive farmland inspections posed significant financial and logistical challenges for farmers. Purchasing drones required substantial upfront investments (¥20,000-50,000 for equipment, maintenance, and operator training), while hiring professional drone pilots cost ¥300-800 per service—with wait times stretching to days during peak seasons, often delaying vital farming decisions.

To address these issues, State Grid Taizhou Power Supply Company collaborated with Jiangsu University to integrate GIS-generated precision inspection maps into UAV operating systems. This innovation enables drones to perform dual roles: routine power grid inspections and complimentary smart farmland monitoring, boosting resource utilization efficiency by 40%.

Equipped with visible-light and multispectral cameras, the drones generate diagnostic vegetation maps. Healthy crops exhibit distinct green spectral signatures (550nm wavelength reflectance from chlorophyll), while disease-affected areas show abnormal patterns. For instance, crops infected with leaf spot disease exhibit 25-40% reduced near-infrared reflectance (760-900nm), appearing as red anomalies on multispectral composites.

“Multispectral analysis allows farmers to pinpoint areas needing irrigation, fertilization, or pest control, replacing guesswork with precision,” said Bao Lufeng, the company’s Rural Revitalization Officer. “This approach cuts water/chemical use by 30% while increasing yields by 15%.”

By analyzing spectral color distribution, technicians and farmers can detect pest infestations 7-10 days earlier than traditional methods, enabling timely interventions. This proactive strategy has reduced crop loss by up to 50% in pilot areas, according to field trials.

To date, 207 UAV docking stations have been deployed across Taizhou’s critical power infrastructure nodes, completing over 200 farmland inspections covering 5,000 mu (823 acres). This cross-sector integration of power grid technology and smart agriculture is accelerating rural modernization, aligning with China’s national rural revitalization strategy.(By Fran)