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Sustainable farming captured by satellite in Abu Dhabi

Leonardo, a global leader in the aerospace, defence and security sector, recently released a satellite image showing the fields of Al Ajban, a residential area within Abu Dhabi. This image comes from the Cosmo-SkyMed satellites, of the Italian Space Agency and the Italian Ministry of Defence, made with the contribution of Leonardo and the joint ventures Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space. The image shows the use of central pivot irrigation, a common technique in desert areas because it favours the saving of resources and avoids waste. The different colours help to understand the state of the crop, as well as agricultural activity and crop growth. Satellites, aeroplanes and drones make it possible to continuously monitor water resources and levels of use. By analysing data and using artificial intelligence and big data analytics, valuable information can be obtained to protect the 'blue gold' and optimise the management of water resources. Leonardo supports precision agriculture and the monitoring of critical infrastructures. This, along with other sources, allows the calculation of real water needs for crops and to plan for sustainable use of water. It has been estimated that through precision agriculture, water savings can reach up to 60 per cent.