EGNOS OS has significantly enhanced precision agriculture across Europe by providing free satellite-based augmentation to GPS. The use of EGNOS enables farmers to optimize diverse agricultural practices, leading to increased efficiency, reduced costs and environmental benefits.
One of the most notable applications of EGNOS in agriculture is its integration into agricultural machinery. Manufacturers such as Valtra have incorporated EGNOS into their GNSS guidance systems, allowing precise ploughing, planting and harvesting operations. This reduces overlaps and missed areas, ultimately optimizing resources, like seeds or fertilizers, and improving field productivity. With the use of EGNOS, farmers can carry out their daily tasks with enhanced accuracy, saving time and minimizing input costs.
Irrigation systems are another area where EGNOS plays an important role. Companies like Proxima Systems and Trigger Systems have leveraged EGNOS to enhance the precision of their irrigation solutions. By replacing traditional position estimation methods, EGNOS enables accurate water distribution in linear and central pivot irrigation systems. This optimization leads to significant water savings and ensures that crops receive the right amount of hydration, contributing to both environmental sustainability and improved yields.
Sustainability is at the core of modern agriculture, and EGNOS supports this by enabling precision farming technologies. The Laboratory of Robotics and IoT for Smart Precision Agriculture and Forestry in Portugal employs EGNOS to improve the positioning accuracy of agricultural robots. This, in turn, supports variable rate applications, such as precise fertilization and spraying, reducing chemical overuse and limiting environmental impact. Additionally, EGNOS works in synergy with Copernicus to enhance soil management through improved drainage systems and targeted fertilization. By integrating satellite remote sensing and in-situ sensors, farmers can identify soil anomalies and apply the necessary corrections, promoting healthier crops and more efficient land use.
Beyond field operations, EGNOS can be an enabler for the users of fleet management applications, contributing to monitoring the location, status, and movement of tractors in the field. A key example of this is the FarmStream Fleet application, which can use EGNOS enabled devices to track the location of tractors and other farm machinery, providing real-time monitoring of the fleet. These data can be synchronized with cloud information to support real-time management decisions. Overall, these systems allow precise tracking of agricultural vehicles, facilitating better maintenance scheduling, fuel consumption monitoring, and overall resource allocation.
Over the years, EGNOS has proven to be an enabler for several applications in modern agriculture, enhancing precision across multiple farming practices. From machinery guidance and irrigation management to sustainable farming and fleet optimization, EGNOS offers European farmers a reliable and cost-effective way to increase productivity while promoting environmentally friendly methods. Its widespread adoption highlights its key role in the ongoing evolution of precision agriculture.