The Mavic 3 Multispectral (M3M) is a foldable mapping drone with a 20 MP RGB camera and four multispectral bands (Green, Red, Red‑Edge, NIR). It’s designed for farmers, agronomists, researchers and land‑managers who need crop‑health maps, scouting and survey‑grade imagery.

Common tasks include spotting nutrition or water stress, detecting pest/disease hotspots, measuring emergence and canopy cover, planning variable‑rate inputs, tree‑counting in orchards/vineyards, and verifying trial plots.

You can produce the popular indices — NDVI (general vigour), NDRE (chlorophyll in denser canopies), and GNDVI (sensitive to nitrogen/water) — as well as custom band math. The choice depends on crop stage and what you’re diagnosing.

The built‑in sunlight sensor improves consistency across changing light. A calibrated reflectance panel is still recommended for research‑grade or cross‑season comparisons where absolute reflectance accuracy matters.

You can expect up to ~40 minutes airborne in typical mapping (rated up to 43 min in still air). Real coverage depends on height, overlap, wind and turns. Carry multiple batteries for continuous work. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Start at 80‑120 m AGL with 70‑80% front/side overlap. Increase overlap in windy conditions, for tall crops, or when chasing finer ground‑sampling distance (GSD).

RTK provides centimetre‑level positioning by applying corrections to the GNSS solution. You can get corrections from an NTRIP service (requires mobile data) or your own local base station (no internet required). Without RTK you can still map, but accuracy and repeatability are lower. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Many ag‑workflows are fine with RTK only. Use GCPs (or at least check‑points) when you need survey‑grade accuracy, are working under tree cover/poor GNSS conditions, or when specifications demand them.

It’s a lab rating for the control/video link in ideal line‑of‑sight conditions. In the UK you must maintain visual line of sight (VLOS), which typically limits practical distances to a few hundred metres depending on aircraft visibility and observers.

The aircraft is not rated for rain or heavy mist — avoid precipitation to protect sensors and data quality. It handles moderate winds; reduce speed and increase overlap when it’s gusty. Works in typical UK winter/summer temps — keep batteries warm before flight in cold. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Yes — with caution. Keep altitude/separation to avoid disturbance, especially during lambing/calving. Follow landowner instructions and welfare guidelines.

Typical outputs are geotagged RGB photos, multispectral TIFFs, orthomosaics and index rasters (e.g. GeoTIFF). Most agronomy/GIS tools (and variable‑rate platforms) accept these or their exports (e.g. shapefiles, prescriptions).

DJI Terra/SmartFarm provide straightforward workflows for indices and farm management. Many teams also use third‑party photogrammetry and GIS when they need extra control or specific analytics. Choose based on your reporting and prescription needs.

Process flights into NDVI/NDRE, classify into zones, and export a prescription file (rate‑map). These can be used by spreaders/sprayers or to drive drone applications in compatible ecosystems.

Multispectral highlights plant‑stress but doesn’t label the cause. Identification requires agronomic expertise and/or trained models. Use the maps to direct ground checks and confirm diagnoses.

Routine field‑work relies on the onboard sync and sunlight sensor. For research‑grade reflectance, use a panel and consistent capture procedures (panel images at start/end, steady altitude, constant speed).

Yes. Plan terrain‑follow missions and adjust speed/overlap for canopy height and slope. Obstacles and tree rows may reduce GNSS and add occlusion—consider extra overlap and careful line planning.

No. You can fly and record data offline. Internet is only required for NTRIP RTK corrections, syncing to cloud tools or downloading maps. You can also use a local RTK base without mobile data.

Two to four batteries keep a single aircraft working most of the day. Use the charging hub and a suitable inverter/generator or mains power. Avoid deep discharges, store partially charged for longer breaks, and keep contacts clean/dry.

Keep lenses/sensors clean, check props for nicks, ensure firmware is current, and review logs for errors. Protect the gimbal in transport and avoid leaving batteries fully charged for long periods.

Most field surveys can fit within the Open category depending on class‑marking and separation; otherwise operate in the Specific category with the appropriate training and an Operational Authorisation. Always check the latest CAA guidance and carry suitable insurance for commercial work.

Get landowner permission, respect privacy, and follow airspace/flight rules. Good neighbour policy: inform nearby farmers before flights, especially near livestock or public rights of way.

Simple index maps from small fields can be processed the same day. Larger blocks and full orthomosaics take longer depending on PC specs and overlap. Batch overnight when processing many fields.

Yes. Use multispectral surveys to create prescription maps and zone boundaries. Those outputs can inform variable‑rate drone jobs where supported by your ecosystem.

Use high‑quality UHS‑I V30 (or better) microSD cards from reputable brands. Keep spares, and format in‑device before important jobs.

Fly midday with stable light, keep altitude/ground speed steady, maintain recommended overlap, and avoid dust/moisture on lenses. Use the same workflow each time to make fields comparable across dates.

Yes — Drone Sales UK can help with setup, field workflows, UK regs guidance, data processing and ongoing support. Ask about on‑farm training and bundles.

Standard manufacturer warranty applies; extended cover plans may be available. Our UK team can advise on turnaround times, spare parts and loan options if required.

ROI depends on farm size and how often you fly. Users typically regain value through saved inputs (targeted fertiliser/chemicals), reduced scouting time, and earlier intervention leading to yield protection.

You do. If you use cloud services, review their terms on storage and sharing. Many workflows can be run entirely offline if preferred.