How Thailand Uses the JOUAV CW-15 to Stop Rubber Leaf Fall Disease?

Thailand is the world’s leading producer of natural rubber, and its vast plantations are crucial for this status. However, a silent threat has been putting the industry at risk for years: Rubber Leaf Fall Disease. This disease, caused by aggressive fungal pathogens, leads to severe defoliation. It slashes latex yields by 20 to 45 percent and threatens the livelihoods of many farming communities.

For the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT), controlling this disease was a monumental challenge. Using traditional ground teams to monitor the extensive plantations in Narathiwat Province, across all six districts, proved to be slow and inefficient. Satellite imagery didn't have the detail needed to spot early signs of stress. They needed a way to identify problems before leaves fell and yields dropped.

A solution emerged through a partnership with Systronics Co., Ltd. They deployed the JOUAV CW-15 VTOL drone, which comes equipped with a professional multispectral imaging system.

From Impossible Coverage to Unprecedented Detail

The operational change was immediate. The CW-15 launched vertically from narrow plantation paths, combining the coverage of a fixed-wing aircraft with the access of a helicopter.

“The first mission was a revelation,” said a Systronics project lead. “We covered over 240 km² in a single flight, and the 100-plus minutes of flight time provided a level of data we couldn’t achieve before.”

The VTOL feature was essential, as it removed the need for runways and allowed safe operations in uneven and tight areas. However, the real breakthrough was in the data collected by the drone’s five-band multispectral sensor (Red, Green, Blue, Near-Infrared, and RedEdge).

This technology captures details beyond human vision. By calculating indices like NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), the system shows the physiological stress of rubber trees long before visible signs, such as yellowing or leaf loss, appear.

“The multispectral maps were like putting on glasses for the first time,” explained an RAOT agronomist. “We could see clear patches of stress that were completely invisible from the ground. It changed how we understood the outbreak’s scale.”

Transforming Data into Actionable Farmer Alerts

Collecting data was just the beginning. The project’s main innovation is its web-based geospatial intelligence platform. All data, including bi-annual drone surveys, ground samples, and weather stations, is integrated into a single, easy-to-use dashboard.

For the first time, farmers and officials can log in to see:

• Real-time risk zone maps showing potential outbreak areas.
• Plantation-specific NDVI health scores to track tree vitality.
• Seasonal comparison views to monitor changes over time.
• High-resolution orthomosaics of their own plots.

This shift from reacting to problems to managing them proactively has been transformative.

“Before, we were always chasing the disease,” noted a RAOT district manager. “Now, the system points us to the right place before issues become severe. We’ve moved from fighting outbreaks to preventing them.”

Building a Sustainable Defense with Drone Intelligence

The success of this project comes from a strong combination of scale, precision, and consistency.

• The JOUAV CW-15 gave the endurance and reliability for repeatable, province-wide surveys.
• Multispectral Imaging provided critical early-detection data.
• Integrated Data Analytics turned raw images into clear, actionable risk assessments.
• The Accessible Platform empowered end-users with timely and reliable insights.

“This became the foundational layer for our entire early warning strategy,” concluded a senior RAOT officer. “It’s not just a drone project; it’s how we now protect this industry.”