Key Challenges to be Addressed

• Cost-Efficiency: Demonstrate the various ways in which drone technology can improve the profitability of farming enterprises.
• Technical Complexity: Simplify the use of drone technology through training in piloting, data analysis, and maintenance.
• Technological Adoption: Translate research and development into efficient farming practices.
• Scalability: Demonstrate the viability of drones for both large-scale agricultural operations and small-scale, resource-constrained farmers.
• Data Management: Provide solutions for effective data management, processing, and interpretation.
• Environmental Conditions: Highlight the advantages of operating drones in adverse weather or challenging terrain.
• Battery Life: Improve strategies for managing drone flight times and battery life.
• Sustainability: Show how drones reduce emissions, chemical use, and crop damage, and improve soil health.
• Labour Shortages: Demonstrate how drone technology can alleviate the challenge of engaging skilled and seasonal labour.

Marking Scheme

• Agricultural Benefits: Does the solution significantly enhance productivity, optimize resource usage, or promote sustainable farming practices in Western Australia?
• Targeted Challenges: How effectively does the proposal tackle one or more of the key challenges (Cost-Efficiency, Technical Complexity, Technological Adoption, Scalability, Data Management, Environmental Conditions, Battery Life, Sustainability, Labor Shortages)?
• Cost-Effectiveness: Is the solution cost-effective for small-scale and resource-constrained farmers?
• Scalability: Can the solution be scaled up for larger agricultural operations?

• Implementation: Can the solution be realistically implemented and tested within the context of Western Australian agriculture?
• Usability: Is the solution user-friendly for Western Australian farmers, including those with limited technical expertise?
• Technical Soundness: Is the solution technically sound and well-researched?
• Data Management: Does the proposal include effective strategies for data management, processing, and interpretation?

• Environmental Impact: Does the solution contribute to reducing emissions, chemical use, and crop damage?
• Sustainability Practices: Does the proposal promote sustainable agricultural practices in Western Australia?
• Talent Pipeline: Does the proposal encourage the development of a skills pipeline to support drone technology adoption in local Western Australian communities?
• Awareness: How well does the solution raise awareness about the benefits of drone technology in agriculture among Western Australian farmers and other stakeholders?

• Originality: How unique and original is the solution?
• Creativity: Does the proposal creatively address the outlined challenges (Cost-Efficiency, Technical Complexity, Technological Adoption, Scalability, Data Management, Environmental Conditions, Battery Life, Sustainability, Labour Shortages)?