Multispectral sensors capture images in multiple bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, including some beyond the visible light range. Several of these bands such as infrared (IR), near IR, and Red edge, are particularly helpful in agriculture since they tend to reflect off chlorophyll. This reflectance changes in intensity based on the density of a plant's chlorophyll concentration.

Capturing data in multiple spectral bands and comparing the reflectance in these bands can provide valuable insights into vegetation growth, crop health, water stress, soil moisture content, and other environmental factors. In many cases, this digital map can be directly imported into the navigation systems of ‘smart' farm machinery to autonomously and efficiently guide the distribution of nutrients and fertilizer into the soil.