We've been modifying cheap cameras to take infrared photos. This can be used to generate NDVI or NRG images, which is helpful in assessing vegetative health.

Learn to remove the infrared filter from your camera: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lpimaging/sets/72157625698391563/with/5355456142/

NDVI example:

NRG example:

By putting both an infrared-pass filter and an infrared-block filter on the same camera, you can get both infrared and visible light with one photograph... though the areas don't overlap. This means you can get such imagery from the air using /tool/balloon-mapping, while only risking one camera. Another alternative is to use the in-development /tool/stereo-camera being developed by the /place/new-york-city