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USER-PA: USability of Environmentally sound and Reliable techniques in Precision Agriculture
Project
Project code: 2812ERA038
Contract period: 01.03.2013
- 31.12.2015
Budget: 166,627 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
The USER project (ICT-AGRI) implements a technological architecture for precision agriculture (Precision Fruticulture and Precision Viticulture). Plant data are acquired by means of crown and fruit sensors that are run by means of autonomous platforms and connected by wireless sensor networks (WSN). The acquisition of information is done in a spatially resolved farm management system (FMIS); the economic evaluation is integrated into the project from the beginning.
The ATB leads the USER work package 'plant sensors'. Within the ATB project a multispectral sensor will be developed for analysing the fruit pigments and fruit water contents. The demands on the construction of the fruit sensors are particularly the lightness and cost-effectiveness; while the sensor communication will employ a WSN. These sensor properties enable spatially resolved, automated measurements during the growth period of the fruit, in-situ, in the tree canopy. In the project framework, the principle laboratory solution of the sensor will be transferred into an advanced system for application in the orchard. For this purpose, optoelectronic
components of the fruit sensors will be redesigned. The physical calibration of the sensors will be developed for application under varying environmental conditions and for growing plant organs, showing varying absorption and scattering coefficients.
Field tests with all partners will be carried out in vineyards and apple orchards. The sensors will be validated considering its measuring uncertainty and feasibility. Deliverables from the project will capture the characterisation of variability in the individual plant and site-specific variability.
The fruit data will be evaluated for plant information and integrated in the FMIS in real-time. The complete system will be demonstrated, starting in year two of the project. A concept for the use of the sensors will be developed and discussed with potential stakeholders. An economic evaluation is carried out for model-processes of crop management.
Section overview
Subjects
- Horticulture
