Published on the 17/10/2016 | Written by Anthony Caruana
‘Digiscape’ to focus on digital agriculture…
CSIRO has committed to investing over AU$200m by the end of the decade into several emerging areas of technology, including ‘Digiscape’.
Already, projects using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are being used to locate and identify cattle in remote areas. The UAVs use thermal imaging cameras to find animals so that mustering can be better planned. With the cost of this activity priced at around AU$5 per animal, the technology can deliver significant value to this sector.
Other imaging technologies are also being employed to automatically and remotely measure and monitor the liveweight and condition of livestock. This will allow farmers to predict the future condition of the animals so they can make more accurate, informed and timely decisions.
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a laser imaging technology that measures three-dimensional structural data with millimetre to centimetre accuracy. It sends non-invasive laser pulses at an animal and a sensor measures the amount of time taken for each light pulse to bounce back. This is used to generate a detailed 3D ‘picture’ of the animal’s shape and surface characteristics.
This and other imaging techniques can be used with walk-over weighing systems to give producers real-time access to more detailed livestock data than previously.
CSIRO is also working tools and techniques to better support crop production. Through the use of GPS, GIS (Geographical Information Systems) and sensors, farmers can collect geo-referenced records of yield during harvest. The data can be used to create models which in turn, can give farmers insight into understanding the variation in both crops and soils. They can then understand and manage the variability in their production systems by tailoring inputs to desired outputs.
Outside the traditional farm, CSIRO’s high-tech research centre Data 61 has been working in Tasmania on oyster farms, placing sensors into animals in order to better understand their physiological response to environmental stimuli. This allows farmers to understand yields and make better decisions for the short and medium term management of commercial stock for enhanced animal welfare and production.
For most of Australia’s history, the economy was founded on the hard work and resourcefulness of farmers. And while there seems to be a lot of government focus on mining and resources, and high-tech start-ups, there’s still a lot of a value the country can derive from agriculture. CSIRO’s investment signals a merger between the old and the new. The ability for producers to better manage resources and deliver greater value from their crops and herds could herald a new era in the nation’s rich agricultural heritage.
