Fishing for new solutions to old problems

Turning sensor data into decisions in the paddock

Ash Wallace Eileen Perry, James Nuttall, Jason Brand & Glenn Fitzgerald

What problems are we targeting?

Frost

• Estimated damage up to $100M p.a.

• Potential increased risk in the future.

Pulse diseases

• Estimated damage up to $74M p.a.

What technology are we using?

Fluorometer • Measures a range of indices related

to photosynthesis and plant stress.

• Active, proximal sensor.

Hyperspectral sensor • Measures reflected sunlight ranging from UV, to

visible and beyond.

• Passive sensor, very sensitive to sky conditions. • Provides a very wide range of indices e.g. NDVI.

Measuring frost damage in the field

Measuring frost damage in the field

Booting .………. ….……… Grain fill

Measuring frost damage in the field

Classification accuracy of 92%

So what?

Research questions: • How early can we detect damage? • What ‘level’ of damage can we detect? • Do these indices ‘hold up’ across time and space?

Practical questions: • What decisions can we make with this information? • Couldn’t you make a decision based on ‘eye’? • Would the ability to map damage help?

Measuring frost damage in the field

Measuring frost damage in the field

Measuring pulse diseases in the field

• Monitoring disease progression in Faba Beans and Chickpeas.

• Targeting multiple varieties and fungicide strategies.

• Multiple sensors, proximity to the crop and time of monitoring.

Moving from canopy to leaf level measurements

• Using a hyperspectral sensor to test a broad range of indices.

• Hopefully an indicator of indices that might be of use at the canopy level.

• Challenges where the upper canopy is relatively ‘clean’.

• Haven’t yet found any ‘best bets’ for diagnosis.

Turning sensor data into a decision

What is the problem?

What can we measure?

Can we do anything about it?

• Practicalities of the equipment:

• How can it be deployed?

• Active vs. passive sensors.

• What resolution of data and decision is required?

• Translating that decision into an action.

Thank-you to our funders and collaborators

Questions?