A year after we officially kicked off the HE ScaleAgData project and 6 months after the launch of our website, we're pleased to send you this first ScaleAgData Newsletter! Every quarter, we'll give this 'digital floor' to our RI Labs, technology partners and, of course, end-users, to share insights and ideas with you. Stay tuned via our website & social media channels & don't hesitate to forward this newsletter or invite colleagues to register!
In this first ScaleAgData Newsletter:
2nd milestone: Co-design and development phase
Innovative sensor technology
User quote from the European Commission
Upcoming events & online calendar
2nd milestone: Co-design and development phase
The building blocks of ScaleAgData
Through innovative approaches like using hyperspectral sensors and satellite imagery, data sharing, edge computing, privacy-preserving and data integration technologies, ScaleAgData aims to advance smart farming and agro-environmental monitoring. These advancements will be investigated and implemented in six research and innovation labs (RILs) that specifically address multiple identified challenges in six vertical domains:
These labs will evaluate and demonstrate diverse models or approaches for scaling up and integrating sensor data. Each approach is customized to specific deployment scenarios and varies in maturity level.
To reach ScaleAgData's ambition, many innovations are required across the various aspects of the data stream. Let's introduce you to the 1st of 7 innovation areas: 'innovative sensor technology', which is related to and applied in different RIL's: crop management, soil health and dairy.
Sensors are a quickly evolving area of research. ScaleAgData will work on the development and integration of an innovative sensing approach and aims to eliminate the lack of monitoring instruments and suitable technologies for in-the-field automated detection of pesticides due to technical and cost issues. The use of compact, cost-effective low power and highly sensitive sensors is the main alternative to be explored. Another goal is to investigate whether specific conditions could be measured with hyperspectral sensors and reflectance-based technologies, considering the large amount of data, which poses a challenge when transferring the data. A hyperspectral imaging instrument will be customized to accommodate use-cases and data collection needs. The instrument's control and data interface will be designed to support the data collection and edge-computing objectives of the project. Within the ScaleAgData consortium, ILVO, theAristotle University of Thessaloniki, Kuva Space, VTTandNeuropublic actively contribute to innovation in sensor technology.
The Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO) and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), as research collaborators within the Soil Research and Innovation Lab of the project, will engage in joint experimentation with the advanced hyperspectral sensor technologies provided by VTT and Kuva Space. This collaborative effort is directed towards evaluating soil health at both local and regional scales, thereby supporting soil-related management strategies. Both research institutes are experienced in developing and deploying similar local and regional analytical services using multiband spectral sensor technologies with EO or sensors mounted on UAV and robotic platforms. The ambition of theSoil RIL is to leverage the latest advancements in spectral sensor technology - specifically, hyperspectral sensors - to capture high-resolution imagery and provide enhanced spectral resolution, enabling the identification of more subtle distinctions and intricacies within soil compositions, and subsequently refine and elevate the quality of their existing service offerings.
Kuva Space, a space tech company based in Finland, is at the forefront of developing end-to-end EO services. The company's revolutionary hyperspectral constellation, featuring a patented hyperspectral camera, will capture daily global data by 2027. This continuous data flow seamlessly integrates into the advanced in-house AI platform, providing processed, user-ready information within an impressive 1-2 hours of acquisition. The uniqueness of the patented hyperspectral technology gives Kuva Space unparalleled data acquisition capabilities. Its acquisition modes provide remarkable flexibility, allowing it to cater to various application. For example, the ability to adjust the spectral range and integration time in orbit improves biochemical measurements and signal-to-noise ratios, delivering top-quality data that reveals intricate details about vegetation types and conditions. With this integrated solution, Kuva Space aims to provide highly accurate and near real-time crop growth analysis and yield forecast to improve food security.
VTT is a leading visionary research, development and innovation partner in Europe. For the ScaleAgData project, VTT develops a hyperspectral imaging instrument based on tuneable Fabry-Pérot inferometer filter technology. The imager is designed for airborne measurements from drones in agricultural applications. The instrument is based on a large tuneable bandpass filter, powerful long focal length optics, dedicated control electronics, and weather-proof mechanical design.
The optical design of the camera enables capturing high-resolution hyperspectral data from large distances and a moving platform. During the second year of the ScaleAgData project (2024), the imager will be employed in the RIL focusing on soil measurements. The figure below shows the design of the instrument.
Neuropublic is an innovative Informatics and Technology company founded in 2003 in Piraeus, Greece, specializing in the development of Web- and Cloud-based integrated information systems and applications.
The company has developed the first and only large-scale Internet of Things infrastructure in Greece, installing hundreds of (in-house designed and manufactured) wireless agro-environmental sensing stations on agricultural land, developing the “gaiasense” smart farming system.With "gaiasense" Neuropublic aims to help digitizing and reforming agricultural production in Greece. Each station contains several sensors measuring environmental parameters according to the cultivation practices to be supported.
In the context of ScaleAgData an innovative sensing mechanism called Pesticide Detection Sensor (PestGaS) will be further developed and tested. The PestGaS will be integrated within the “gaiasense” IoT sensing stations. The aim of these sensors is the real-time automatic monitoring of pest control applications by farmers, which will improve data collection on the use of plant protection products. The overall objective is to optimize the use of pesticides against the targeted pests and help minimize their side effects in humans, other living organisms and the environment in general.
"ScaleAgData significantly contributes to the EU's endeavor to harness Environmental Observations (EO) capacities for the benefit of farmer's sustainability and competitiveness.
The use of high-end EO and data technologies are also improving agro-environmental monitoring capabilities and decision making processes"
Franz IMMLER
Head of Sector Environmental Observations European Commission
Upcomingevents
Would you like to learn about upcoming events focused on the latest innovative data technologies for managing agricultural production and monitoring agricultural environments?
SOON AVAILABLE: an online calendar for more information and updates!
VITO's role
VITO is the project coordinator of the ScaleAgData consortium and will also contribute significantly to the 'product and service development', the RI Lab on Yield monitoring as well as the entire communication segment of the project. As a technology provider, VITO will bring data products and innovative solutions to merge sensor data into the data products. As communication lead, VITO will be managing the ScaleAgData website, social media channels as well as these digital newsletters. Feel free to contact us via liesbeth.poorters@vito.be.
------------------------------------- If you don't want to receive our ScaleAgData newsletter, you can unsubscribe: see the 'unsubscribe' link below.
SHARING IS CARING
Feel free to share this newsletter with colleagues or on social media!
