Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
University of New Brunswick
$120,000.00
Development of a UAV-based multispectral camera for precision agriculture applications
EF 2017-18
Résumé
A&L Canada Laboratories Inc. (referred hereafter as A&L) has been involved in precision agriculture for over 20 years. A&L is working on becoming a major player in the development of remote sensing devices for both field and greenhouse applications and interpretation of such data for growers. There is current market demand for more mobile, fast, adaptable and easy ways to use remote sensing technology in the agriculture sector. It is necessary for A&L to build its own customized camera system, as none on the market are both light enough to fit on a UAV, while providing the required sensing capability at the same time. Our project is a joint effort between UNB and Western professors with A&L scientists / engineers and AAFC scientists to develop operational methods that use the A&L camera and UAV for various precision agriculture applications. The camera will have seven bands of 10 nm, centered in the following wavelengths: 464, 542, 639, 669, 708, 800, and 845 nm. The specific project objectives are: (i) To develop a second generation multispectral camera with enhanced performances for both greenhouse and low weight UAV applications; (ii) To develop a streamlined methodology for mapping crop damage surfaces from the images acquired by the UAV-based camera. This information is required by the provincial crop insurance agencies; (iii) To develop a streamlined methodology for detecting late blight disease in potato fields from the images acquired by the UAV-based camera; (iv) To develop a streamlined methodology for detecting powdery mildew, gummy stem blight and mosaic virus diseases on greenhouse cucumber plants from the images acquired by the camera mounted on a robotic arm; and (v) To develop a streamlined methodology for mapping crop nitrogen status from the images acquired by the UAV-based camera. The project is a follow-up of several Engage/Engage+ projects between A&L and the universities. It will support five Ph.D. students, 2 M.Sc. students, and partially 1 research associate.
Programme
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
New Brunswick, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
507141-2016
Name nom
Leblon, Brigitte
Department département
Forestry and Environmental Management, Faculty of
Organization id
75
Institution établissement
University of New Brunswick
Province en
New Brunswick
Province fr
Nouveau-Brunswick
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2017
Competition year année de concours
2016
Award amount
120000
Program id
CRDPJ
Program name en
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement coopérative
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
104
Area of application group en
Agriculture and primary food production
Area of application group fr
Agriculture et produits alimentaires primaires
Area of application en
Crop management (pest,disease control and breeding)
Area of application fr
Gestion des cultures (lutte contre les organismes nuisibles et reproduction)
Research subject code
4102
Research subject group en
Geographical information
Research subject group fr
Information géographique
Research subject en
Remote sensing
Research subject fr
Télédétection
Partie
1
Nb partie
3
Application title
Development of a UAV-based multispectral camera for precision agriculture applications
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
A&L Canada Laboratories Inc. (referred hereafter as A&L) has been involved in precision agriculture for over 20 years. A&L is working on becoming a major player in the development of remote sensing devices for both field and greenhouse applications and interpretation of such data for growers. There is current market demand for more mobile, fast, adaptable and easy ways to use remote sensing technology in the agriculture sector. It is necessary for A&L to build its own customized camera system, as none on the market are both light enough to fit on a UAV, while providing the required sensing capability at the same time. Our project is a joint effort between UNB and Western professors with A&L scientists / engineers and AAFC scientists to develop operational methods that use the A&L camera and UAV for various precision agriculture applications. The camera will have seven bands of 10 nm, centered in the following wavelengths: 464, 542, 639, 669, 708, 800, and 845 nm. The specific project objectives are: (i) To develop a second generation multispectral camera with enhanced performances for both greenhouse and low weight UAV applications; (ii) To develop a streamlined methodology for mapping crop damage surfaces from the images acquired by the UAV-based camera. This information is required by the provincial crop insurance agencies; (iii) To develop a streamlined methodology for detecting late blight disease in potato fields from the images acquired by the UAV-based camera; (iv) To develop a streamlined methodology for detecting powdery mildew, gummy stem blight and mosaic virus diseases on greenhouse cucumber plants from the images acquired by the camera mounted on a robotic arm; and (v) To develop a streamlined methodology for mapping crop nitrogen status from the images acquired by the UAV-based camera. The project is a follow-up of several Engage/Engage+ projects between A&L and the universities. It will support five Ph.D. students, 2 M.Sc. students, and partially 1 research associate.
