By Scout Nelson
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is spearheading a pioneering agricultural project, CropTwin, aimed at revolutionizing farming through digital twin technology. This initiative is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and involves a collaboration among experts in computing and biological systems engineering.
CropTwin is designed to create highly accurate virtual models of crop growth, which will assist farmers in making informed decisions about irrigation and management practices. This project is particularly vital for Nebraska, a state where agriculture plays a crucial role and where water management is essential due to variable climate conditions.
The digital twin system will simulate real farm conditions, allowing researchers to test different agricultural scenarios without the need to experiment in actual fields. This method saves resources and reduces the risk of damaging crops, providing a significant advantage over traditional farming methods.
Qiang Liu, an assistant professor at the School of Computing and the project's principal investigator, has a background in developing digital twins for various applications. For CropTwin, he will adapt his expertise to agriculture, creating a dynamic model that updates with real-time data to mirror the actual growth conditions of crops under different irrigation and climate scenarios.
To support the accuracy of CropTwin, the team will use AquaCrop, an Internet of Things platform developed by Hongzhi Guo. This platform utilizes advanced sensors, including RGB-D cameras and soil salinity sensors, to collect detailed environmental and crop data. These sensors feed continuous, real-time data into the CropTwin system, enhancing the model's reliability and application in real-world farming.
This technology not only aims to improve water efficiency and crop yields but also extends to other agricultural applications such as pest management and livestock care. The ultimate goal is to provide a comprehensive tool that can adapt to various aspects of farm management, leading to more sustainable and productive agricultural practices.
The research team will test this system at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension, and Education Center's Spidercam field phenotyping site. This facility is equipped with the latest in agricultural technology, making it an ideal venue for advancing digital farming solutions.
By integrating advanced technology with traditional farming, the CropTwin project not only promises to enhance agricultural productivity in Nebraska but also sets a precedent for future farming innovations globally.
Photo Credits:nebraska-extenstion
Categories: Nebraska, Crops, General