CropWatch

Project information
This project is funded by the innovation program of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), funding agency is the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) . The aim of CropWatch is to develop a functional demonstrator of an information system for monitoring and analysis of plant production process. It basically consists of a server-based data management system with integrated facilities for receiving, storing, processing and analysis of data of different origins from the plant production process. It uses two digital cameras, which are mounted on a tractor attachment and an unmanned aircraft and provide images of plant canopies during the movement from different heights, and a weather station, determines the location-specific weather information on a daily basis. Data on the characteristics of the plant site, the management and harvest results are providing the users. From high temporal and spatial resolution images geometric and radiometric data is extracted and derived using new algorithms plant production relevant vegetation parameters, information on plant location, growth-limiting weather scenarios, the plant condition and yield formation generated and visualized web-based and user-based analysis results. Within 5 work packages the force plates are realized, extracted from the raw spot and color information and the vegetation parameters derived, the knowledge-, rule- and data-based information on plant location, weather scenarios, plant condition and yield generated and the raw data receiving, synchronizing, storing, processive and evaluating and visualizing the Web data management system developed. Users are farmers, contractors and consulting companies who want to shape the plant production process resource efficient and plant breeders who want to characterize the growth and yield formation of a large number of parcels in the breeding yard better to grow more resource-efficient varieties.
Project partners: 
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, INRES Pflanzenzüchtung
Rheinsiche Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Institut für Geodäsie und Geoinformatik
terrestris GmbH & Co. KG
Project dates: 
April 2016 to March 2019
Contact
Contact person: 
Prof. Dr. Jens Léon
Contact email: 
Contact organisation: 
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn - Landwirtschaftliche Fakultät - Institut für Nutzpflanzenwissenschaften und Ressourcenschutz - INRES - Fachbereich Pflanzenzüchtung
Funding
Funding agency: 
Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
Grant: 
k€766
Total budget: 
k€1023