Instead of irrigating, fertilizing, and exterminating the agricultural area based on an assessment of the average need, as was done in the past, sensors and a computer system will be able to provide accurate information that will enable optimal treatment of the produce
Amber dew. The article was published in the June 2008 issue of the Galileo journal
Imagine a farmer: he gets up early in the morning, goes out to his fields on a tractor, toils for long hours under the scorching sun in the summer and the rain in the winter, and painstakingly earns his living from the soil, after plowing, sowing, fertilizing, laying water lines, pest control - hours on end hours throughout the year.
Wait, we are in the 21st century. Let's go back and imagine our farmer: he gets up late in the morning, reads a newspaper, drinks coffee, and looks at his computer screen. After perusing news websites, he reads the latest updates from the agricultural areas he processes: what is the state of the moisture in the soil, what is the state of the plants, are there any areas showing signs of disease? He also receives an update on the computerized irrigation system, the state of the fertilizer in the tanks and an updated weather forecast for the coming day.
remote sensing
Remote sensing is the ability to create information based on imaging of the atmosphere, water, soil, rock, fauna, flora and the built environment. The imagery images are produced by electromagnetic radiation (in satellite photographs of the Earth usually in the visible light, infrared and radio range) that reaches the sensors after being reflected from the surface or scattered from particles in the atmosphere. The sensitivity of the sensors to radiation at different wavelengths allows the creation of complex images and the study of the various conditions in the surveyed area.
Deciphering the information needed by the user is done using physical and statistical models linking the properties of the surface and the properties of the radiation emitted from them, and on the basis of the spatial characteristics (shape, model) of the phenomena and objects on the surface. Remote sensing is applied in many fields, including climate and environmental monitoring, security and intelligence, mapping, monitoring the quality of the environment, developing artificial infrastructures and more.
After finishing breakfast, the farmer goes to the field, and arrives directly at the areas where his presence is required. Near one bush he corrects the angle of the dripper, near another he takes a soil sample for laboratory testing. In an adjacent plot he adds fertilizer to the container, and so on.
Sound imaginary? Not really. This, in essence, is the meaning of the "Precision Farming" revolution. Precision agriculture makes use of a variety of sensors - ground, aerial and space. In this column we will draw attention to the spatial component of precision agriculture and the potential inherent in it.
In traditional agriculture, familiar to all of us, the plants in the orchard or in the field receive treatment - irrigation, pest control or fertilization - according to an assessment of the average need: there are inevitably trees that need more water and others that need less, plants that are more infected by pests and others that are less affected, and so on, but the treatment It is given fairly uniformly to the entire field or orchard. Precision agriculture combines various sensors and a computer system, which helps in making decisions and carrying them out, for maximum improvement of the agricultural produce, saving resources and preserving the quality of the environment.
The spatial component of precision agriculture
Precision agriculture makes use, as mentioned, of a variety of sensing means, under and above the ground, in aircraft and satellites. The spatial component of precision agriculture includes several aspects:
* GPS/DGPS: The Global Positioning System (GPS) is an American satellite system, which enables identification of one's own location. The orbit of the satellites is such that anywhere on the earth it is possible to receive at least 3 satellites, which allow the receiver, and hence - the user, to find his waypoint at the level of latitude and longitude. You can usually get information from 4 satellites (or more), and thus also find the height above sea level. The accuracy of the system (in its civilian use) is 5-15 m. Against the background of the need for higher accuracy in many fields (including agriculture), the DGPS was developed. The idea is to measure the inaccuracy (hereafter: the error) in the GPS data by taking a reading at a known and measured point. The error is transmitted to another GPS receiver and is subtracted from the standard measurement received there. In precision agriculture, differential correction to an accuracy level of one meter is common. At the same time, it is possible to reach a higher accuracy (of centimeters), and this for needs such as automatic driving of agricultural tools and drip systems.
* Remote sensing: gathering information about the tumor and its environment using sensors mounted on aircraft and satellites. At the basic level, aerial photographs in visible light can be used to detect differences between the plants based on identifying color differences. At a higher level, it is possible to develop models based on spectral differences between different phenomena in the field.
* Geographic information systems (GIS): the data mapping is based on geostatistical assumptions, based on which interpolation is performed between the discrete data collected in the field. This operation is possible with relatively cheap software (hundreds of dollars), which are usually sold together with the means of collecting the information. These programs allow the construction and analysis of a geographic database. The basis of the database is the geographic dimension, which is common to all data collected from the same area.
Space monitoring of field crops
The key to remote sensing using satellites, which will be applied in agriculture, is a multispectral sensing means - that is, observation in a variety of wavelengths (in the future we will see hyperspectral satellites, which will survey thousands of different wavelengths). This remote sensing will enable a large variety of agricultural applications, up to the level of identifying problems in a single tree or a single row in a huge field. Satellite remote sensing will allow the farmer to obtain information on many aspects of the crops, such as chlorophyll content (which can indicate nitrogen fixation), organic matter content in the soil, phosphorus level in the soil and crop mapping.
The first use of remote sensing satellites for agricultural purposes relied on the Landsat series of satellites, launched by the American space agency, NASA, and access to information from them was open to anyone who wanted it. Partial application of the capabilities of satellites for agriculture is done in many countries, in Europe, in the United States and also in Israel; However, it should be emphasized that the first generation satellites were limited in their capabilities, and were not specifically launched for agricultural purposes.
The Israeli point: the Venus satellite
"Venus" is a joint venture between Israel and France, and its essence is the development and operation of a satellite with a multispectral camera for various research purposes. The main partners for the project are the Israeli Space Agency and the French Space Agency (CNES). The satellite should be launched into space during 2010-11. The Israeli government is responsible for financing the project in Israel through the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Chief Scientist at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with the participation of Israel's leading space industries (including Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael and Al-Op, the developer of the satellite's camera). France finances a significant part of the project through the Shela Space Agency.
The Venus satellite will be able to focus from space on an area of land measuring only five square meters, in 12 different channels, which will test different parameters in crops. It is supposed to pass over the slip once every two days, a rate of passes that will enable close monitoring of changes in the ground and an immediate response. The satellite will be specially adapted to branches such as field crops (cotton, grain, fodder) and will be used as a tool for directing tractors in the open field, tracking animals and their identification, individual breeding in the dairy farm, including robotic milking, and orchards. The project is coordinated by the Israel Space Agency. The Venus satellite will be able to integrate into the European initiative to build an array of remote sensing satellites for environmental and security applications, known as GMES.
The scientific side of the Venus satellite relies on the work of researchers from a variety of institutes and research centers, including the Remote Sensing Laboratory of Ben-Gurion University, the Center for Agricultural Research in Israel (Volcani Institute) and several French research institutes. Also, as part of the Venus project, a call went out to scientists from around the world to submit proposals for research that will use the satellite, and dozens of applications have been received so far, from many countries.
The sensors of the Venus satellite could be used not only for the purpose of precision agriculture, but also for monitoring contamination of water bodies (rivers, lakes and seas) and air pollution. For example, by measuring the amount of chlorophyll in the areas near the coast, it is possible to determine the amount of different types of algae, which is an indication of the level of pollution of the seawater in the sewage. The sensors will also be able to monitor air pollution caused by emissions from the chimneys of various chemical plants, and assist in emergencies by monitoring clouds of toxic chemicals.
Previous articles on this topic on the knowledge site
13 תגובות
Definitely a good and happy article, our basic ingredient is food, such technology can help third world countries as well as developed ones to gain basic independence for the common good
Or - for a change, a quality and proper article.
Well done Tal.
http://www.mishkeydan.co.il/meydan/meetleet23/meetleet23.htm?nojump
A clever farmer, literally an article within an article.
clever farmer,
Where does all the interesting information come from? I would love to receive a link to the original article, if it was taken from there.
Thanks,
Roy.
More of what is being done in the field in Israel
"A wise farmer knows, and he instilled this in the army, that the variety should be praised and improved in its composition" Recently, congratulations were published in the national press to two farmers who achieved excellent professional results in growing cotton. One of them is Yagav Kilman from Tzbar-Kama. So first of all, congratulations to the entire team and the rest of the farmers for a successful and fruitful season.
The year 2006 was a very good year for cotton in general and excellent in our region both in terms of growing and in the judging and sorting system. The results in field crops involve many factors such as weather, soil and other independent factors. But the excellence is not accidental. Excellence is a way of life. It is diligence, investment and persistence without hesitation.
One of the most important values on the way to excellence is innovation, the constant search for ways to do it better. Resting on our laurels and the feeling that we have reached the pinnacle of our abilities are the antithesis of excellence and its main enemies. In field crops, the same constant pursuit of excellence is referred to as "precision farming" in Lez. The pair of words implies the development of abilities to listen, almost literally, to the plant and the soil and to derive insights from the listening that will translate into growing environments and maximum efficiency in the use of inputs. Our region is the granary of the country for a significant part of the field crops, but it is only natural that our region will be the center of precision agriculture.
How is agriculture precise[1]?
Precision agriculture is generally defined as the ability to collect and process information from the agricultural area, with the aim of applying inputs with maximum efficiency, taking into account the variability that exists in the field. This process is cyclical, and it can be defined in 4 main stages: 1) Collecting information from the field using GPS. The information is collected before growing, during growing, and when the crop is collected. 2) Mapping the information using mapping software. 3) Collection, storage, analysis, and planning of agricultural applications. 4) Agricultural application, and appropriate control.
The field of precision agriculture is diverse, and includes, among others, the following topics:
A. Devices for locating the location of a satellite system, which enables self-location detection. GPS, which is common among them, has become an available and cheap product. There is a direct relationship between the level of accuracy of the equipment, and the price of the devices
B. Precise management: improvement of a series of agricultural operations such as: opening a furrow in a straight line, agricultural processing, according to height lines, determining measured spray lines, according to the width of the sprayer / fertilizer, measuring the extent of the area, marking hazards in the field, and during the agricultural operations at night.
third. Crop mapping: the operation is done by combining the information received from a crop sensor - a means of analyzing the amount of crop per very small area unit - kg per square meter, etc. - and the controller collects and saves the information. In principle, it is possible to feel a harvest from almost any picking/harvesting/gathering tool. The conventional sensors detect changes in sound (knocks of kernels), changes in light penetration such as shading of cotton, changes in weight (elevators in equipment for gathering vegetables), and more...
d. Accurate sampling: Using the GPS, it is possible to carry out targeted and accurate sampling (soil, leaves, petioles, etc.) As part of the information gathering process, in preparation for a fertilization program, it is common to determine sites for soil sampling. At a more basic level, it is possible to mark fixed sites for sampling, each growing season. There are several programs for handheld computers (which includes a GPS card), which allow navigation to predetermined points, and the collection of agricultural information relevant to a sampled point.
God. Close sensing: to collect information about the tumor and its surroundings, using sensors touching or close to the object.
and. Remote sensing: gathering information about the tumor and its environment, using sensors mounted on aircraft and satellites. At the basic level, aerial photographs in visible light can be used to detect differences based on the detection of color differences. At a higher level, models can be developed based on spectral variation between different phenomena in the field.
G. Geographic information systems, GIS: the data mapping is based on geostatistical assumptions, based on which an intelligence operation (interpolation) is performed between the discrete data collected in the field. This operation is possible with relatively cheap software (hundreds of dollars), which are usually sold together with the means of collecting the information.
H. Exact implementation: at the technical level, the system consists of DGPS, a component that receives instructions for the quantities, the type of material, the desired location, and a component that controls the changing quantities, and the type of material. The common applications are precise fertilization, precise pest control, precise sowing and more. The assumption underlying this method is that each area has growth potential, which can be optimized using
Sowing in variable standings. Accordingly, models are built that link the sowing position to the type of soil / its depth / and its ability to hold water.
ninth. Tangential methods:
1) Automatic driving, the intention, to control agricultural means without human contact, based on early action planning, or remotely. The systems need a DGPS with an accuracy level of centimeters. Those involved in the field claim economic justification on the basis of increasing the efficiency of agricultural moves, reducing mistakes, and saving manpower.
2) Hidden drip: one of the aspects of the hidden drip method, is the ability to sow/plant/mark beds, above the hidden drip extension. One of the solutions is to mark the extension and navigate to it later with the help of DGPS. For this move, DGPS is required, with an accuracy level of centimeters.
Advanced Agriculture Conference at Beit Kama
Recently, a conference was held in Kibbutz Beit Kama that dealt entirely with the aforementioned aspects of precision agriculture. The entire conference was organized (excellently) by GDS Negev under the direction of our acquaintance Itzik Amitai who, by the way, was recently elected to head the organization for another term. A golden opportunity to congratulate Itzik and wish him great success in the future. Itzik, your success - our success. The hospitality, also exemplary, was performed by Gdash Shakma and Beit Kama under the direction of Zavik Rahman. Mordi Morton, Center for Precision Agriculture in the Negev Farms presents the main points of the conference:
The subject of precision agriculture in Israel came to the attention of farmers through instructors who first met him at the 'Sima' exhibition in France. Today, the subject is at least superficially known by most growers of field crops in Israel. Much progress has been achieved by growers and other factors in collecting information using various technologies, and it is already possible to draw operative conclusions at the cultivation level or implications for all the fields.
From the information collected, a picture emerges that indicates significant economic variation at the sub-district level. Research, experiments and observations are carried out to test tools and methods for implementing precision agriculture in various fields. However, a sufficient infrastructure has not yet been built to turn the information into useful knowledge at the sub-plot level, which is the heart of precision agriculture, and a reliable way has not yet been found to monitor the phenomena of variation in the field during cultivation in a way that would allow for a correct response in place and time. (remove waterlogging in cotton and other crops)
The cost of various tests before, after and during the growth and their translation into a course of action requires action on a wide scale and a degree of automation in the collection and processing of the data, in order to achieve economic efficiency. (eg with the help of satellite photos).
These days, the possibility of answering the problems raised at the conference with the GEOSYS company from France is being examined.
Dr. Yiffit Cohen from the Institute of Agricultural Engineering, director of agricultural research, told about thermal photography - a special type of photography that emphasizes the differences in leaf temperature between plants using colors. The leaf temperature provides an indication of the plant's ability to absorb water. This way you can know exactly where you should give water and expect the plant to know how to use it and where not.
Precision agriculture by spraying from the air:
Spraying planes hover over the fields and spray them. This has advantages and disadvantages, compared to spraying from the ground using a tractor. Among the shortcomings, we can mention the matter of accuracy in spreading the material, which stems from the difficulty of aiming the plane exactly at the right "stripe". Yoad Par from Kibbutz Dorot, the chief pilot of the Telam Aviation company presents a GPS-based guidance system that shows the pilot accurate guidance to the right place and thus saves the work of flagging from the ground. This saves pesticide that can be wasted as a result of overlap between spray lines and alternatively - in the case of negative overlap - an unsprayed area. It is also good for the safety of the flaggers. This saves them the pesticides.
Use of crop maps - Yehuda Nir Masad:
Crop maps are a tool for planning future activity based on insights from the past. Crop maps are produced using two technologies: one, the ability to estimate the spot yield of the crop. A weighing system that is installed on top of the assembly equipment, this or that combine. and the second, a GPS-based positioning system. If we know how much crop the combine collected at a certain point and know how to identify the point precisely, the accumulated information can be translated into a map of the area where you can see exactly how much crop was collected from each point. Now we need to analyze the reasons for the crop levels, in this context it is more interesting where the crop is low, and try to respond. Common explanations for low yields can be related to topography - the water's tendency to tire up the road and its natural pull down, creating landings on hilltops. The accepted solution, proper planning of the irrigation system of the area. The results of right or wrong planning will come in a clear, colorful and unambiguous way on the crop map. The same is true for a clogged filter that causes a lack of water in the areas whose water it is supposed to filter. Such a picture points the finger of blame at the person who was supposed to check and make sure that the filter is functioning properly - a human eye or an automatic control system. Incorrect irrigation planning will also give its signals in bright colors on the crop map and more and more. Continuous weight on a carrot combine, gives an indication of the amount of crop ON-LINE You can, as we like so much, run immediately and tell the company.
So what did we have?
We have seen that the field of precision agriculture is broad, developing, and multifaceted.
Acting according to the principles of precision agriculture, will allow a more correct distribution of inputs in the field, locating loss and profit factors at a local level, identifying trends over time, and optimizing agricultural operations. And if you do it right, you can expect the results as the poet Yehiel Mohr wrote: "Here the sheaves stand in tension, every tree is as upright as a soldier. and good orientation in the field, will prove onion beds. The heads of cherubs are standing, there is no noise, there is no fly in the nose, there is no field, here in the ranks a kind of incantation passes through the five-five."
And what do the company say?
Herzl Tzelik, professional director of GDS Halutza: "Technology is an important thing, every technological opening is carefully examined with us with a willingness to recruit it for work in the field. As of today, the technology does not provide the goods" in the case of remote sensing, and does not meet the economic test. The farmers' imagination and experience achieves proven results, much better than the technological means without the actual tools to test the area."
Zavik Rahman, GDS Shakma: "The field of remote sensing based on satellite photography, its analysis and its use for the development of major protocols must be developed. The work of the researchers is in the right direction, but they will not replace the work of the farmer in the field, but will help and facilitate the work in the fields."
Itamar Mendel, GDS Har Hebron: "We must move forward with the research with the appropriate steps. Small farms cannot afford the financial investment involved in using these means. If a company is established that will offer services within the framework of precision agriculture, it will be possible to join the service and meet the costs. "The introduction of technological aids does not relieve the farmer from being present in the fields, but helps and facilitates his work.
Uri Levy - GSR (Rochma): "Precision agriculture is designed to give the farmer the tools and help him grow crops optimally. The problem is the high costs that do not justify and massively limit the use of the systems" The key point is finding the balance between the financial increases and the future savings provided by the knowledge as a result of the use of the systems.
Inbal Shelf, GDS Shuval: "We are definitely in favor of precision agriculture, but in order to get the most out of the use of the proposed means, one must be 'crazy' so to speak, who will analyze the information and data."
Ido Meno, GDS Lisser (Reim, Holit): In Lisser they have been operating a combine system with weighing devices and GPS for the past three years. We support the use of these means, but today it is difficult to understand the economics and the contribution to the future. The systems are expensive and require years of work before analyzing the maps produced on a specific field, sometimes the accuracy levels are lacking and the systems are not always user-friendly and convenient.
Well, the farmers say, and this is not surprising, that pleasure is indeed pleasure but an expensive pleasure and that the human eyes and ears and especially - what is between the two ears, these are the basic and best instruments for precision farming and they are available and cheap. They need to be activated on a regular basis
Thanks for the interesting article.
It was said what the minimum area (resolution) is - 5 square meters.
One detail is missing and that is how many square meters the satellite can scan in total in a day
(power).
Thanks again.
How fun to hear about such ventures, and I can only hope that they will also serve the Africans and help them
For me, religion and science do not conflict (maybe I'm wrong, but this is my personal opinion) in the Kabbalah it is written that at the end of the sixth millennium "springs of wisdom" will be opened, look what has been going on here in recent years, grain treatment with the help of satellites, intracorporeal cameras, all the simple science of biotechnology Amazing and fascinating, the field of medicine seems to be developing in a crazy way (and sometimes a bit exaggerated "cloning").
It's really fun to see all these things unfold before our eyes