Towered Imaging Sensors (TOIS)

Towered Imaging Sensors (TOIS) provides a new way to collect data on crops for better control of crop operations.

Monitoring cultivation with cameras from a fixed position not only avoids the objections of satellites (cloud cover, sun-synchronisation) and drones (regulation, maintenance), but allows new applications of imaging sensors to be picked up in crop and soil monitoring, for example by working with timelapses and better responding to pre- and post-treatment data. Robotics and decision support algorithms benefit from good data.

TOIS provides a high-quality data stream, which can be used immediately for processing in simulations (scenarios) or calculations (decision support). This form of data collection has been little used in crop monitoring. The use of cameras per se has been demonstrated more often, but not yet or rarely with multi- or hyperspectral cameras, and certainly not under oblique measurement conditions. That is where this project makes a difference to develop a new device and measurement method with this cutting-edge technology.

Towered Imaging Sensors require (the name says it all) infrastructure to get the camera in the right position. One possibility is to use existing infrastructure, such as wind turbines, high-voltage pylons, buildings and other infrastructure, or possibly dedicated pylons.

For this project and as a Proof-of-Concept, we will initially look at sports fields. In the Netherlands, the management of grass for sports pitches is very important to facilitate sports as much as possible, both from an injury perspective, but also to (literally) create a level playing field. Working with the KNVB, we are looking at how TOIS contributes to improving turf management. The knowledge developed will also be installed on the 4 demo farms (Reusel, Lelystad, Hengelo, Randwijk) to look at specific crops.

The project will last two years and come with a roadmap to further develop and roll out this technology.