Progress 02/01/05 to 01/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the final phase of this period project, PIs at UMES continued to work with the USDA and NASA collaborators, the UMES farm personnel, and undergraduate and graduate students in the STEM disciplines at UMES to advance the project objectives. The PIs emphasized on the experiential learning aspects of the project. During this period more than 10 students were involved with the project activities in the summer of 2009 and some of them have continued to work with the project in the fall. The graduate student in the Natural Resources Management master's program, made significant progress in his research proposal which fits well with the broad scope of the ECPA project. The Maryland Space Grant Consortium/NASA continued to support AIRSPACES: Aerial Imaging and Remote Sensing for Precision Agriculture and Environmental Stewardship which dovetailed well with this USDA project. Also, a novel partnership effort between Johns Hopkins, Morgan State, College Park, and UMES provided exposure to some College Park and Morgan State engineering students in remote sensing and precision agriculture related efforts at UMES during a 10 -week summer internship exchange program. The research was designed to confirm the appropriate time for application of nitrogen fertilizer for winter wheat. An 11- acre field was utilized for this project. Nitrogen applications were done at different times in the selected regions of the field. The participating students were involved with field data collection efforts, remote sensing, and yield monitor based combine harvest data analyses. The students worked with the NASA engineers to develop a novel kite based aerial imaging platform for remote sensing. The field trials indicate that kite- based remote sensing may well prove to be a cost effective platform for aerial imagery to support experiential learning and research endeavors for applications in agriculture and natural resource management. The yield monitor data of crop harvests on the 50-acre Bozman field at UMES were analyzed for delineating simplified management zones. The students and faculty involved in the project participated at various regional and national conferences during this period, including the American Society for Agricultural and Biological Engineers conference, American Society for Engineering Education conference, and the NACTA/SERD meeting. PARTICIPANTS: Drs. Mitra (associate professor of marine and environmental Sciences) and Nagchaudhuri (professor of engineering and aviation Sciences) served as the principal and co- investigators on the project respectively. Henry Xavier, a graduate student working on the project, based his thesis research is based on this project. The collaborators from USDA include Dr. Craig Daughtry, research agronomist at the USDA-ARS Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory, and Mr. Geoff Bland, research engineer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Other participants include two faculty from the aviation sciences, and at least 10 undergraduate students from the STEM disciplines. TARGET AUDIENCES: (i) The project was highlighted to the local community including farmers, students (K-12, undergraduate, and graduate), faculty, and staff at the GIS day on the UMES campus in fall of 2008 and 2009; (ii) The results from an experiential learning activity and implementation effort related to the reporting period activities of the grant were presented at the American Society for Engineering Education's Annual Conference in Austin, TX in June 2009. Subsequently, the PIs have been invited to Budapest, Hungary to present related efforts at the Global Colloquium of Engineering Education. The project was able to reach peers at both the national and international levels; (iii) The AIRSPACES and ECPA projects were displayed at the Maryland Space Day in March 2009; and (iv) The project participants have developed a website to disseminate project activities (http://www.umes.edu/ecpa) PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The impact of the project has been significant. It has provided the platform for a unique collaboration where NASA and USDA scientists and engineers have participated together. The project has had broad exposure among a large number of STEM majors at UMES (more than 30). The UMES farm personnel confirmed that not only has the improved infrastructure supported by the project activities, facilitated field efforts, but it has also resulted in the tangible improvement of crop production on UMES farms. The project has integrated GIS related infrastructure on campus and has provided an added dimension to the ongoing outreach efforts to local farmers and K-12 student. The students involved in the project have also participated in the annual GIS day and the Agriculture Field day on campus and shared the project results with the broader community. The PIs have given a presentation on the benefits of the new technologies that were being used in the project to a group of USDA extension agents who visited the campus. The project team has also worked closely with Farmsite Technologies and University of Maryland Extension to formulate extension efforts and has provided demonstration to visitors on several occasions.The products from the project from previous years and the current year are delineated below: 1. A guideline has been developed for using pH meters, soil probes, and a GPS mobile mapper for grid pH measurements and the subsequent creation of GIS maps for the students. 2. A guideline using powerpoint slides has been developed and posted online for image mosaicking for student use. 3. Assessment rubric for the new course Advanced Technologies in Agriculture and Environmental Sciences has been developed. 4. Efforts have been devoted to develop novel kite based aerial imaging platforms to support remote sensing activities.
Publications
- Nagchaudhuri, A., Morris, A., Mitra, M., and Henry, X.. 2009. Simplified management zones from analyses and mapping of multiple years of spatially distributed harvest data. Proceedings 2009 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition, Austin, TX, June 2009.
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The project has explored applications of geospatial information technology and remote sensing along with monitoring the the nutrient status of the watershed adjacent to the Bozman farm using a multiparamter YSI unit. The three major aspects on which the focused include: error analysis, filtering, and spatial interpolation of yield monitor data; georeferencing and mosaicking of images collected using a color infrared digital remote sensing camera mounted on a Cessna 172 airplane; and investigations for program development and path planning of a robotic helicopter (UAV) equipped with a monochrome IP camera for agricultural applications. The completed activities include 1) GIS Point and Raster Maps of pH Measurement on Bozman Field -The target pH levels were set by variable rate application of lime, and the results of the field study have been subsequently correlated with corn harvest data obtained in fall/ winter 2007 for corn that was planted during summer of 2007 on Bozman field. 2)Field Experiment with Wheat Plant Growth across Varying Nitrogen Levels -The plot was divided into nine different test strips over three different soil types, with nitrogen application rates ranging from 0 to 200% for obtaining the optimum rate of nitrogen application for the field through the experimental design. 3) Aerial Imaging using Terrahawk CIR Camera System -Several aerial platforms have been utilized for experiential learning and research efforts involving aerial imaging and remote sensing. Both RGB and CIR (Color InfraRed) images of the plot were captured from the Cessna 172 flying at a height of 500 ft.These images were subsequently digitally stitched (mosaicked), rectified, and georeferenced to obtain a CIR image of the entire plot. Also, using the pixel intensities in the near infrared and red bands in the CIR frames, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) images were created. NDVI frames were digitally stitched, rectified and georeferenced as these are important for yield prediction, geo-locating, detecting crop health, and taking early preventive measures. The basic features of the "Image Processing Toolbox" of Matlab software were used for NDVI analysis. ArcGIS 9.0 was used for rectification, georeferencing, and mosaicking aspects. The research activities were presented at the annual conferences of the American Society of Engineering Education in Honolulu and Pittsburgh in 2007 and 2008 respectively. A poster on ECPA was presented at the Global Conference of ASEE in Cape Town, SA, in October 2008. The activities of ECPA have been incorporated in a multi-instructor interdisciplinary graduate course, "Advanced Technologies in Agriculture and Environmental Sciences". A website dedicated to ECPA and other related activities is also maintained. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Madhumi Mitra, Associate Professor in the Department of Natural Sciences, is serving as the Principal Investigator on this project. Dr. Mitra is responsible for overseeing project activities, evaluation, and is involved with the research aspect of environmental monitoring of nutrient run-offs. Dr. Abhijit Nagchaudhuri, Professor of Engineering and Aviation Science, is serving as the Co-Principal Investigator on this project. He is involved with all aspects of engineering and geospatial information technology pertaining to the project. Dr. Nagchaudhuri has been supervising a graduate student (Henry Xavier) in the Master's Program in the Department of Food, Agriculture, and Resource Science since fall 2008. Other interdepartmental collaborators include Dr. Lurline Marsh, who provided expertise on weed biology, and Mr. Chris Hartman and Mr. Brian Mc Elwain, who assisted with aerial imaging efforts. Other collaborators include Mr. Jeff Bland from NASA Wallops Flight Facility, and Mr. Earl Canter, UMES Farm Manager. Two undergraduate students were supported for ten hours per week through the academic year of 2007-2008. Currently the project is supporting one graduate student (Henry Xavier) in the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Science. TARGET AUDIENCES: The project has promoted inquiry-based active learning and research sub projects among undergraduate minorities in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) majors. Besides undergraduate and graduate students, local farmers as well as farm personnel were trained on various state-of-the art technology employed for precision agriculture. Outreach efforts included geospatial information technology training to high school students, and also to extension personnel from USDA. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The broad goals of the project are to provide an experiential learning and research platform at UMES that will generate, disseminate, and promote environmentally friendly agricultural practices through community engagement. This project in conjunction with other ongoing remote sensing projects such as ASTI (Airborne Science and Technology Institute) and AIRSPACES (Aerial Imaging and Remote Sensing for Precision Agriculture and Environmental Stewardship) are providing an out of classroom inquiry-based learning platform that encourages teamwork for more than twenty undergraduate students in the STEM disciplines at UMES. About eight graduate students participating in the project from multidisciplinary fields have addressed research issues integral with the project while participating in the rich experiential framework. The project team has reached out to local farmers who are keen on adopting some of these technologically intensive farming practices in collaboration with UMES/UMCP Cooperative Extension. Adoption of this environmentally friendly farming practice will enhance sub-optimal yield and profitability through maintenance of healthy watersheds in the Delmarva Peninsula region. The experiential learning and research efforts integrated with the project have encouraged multidisciplinary collaboration and undergraduate participation from the STEM disciplines. The project goals are consistent with not only the economic necessities of the region but also the land grant mission of UMES.
Publications
- Nagchaudhuri, A., Mitra, M., Marsh, M., Daughtry, C., Earle, T., and Schwarz, J. 2008. Site specific farming, environmental concerns, and associated advanced technologies, provide a platform for active learning and research at a land grant university. Proc. 2008 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference. CD ROM. Also presented as a poster at the 8th ASEE Global Colloquium on Engineering Education in Cape Town, SA, 2008.
- Ellington, D.C., Ahmad, N. T., Nagchaudhuri, A., and Mitra, M. 2008. Aviation Sciences aerial imaging efforts at University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Poster presented at the 16th Annual Mid-Atlantic HBCU Science Research Day, 38.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The project has explored applications of geospatial information technology and remote sensing along with monitoring the nutrient status of the watershed adjacent to the Bozman farm using a multiparamter YSI unit. The three major aspects of focus include: error analysis, filtering, and spatial interpolation of yield monitor data; georeferencing and mosaicking of images collected using a color infrared digital remote sensing camera mounted on a Cessna 172 airplane; and investigations for program development and path planning of a robotic helicopter (UAV) equipped with a monochrome IP camera for agricultural applications. The completed activities include 1) GIS Point and Raster Maps of pH Measurement on Bozman Field -The target pH levels were set by variable rate application of lime, and the results of the field study have been subsequently correlated with corn harvest data obtained in fall/ winter 2007 for corn that was planted during summer of 2007 on Bozman Field 2). Field Experiment with Wheat Plant Growth across Varying Nitrogen Levels -The plot was divided into 9 different test strips over 3 different soil types, with nitrogen application rates ranging from 0 to 200% for obtaining the optimum rate of nitrogen application for the field through the experimental design. 3) Aerial Imaging using Terrahawk CIR Camera System -Several aerial platforms have been utilized for experiential learning and research efforts involving aerial imaging and remote sensing. Both RGB and CIR (Color InfraRed) images of the plot were captured from the Cessna 172 flying at a height of 500 ft. These images were subsequently digitally stitched (mosaicked), rectified, and georeferenced to obtain a CIR image of the entire plot. Also, using the pixel intensities in the near infrared and red bands in the CIR frames, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) images were determined. NDVI frames were digitally stitched, rectified and georeferenced as these are important for yield prediction, geo-locating, detecting crop health, and taking early preventive measures. The basic features of the "Image Processing Toolbox" of Matlab software were used for NDVI analysis. ArcGIS 9.0 was used for rectification, georeferencing, and mosaicking aspects. The research activities were presented at the annual conferences of the American Society of Engineering Education in Honolulu and Pittsburgh in 2007 and 2008 respectively. A poster on ECPA was presented at the Global Conference of ASEE in Cape Town, SA in October 2008. The activities of ECPA have been incorporated in a multi-instructor interdisciplinary graduate course, "Advanced Technologies in Agriculture and Environmental Sciences". A website (http://www.umes.edu/airspaces) dedicated to the ECPA and other related activities is also maintained. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Madhumi Mitra, Associate Professor in the Department of Natural Sciences, is serving as the Principal Investigator on this project. Dr. Mitra is responsible for overseeing project activities, evaluation, and is involved with the research aspect of environmental monitoring of nutrient run-offs. Dr. Abhijit Nagchaudhuri, Professor of Engineering and Aviation Science, is serving as the Co-Principal Investigator on this project. He is involved with all aspects of engineering and geospatial information technology pertaining to the project. Dr. Nagchaudhuri is also supervising a graduate student (Henry Xavier) in the Master's Program in the Department of Food, Agriculture, and Resource Science since Fall 2008. Other interdepartmental collaborators include Dr. Lurline Marsh, who provided expertise on weed biology, and Mr. Chris Hartman, and Mr. Brian McElwain who assisted with aerial imaging efforts. Other collaborators include Mr. Jeff Bland from NASA Wallops Flight Facility, and Mr. Earl Canter, UMES Farm Manager. Two undergraduate students were supported for 10 hours per week through the academic year of 2007-2008. Currently the project is supporting one graduate student (Henry Xavier) in the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Science. TARGET AUDIENCES: The project has promoted inquiry-based, active learning and research sub projects among undergraduate minorities in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) majors. Besides undergraduate and graduate students, local farmers as well as farm personnel were trained on various state-of-the art technology employed for precision agriculture. Outreach efforts included geospatial information technology training to high school students from Lower Eastern Shore counties in the summer of 2007 and 2008, and also to extension personnel from USDA. The research activities were also displayed to the the Maryland Governor, Martin O'Malley on Earth Day, 2007. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The broad goals of the project are to provide an experiential learning and research platform at UMES that will generate, disseminate, and promote environmentally friendly agricultural practices through community engagement. This project in conjunction with other ongoing remote sensing projects such as ASTI (Airborne Science and Technology Institute) and AIRSPACES (Aerial Imaging and Remote Sensing for Precision Agriculture and Environmental Stewardship)are providing an out of classroom inquiry-based learning platform that encourages teamwork for more than 20 undergraduate students in the STEM disciplines at UMES. 8 graduate students participating in the project from multidisciplinary fields have addressed research issues integral to the project while participating in the rich experiential framework. The project team has reached out to local farmers as they have been keen on adopting some of these technologically intensive farming practices in collaboration with UMES/UMCP Cooperative Extension. Adoption of this environmentally-friendly farming practice will enhance sub-optimal yield and profitability through maintenance of healthy watersheds in the Delmarva Peninsula region. The experiential learning and research efforts integrated with the project have encouraged multidisciplinary collaboration and undergraduate participation from the STEM disciplines. The project goals are consistent with not only the economic necessities of the region but also the land grant mission of UMES.
Publications
- Nagchaudhuri, A., Mitra, M., Stoakley, R., Turner, T., Cherinet, S., Ladd, G, Chalyam, H., Hartman, C., and Burrow-Mclwain, J. 2007. Rich learning experiences for minority undergraduate students through inquiry based project activities in the field and laboratory settings. Proc. 2007 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii. CD ROM.
- Ellington, D.C., Ahmad, N. T., Nagchaudhuri, A., and Mitra, M. 2008. Aviation Sciences aerial imaging efforts at University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Poster presented at the 16th Annual Mid-Atlantic HBCU Science Research Day, 38.
- Nagchaudhuri, A., Mitra, M., Marsh, M., Daughtry, C., Earle, T., and Schwarz, J. 2008. Site specific farming, environmental concerns, and associated advanced technologies, provide a platform for active learning and research at a land grant university. Proc. 2008 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference. CD ROM. Also presented as a poster at the 8th ASEE Global Colloquium on Engineering Education in Cape Town, SA, 2008.
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Environmentally Conscious Precision Agriculture (ECPA) has explored applications of geospatial information technology and remote sensing for environmentally friendly agricultural practices. In collaboration with NASA Wallops Flight Facility, remote controlled platforms were equipped with small digital cameras as well as analog micro-video cameras to acquire remote images in the visible, near infra-red, and far infra-red bands, of the UMES agricultural fields. Remote sensing from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Remote Controlled Aerial Vehicle, and manned airplane equipped with camera systems have been implemented. Initial efforts have involved development of project specific tools utilizing commercial software environments for rectification, georeferencing, and mosaicking of image frames acquired using small remotely operated airborne platforms. Grid mapping and soil testing were performed on the Bozman field at UMES, and about 10 soil samples were collected from each grid
while recording the GPS locations corresponding to each sample. The soil samples were analyzed to determine pH, CEC, N, P, K, and other micronutrients. After appropriate post-processing spatial distribution maps were developed using GIS software for each nutrient. Wide variations of pH and nutrient levels show up in these maps. A variable rate lime application of lime is done to bring the pH level of the entire field to 6.0 for optimum corn yield. A yield monitor with a GPS unit has been installed on the existing UMES combine for recording spatial distribution of the yield data. The mean yield for the Bozman field was approximately 112 bu/acre with a standard deviation of 35 bu/acre. In the yield map, green regions correspond to high yield, and red regions to low yield. A strong correlation of yield and lime rate application desired is readily observable from comparing variable rate lime application prescription map and Bozman corn yield data map. At UMES, appropriate run-off
monitoring efforts are already underway to generate data to identify suitable nutrient management plan in concert with implementation of precision agriculture. Water quality and nutrient monitoring of watershed of Bozman are conducted with multiparameter YSI unit and multichannel in-situ chemical analyzer capable of monitoring nitrates, phosphates, ammonia, and silicates respectively. The present set-up of the analyzer utilizes only two channels and monitors nitrates and phosphates concentration of the run-off from the Bozman field every two hours. The data gets recorded on an on-board memory chip using a microprocessor unit in the Ecolab, and can be accessed and plotted from remote terminals via wireless communication.
Impacts
The broad goals of the project are to provide an experiential learning and research platform at UMES that will generate, disseminate, and promote environmentally friendly agricultural practices through community engagement. This project in conjunction with other ongoing remote sensing projects such as ASTI (Airborne Science and Technology Institute) and AIRSPACES (Aerial Imaging and Remote Sensing for Precision Agriculture and Environmental Stewardship)are providing out of classroom inquiry-based learning platform that encourages teamwork for more than 15 undergraduate students in the STEM disciplines at UMES. About 8 graduate students participating in the project from multidisciplinary fields have addressed research issues integral with the project while participating in the rich experiential framework. The project team is also working to develop a plan to provide services to local farmers as they adopt some of these technologically intensive farming practices in
collaboration with UMES/UMCP Cooperative Extension. Adoption of this environmentally-friendly farming practice will enhance sub-optimal yield and profitability through maintenance of healthy watersheds in the Delmarva Peninsula region. The project goals are consistent with not only the economic necessities of the region but also the land grant mission of UMES.
Publications
- Nagchaudhuri, A., Mitra, M., Brooks, C., Earl, T., Conry, R., Ladd, G., and Bland, G. 2005. Initiating Environmentally Conscious Precision Agriculture at UMES. Proceedings of the 2005 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition.
- Ladd, G., Nagchaudhuri, N., Earl, T., Mitra, M., and Bland, G. 2006. Rectification, Georeferencing, and Mosaicking of Images acquired with Remotely Operated Aerial Platforms. Proceedings of the ASPRS 2006 Annual Conference.
- Nagchaudhuri, A., Mitra, M., Brooks, C., Earl, T., Ladd, G., and Bland, G. 2006. Aerial Imaging and Remote Sensing Efforts at University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Proceedings of the 2006 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition.
- Nagchaudhuri, A., Mitra, M., Brooks, C., Earl, T., Ladd, G., and Bland, G. 2006. Integration of Mechatronics, Geospatial Information Technology, and Remote Sensing in Agriculture and Environmental Stewardship. Proceedings of the IMECE'06 2006 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, November 5-10, Chicago, IL., USA.
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