Journal of Remote Sensing & GIS

GIS alive and working: National broadband telecommunications network+farm technology =SMART Farms: The Australian experience

World Congress on GIS & Remote Sensing

August 01-03, 2016 New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

David W Lamb

University of New England, Australia

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Remote Sensing & GIS

Abstract:

The role of internet in agriculture is fast approaching its �??third wave�??; �??Wave 1�?? was connecting people to data via www (1990�??s); �??Wave 2�?? connecting people to people, viz, Facebook and Twitter (2000�??s); and �??Wave 3�?? will now connect people to �??things�?? (2010-present). Advances in wireless sensor networks coupled with in situ, low-cost plant, animal and asset sensors; the so-called �??internet of things�??, means our farms and field will become sources of high quality, local yet synoptic, real-time management data. The University of New England, Australia has transformed a 2,900 ha commercial farm into a SMART Farm (Sustainable Manageable Accessible Rural Technologies Farm). The SMART Farm showcases the latest, live GIS-enabled technologies aimed at improving productivity, environmental sustainability, safety, workflow and social/business support networks on Australian farms. With a $2 million SMART Farm Innovation Centre located in the middle of the farm, and linked to the outside world via fibre, fixed wireless and satellite national broadband network, the predominantly grazing SMART Farm is one of the largest farms of its kind, serving as an 'instrumented' research and teaching laboratory. Serving as a test-site for new technologies and farming practices, the SMART Farm is a connected GIS classroom where the community as well as students of all ages can access the latest data streaming in from a range of field, animal and machinery sensors.

Biography :

Email: dlamb@une.edu.au