Mida

MIDA Project

MIDA is a multi-year research and development project undertaken by Metacortex with the support of the University of Trento and the Edmund Mach Foundation.

Projects Aim

The aim of the project is to provide innovative software for precision agriculture applications.

The first application obtained is a risk assessment model for agricultural uses in which multispectral aerial images are merged with meteorological data, thus obtaining a forecast of the risk of infection. The system starts from EYE-SCAB: an original concept developed by Metacortex, to prevent scab (infection of the apple tree by Venturia inaequalis). When applied,

the system allows farmers to manage preventive treatments, thus reducing losses.

The system is based on a neural network and therefore does not stop at scab alone but with the appropriate “training” of the neural network it can be applied in such a way as to meet the need of fruit growers to prevent plant diseases, save costs and improve the quality.

Benefits

Plants Treating

Possibility of treating plants at risk in advance

Assessment of the risks

Correct and early assessment of the risks of infection by pathogens,

lowering the agrochemical treatments.

A project to face the new problems in the agricultural field.

Programs

MIDA programs are based on artificial intelligence technology with a proprietary neural network. The neural network can include data collected by weather stations near orchards to develop a risk model.

Imaging data is instead acquired by Airborne IR and multispectral cameras.

The risk model is defined at the level of a single row of plants and can suggest when, where and how to intervene with the appropriate treatment.

The programs use data from weather stations, like other conventional forecasting systems, but in combination with aerial imagery, thus increasing their effectiveness.

MIDA can also obtain big data from non-specialized weather stations for agriculture. The application of image analysis was then extended to other applications mainly in the agricultural world.

For example, it can be used to recognize and count objects of variable shape and size such as fruit on plants still in the ripening phase.

Midas derives from the "Eye Scab" project for the control of apple scab

Midas derivews from the collaboration with the University of Trento, the Edmund Mach Foundation and Consozio Frutticoltori Alta Valsugana; Metacortex employs its drone (i.e. APR or UAV) equipped with multispectral and thermal sensors for the identification and analysis of infections.