Scientists from Russia's Belgorod State University (BSU) have developed a prototype of a mobile application with augmented reality elements capable of simulating the optimal scheme of planting different crops in a certain area.
The app allows many parameters to be taken into account, including the dynamics of the greenhouse effect, when planning sowing operations and achieving consistently high yields. According to scientists, the developed technology makes it possible to optimize the costs of material and labor resources, as well as reduce the negative impact on the natural environment.
In addition, the application can help users model and visualize plant growth. It offers optimal planting zones, taking into account various parameters and variables: meteorological factors, the power and nature of emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere, air temperature, soil heat supply, concentration of carbon dioxide in the surface layer of the atmosphere, the mineral nutrition of plants, etc.
Based on the data obtained, the algorithm builds hybrid intelligent systems and 3D models, determines cause-and-effect relationships and offers options for optimal fit, the developers said.
"The mobile application can visually assess the growth and development of agricultural plants in a given area. It is also able to visualize the spatial and temporal distribution of greenhouse gases. For proper operation, it needs a mobile phone camera and GPS," said one of the authors of the technology, graduate student Dmitry Goncharov.
He added that the information necessary for the application to work on the stages of growth of each crop is presented in a database of 3D models.
To simulate the growth and yield of crops, the entered information is processed taking into account the relevant parameters, as well as data on the dynamics of the concentration of gaseous pollutants from stationary and mobile sources in a particular area.
According to scientists, the algorithm forms a specific control effect, and selects the best landing and processing technologies in the available conditions. It also allows you to form recommendations on the choice of crop rotation and develop a fertilizer application plan.
Data is visualized thanks to augmented reality technology, the experts explained. A 3D model of plant growth and development is derived as a result of the influence of modeling parameters at each of the four stages of plant development.
"This is both a new technology and a new approach to the presentation of information in agricultural science and practice. The proposed concept offers a more advanced user interface for displaying information due to a combination of control and visualization methods," said Professor Olga Ivashchuk, Head of the Department of Information and Robotic Systems of BSU.
She noted that a visual spatial representation of complex natural and technological processes will allow users to quickly fix problematic issues and form scientifically based management scenarios.
The results of the study were presented at SmartIndustryCon-2023 – an international conference devoted to the latest achievements in the field of automation and control systems.
The work has been carried out with the financial support of a grant from the Russian Science Foundation (project No. 22-11-20016) "Development and research of an intelligent decision support system for the adaptation of agricultural territories under the dynamics of the greenhouse effect".