Early detection of plant diseases using satellite data
Project details
In agriculture, so-called large-scale crop classification offers the possibility of checking every single field for vitality and damage. In this context, this Distr@l project develops the early detection of plant diseases and makes it accessible to users. The project develops an automated evaluation of satellite data that enables early detection of plant diseases already during an early growth stage of the plants. The models are fed with satellite data from the European Copernicus mission. The insights gained are particularly interesting for farmers for the economical and environmentally friendly use of crop protection products. Diseases are thus no longer detected, as previously, through local inspections and visual observation, but by means of area-wide and weekly measurements from the latest generation of satellite sensors, which cover numerous ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Field of application
Making this information available on a user platform in order to give users access is of interest to many players in the agricultural sector – from the individual farmer to globally operating agricultural traders or insurers. In addition, the enabled targeted use of chemical crop protection products can, alongside a cost reduction in food production, also counteract the loss of biodiversity in agricultural areas.
Funding body: Hessian Ministry for Digital Strategy and Development
Funding programme: Distr@l – Growth phase (FL4B)
Funding period: 01 March 2023 – 28 February 2025
