Agricultural IoT - Micro-Weather Tracking & Herding Dogs Sensor Hardware & Mobile Application

斯凯勒农场是一个多元化的农场，包括苹果、酸樱桃、羊和谷物（玉米、大豆和小麦）。他们的业务挑战包括详细的天气跟踪、畜群管理、农场狗管理、准确的作物投入应用（例如：杀菌剂）以及整个农场的最小数据连接。2017年，安大略省的苹果农场产值超过8100万美元，真菌和相关影响是这些农场收入的主要威胁。准确的天气跟踪与可靠的远程传感器可以帮助准确的时间杀菌剂的应用，并减少喷洒率。莫霍克学院将与斯凯勒农场和QuaeNet公司合作，评估以下技术可行性：(a)使用分布式天气监测系统来帮助减少苹果园中杀菌剂的使用；(b)使用资产跟踪设备来监测牧羊犬的位置和活动。斯凯勒农场占地4000英亩，利用玛雷玛狗帮助管理羊群。这包括保护自己免受土狼等掠食者的侵害。然而，狗可以走很远的距离，需要时间来管理。每只狗项圈上的GPS传感器都连接到一个移动应用程序，这将帮助斯凯勒农场的团队管理他们的狗，并了解羊群面临的潜在威胁。莫霍克将利用QuaeNet、LoRa传感器和莫霍克的Wayne Visser解决Schuyler农场的业务挑战，莫霍克的电子和软件专业学生将提供创新的解决方案。项目成果将惠及Schuyler Farms、QuaeNet、加拿大水果农场以及全国各地的农场狗和羊群管理。该项目工作将通过支持LoRa传感器对天气影响的详细了解，以及通过时间和数量更准确地使用杀菌剂，为价值2.246亿美元的苹果种植带来国家效益。此外，QuaeNet的传感器和移动应用程序将为苹果园和其他水果农场以及加拿大各地的农场狗提供跟踪服务。

Schuyler Farms is a diversified farming operation that includes apples, sour cherries, sheep, and grains (corn, soybeans, and wheat. Their business challenges include detailed weather tracking, herd management, farm dog management, accurate crop input applications (ex: fungicide), and minimal data connectivity across the farm. Ontario produced more than $81 million in farm gate value of apples in 2017, and fungus and related impacts are a major threat those farm gate revenues. Accurate weather tracking with reliable long range sensors can help to accurately time fungicide applications, and reduce the rate of spraying. Mohawk College will collaborate with Schuyler Farms and QuaeNet Inc. to assess the technical feasibility of (a) using distributed weather monitoring systems to help reduce the application of fungicides in an apple orchard and (b) using asset tracking devices to monitor the location and activity of sheep herding dogs. Schuyler Farms' 4,000-acre farm operation utilizes Maremma dogs to help manage their sheep herd. This includes protecting from predators like coyotes. However, the dogs can travel a significant distance and require time to manage. GPS sensors on each of the dogs' collars connected to a mobile app will help the Schuyler Farms' team to manage their dogs and understand potential threats to the sheep herd. Mohawk will solve Schuyler Farms's business challenges with QuaeNet, LoRa sensors, and Mohawk's Wayne Visser, and Mohawk students in electronics and software to provide innovative solutions. The project outcomes will benefit Schuyler Farms, QuaeNet, Canadian fruit farms, and farm dog and sheep herd management across the country. The project work will have national benefits on the $224.6 million in apple farming by supporting the detailed understanding of weather impacts with LoRa sensors, and working towards more accurately fungicide by timing and amount. Further, QuaeNet's sensors and mobile apps will have tracking benefits for apple orchards and other fruit farming, as well as farm dogs across Canada.