Study tour to support automated yield estimation project

Abstract

A number of planned activities relating to the challenge of yield estimation in viticulture were undertaken with the support of AGWA funding. These included presentation of peer-reviewed work at two conferences and several research visits across the USA. The papers presented addressed the issues of bunch detection from imagery and counting berries from a single image of a bunch, with both papers showing results of between 85 and 90% accuracy. The major result from the research visits was a better understanding of the state of the art yield estimation system developed by Steve Nuske which directly informs the system development underway in AGWA project DPI 1401. In addition ideas were gained for future proposals as well as directions for reducing the risks associated with the current project.

Summary

This travel grant assisted Dr Mark Whitty in attending two conferences (MVA2015 and ICRA2015) to present peer-reviewed work on berry counting and bunch detection. In addition, research visits to Cornell Lake Erie Research Centre, Carnegie Mellon University and Treasury Wine Estates were undertaken. Furthermore, an inspection of the latest yield monitoring camera system developed by Steve Nuske was undertaken. These activities together resulted in increased international contacts in agriculture and viticulture, promotion of the latest work in Australia and ideas for directing existing yield estimation work.