❓ Details a Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development contract for using image analysis to improve slug and snail control in grain and broadacre crops in the south coast region of WA.
AnsweredQoN 2621Legislative Assembly
Asked
13 March 2018
Member
Portfolio
Regional Development; Agriculture and Food; Minister Assisting the Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade
QuestionView source ↗
Please provide details on a contract (Reference Number: AGR2018018) by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development for "imaging analysis for improving the efficiency of slug and snail controls". Details including how the analysis is being conducted, where it is proposed to be conducted, what crops or flora are being tested etc?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 May 2018
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Regional Development; Agriculture and Food; Minister Assisting the Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade
Response time
11 days
Contract AGR2018018 was raised to engage a consultant to write computer programs that will analyse images of grain and broadacre crops for snails and slugs that were captured through activities in the project “Improving the efficiency of slug and snail controls”.
Images of snails and slugs in paddocks were captured using mobile phones that were programmed to take photographs while attached to an autonomous rover that moves around the paddock or to a wheel of a vehicle. When the mobile phone is parallel to the ground an image is taken that is in focus and records the time, date and GPS location. Algorithms written by the engaged consultant will be able to detect the presence or absence of slugs and snails and map their distribution in the paddock. Current maps have been produced by visually assessing the photographs; this process is expected to be automated when the algorithms are written. Spatial statistics have been used to map the variation in the density of slugs and snails in paddocks to show where responses to baiting may occur.
Images of snails in grain were captured using a mobile phone attached to a device mounted on the auger of a harvester. The mobile phone was programmed to take photographs at set intervals with GPS locations and times recorded. Image analysis programs are being written to detect the presence and number of snails. From this, the amount of snail contamination in the harvested grain can be determined and a map of where the snails were harvested can be produced.
The project is being undertaken in the south coast region of WA and the Albany and Plantagenet shires.
Snails as a grain contaminant of harvested barley and wheat are being investigated in the project. The mapping of slugs in canola and snails in canola and barley crops and summer stubbles is also being investigated.
Images of snails and slugs in paddocks were captured using mobile phones that were programmed to take photographs while attached to an autonomous rover that moves around the paddock or to a wheel of a vehicle. When the mobile phone is parallel to the ground an image is taken that is in focus and records the time, date and GPS location. Algorithms written by the engaged consultant will be able to detect the presence or absence of slugs and snails and map their distribution in the paddock. Current maps have been produced by visually assessing the photographs; this process is expected to be automated when the algorithms are written. Spatial statistics have been used to map the variation in the density of slugs and snails in paddocks to show where responses to baiting may occur.
Images of snails in grain were captured using a mobile phone attached to a device mounted on the auger of a harvester. The mobile phone was programmed to take photographs at set intervals with GPS locations and times recorded. Image analysis programs are being written to detect the presence and number of snails. From this, the amount of snail contamination in the harvested grain can be determined and a map of where the snails were harvested can be produced.
The project is being undertaken in the south coast region of WA and the Albany and Plantagenet shires.
Snails as a grain contaminant of harvested barley and wheat are being investigated in the project. The mapping of slugs in canola and snails in canola and barley crops and summer stubbles is also being investigated.
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