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PARG Group Members

Core Group Members

Prof David Lamb - Group Leader
Dr Mark Trotter - Deputy Group Leader and Research Lecturer - Precision Agriculture
Dr John Stanley - Research Fellow - Precision Agriculture (CRCSI)
Dr Greg Falzon - Research Fellow (C4D)
Mr Michael Schaefer - Junior Research Fellow (AusCover Remote Sensing Group, Marine and Atmospheric Research, CSIRO).
Mr Derek Schneider - Senior Technical Officer - Precision Agriculture (CRCSI)

Mr Craig Birchall - Agronomy and Soil Science UNE
Mr Ron Bradbury - Physics and Electronics UNE
Dr Kankana Chakrabarty - Computing Science UNE
Dr Paul Coop - Physics and Electronics UNE
Ms Susanna Greig - Primary Industry Centre for Science Education UNE
Dr Chris Guppy - Agronomy and Soil Science UNE
Prof Geoff Hinch - Animal Science UNE
Dr Paul Kwan - Computing Science UNE
A/Prof Nick Reid - Ecosystems Management UNE
Dr Darryl Savage - Animal Science UNE

Honorary Academic Associates

Mr Graham Donald (CSIRO)
Dr Robin Dobos (NSW DPI)
Mrs Clare Edwards (NSW DPI)
Dr Paul Frazier (Eco Logical Australia)
A/Prof Kevin Powell (VIC DPI)(Entomologist)

Postgraduate Students

Amy Cosby - UNE and Dairy Australia
Niva Kiran Verma - CRC Spatial Information
Moshiur Rahman - PARG UNE
Jess Roberts - PARG UNE
Brooke Sauer - Cotton Catchment and Communities CRC
Michael Whelan - CRC for Sheep Industry Innovation

To learn about our recent graduates please click here.

 

Member Information and Contact

Dave Lamb

David Lamb

 

Phone: +61 (0)267733565
Email: dlamb@une.edu.au


Research interests/experience

David is Professor of Physics and Precision Agriculture at the University of New England, and is convenor (Head) of the discipline of Physics and Electronics in the School of Science and Technology. His research interests include applied optics and precision agriculture. His applied optics work covers the development and application of optical sensors, including optical fibre sensors for environmental, chemical, physical and biophysical sensing. In precision agriculture his interests are around measuring and managing within-field spatial variability in biophysical attributes in agricultural fields to optimise production. He has been working in the area of precision agriculture since the early nineties- initially building and testing a number of airborne imaging systems for agricultural applications and now extends his work to cover proximal (nearby) optical and electromagnetic sensors (for example active optical plant canopy sensors and electromagnetic induction soil sensors).

Recent publications

  1. Holland, K.H., Lamb, D.W. and Schepers, J.S. (2012) “Radiometry of Proximal Active Optical Sensors (AOS) for Agricultural Sensing”, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing. 10.1109/JSTARS.2012.2198049.
  2. Falzon, G., Lamb, D.W. and Schneider, D., (2012) “The Dynamic Aerial Survey algorithm architecture and its use in airborne fertilizer applications”, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing. DOI 10.1109/JSTARS.2011.2179020.
  3. Barnes, P., Wilson, B.R., Trotter, M.G., Lamb, D.W., Reid, N. and Koen, T. (2011) “The patterns of grazed pasture associated with scattered trees across an Australian temperate landscape: an investigation of pasture quantity and quality”. The Rangeland Journal 33:121-130.
  4. Taylor, D.B., Schneider, D.A., Brown, W.Y., Price, I.R., Trotter, M.G., Lamb, D.W. and Hinch, G.N. (2011) “GPS observation of shelter utilization by merino ewes”. Animal Production Science 51:724-737.
  5. Lamb, D.W., Schneider D.A., Trotter, M.G., Schaefer, M.T. and Yule I.J. (2011) “Extended-altitude, aerial mapping of crop NDVI using an active optical sensor: A case study using a RaptorTM sensor over Wheat.” Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 77: 69-73.
Mark Trotter

Mark Trotter

 


Phone: +61 (0)267732465
Email: mtrotter@une.edu.au

Research interests/experience

Mark Trotter is a Research Lecturer in Precision Agriculture within the School of Science and Technology at the University of New England (UNE). Mark is a leading member of the UNE Precision Agriculture Research Group and CRC for Spatial Information. Mark’s research interests focus on spatio-temporal variability in agricultural systems and the development of sensors and management techniques that enable producers to increase production and efficiency in the face of variation found in animals, plants and landscapes.
Mark has extensive experience in the application of autonomous spatial livestock monitoring systems having developed the UNEtracker GPS device. Mark has undertaken research in a number of fields including spatial monitoring of livestock in relation to landscape utilisation, behavioural modelling, shelter utilisation and disease detection.  He also has experience in the development and application of remote and proximal biomass sensing devices with specific experience in the application of Active Optical Sensors to monitor pastures and grasslands.
Mark was recently awarded an Australian Government Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Science and Innovation Award for his work in spatial livestock monitoring. Mark is driven by the need to see research reach the end user and regularly works with producers to deliver industry relevant tools.

Recent publications

  1. Barnes, P., Wilson, B.R., Trotter, M.G., Lamb, D.W., Reid, N. and Koen, T. (2011) “The patterns of grazed pasture associated with scattered trees across an Australian temperate landscape: an investigation of pasture quantity and quality”. The Rangeland Journal 33:121-130.
  2. Taylor, D.B., Schneider, D.A., Brown, W.Y., Price, I.R., Trotter, M.G., Lamb, D.W. and Hinch, G.N. (2011) “GPS observation of shelter utilization by merino ewes”. Animal Production Science 51:724-737.
  3. Lamb, D.W., Schneider D.A., Trotter, M.G., Schaefer, M.T. and Yule I.J. (2011) “Extended-altitude, aerial mapping of crop NDVI using an active optical sensor: A case study using a RaptorTM sensor over Wheat.” Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 77: 69-73.
  4. Trotter, M.G., Lamb, D.W., Donald, G.E., Schneider, D.A., 2010. Evaluating an active optical sensor for quantifying and mapping green herbage mass and growth in a perennial grass pasture. Crop and Pasture Science 61, 389-398.
  5. Trotter, M.G., Lamb, D.W., Hinch, G.N., Guppy, C.N., 2010. Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) livestock tracking: system development and data interpretation. Animal Production Science 50, 616–623.
Dez Schneider

Derek Schneider

 

Phone: +61 (0)267733769
Email: dschnei5@une.edu.au

Research interests/experience

Derek is a Senior Technical Officer (Precision Agriculture) and currently involved with research focused on the use of precision agriculture tools, particularly electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensors, proximal vegetation sensors and GPS animal tracking units.  Current interests include correlation of ECa from EMI sensors to soil moisture, tracking of livestock and the related data processing, spatio-temporal monitoring of pasture biomass and implementation of sensor networks for monitoring agricultural land. He has also had recent experience deploying active vegetation sensors on airborne platforms.

Recent publications

  1. Falzon, G., Lamb, D.W. and Schneider, D., (2012) “The Dynamic Aerial Survey algorithm architecture and its use in airborne fertilizer applications”, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing. DOI 10.1109/JSTARS.2011.2179020.
  2. Taylor, D.B., Schneider, D.A., Brown, W.Y., Price, I.R., Trotter, M.G., Lamb, D.W. and Hinch, G.N. (2011) “GPS observation of shelter utilization by merino ewes”. Animal Production Science 51:724-737.
  3. Lamb, D.W., Schneider D.A., Trotter, M.G., Schaefer, M.T. and Yule I.J. (2011) “Extended-altitude, aerial mapping of crop NDVI using an active optical sensor: A case study using a RaptorTM sensor over Wheat.” Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 77: 69-73.
  4. Roberts, J., Trotter, M.G., Lamb, D.W., Hinch G. and Schneider, D. (2010) “Spatiotemporal movement of livestock in relation to decreasing pasture biomass”. In H. Dove and R. Culvenor (Eds) : “Food Security from Sustainable Agriculture: Proceedings of the 15th Australian Agronomy Conference”, 15-19 November 2010, Lincoln, New Zealand.
  5. McPhee, M.J., Edwards, C., Meckiff, J., Ballie, N., Schneider, D.A., Arnott, P., Cowie, A., Savage, D., Lamb, D.W., Guppy, C., McCorkell, B. and Hegarty, R. (2010) “Estimating on-farm methane emissions for sheep production on the Northern Tablelands: establishment of demonstration site”. AFBM Journal 7-2: 85-89.
John Stanley

John Stanley

 

Phone: +61 (0)267732447
Email: jstanle4@une.edu.au

Research interests/experience

Dr John Stanley's primary interest is the measurement of plant available water across farming landscapes.  The amount of soil water available to crops is fundamental to yield, crop choices and fertiliser decisions.  Higher efficiencies would result from matching crops, inputs and cultural management to the moisture available at each site in a field but this will require high resolution maps of soil moisture. Therefore his research interests include:
• Surveys for soil moisture using electromagnetic induction (EMI).
• Biomass measurements using proximal optical sensors.
Together these provide a measure of water use efficiency, a ratio that underpins the carrying capacity of our planet.  I have a background in crop physiology (measurement of photosynthesis), entomology (biological control of weeds and insect pests) and irrigated crop production.

Recent Publications

  1. Bahar MH, Stanley JN, Gregg PC, Del Socorro  AP, Kristiansen P (2012). Comparing the predatory performance of green lacewing on cotton bollworm on conventional and Bt cotton. Journal of Applied Entomology. 136 (4) 263-270.
  2. Stanley JN, Julien MH, Center TD (2007). Performance and impact of the biological control agent Xubida infusella (Lepidoptera; Pyralidae) on the target weed Eichhornia crassipes (waterhyacinth) and on a non-target plant, Pontederia cordata (pickerelweed) in two nutrient regimes. Biological Control. 40:298-305.
  3. Stanley JN, Julien MH (1999). The Host Range of Eccritotarsus catarinensis (Heteroptera: Miridae), a Potential Agent for the Biological Control of Waterhyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). Biological Control.  14 (3) 134-140.
Mick Schaefer

Michael Schaefer

 

Phone: +61 (0)2 6246 5632
Email: Michael.schaefer@csiro.au

Research interests/experience

Michael is a joint research fellow with UNE-PARG and the CSIRO AusCover Remote Sensing Facility. The majority of his work will involve developing a national protocol for field measurement and validation of LAI across Australia’s ecosystems. Michael is also working on a terrestrial ecosystem research network (TERN) AusCover project that will utilise airborne laser scanning (ALS) and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) datasets to develop continental-scale vegetation height and above ground biomass maps on an annual basis. These maps and the corresponding database will be used to validate available remotely sensed data products such as vegetation height from ICESat GLAS and future mapping programs such as ICESat. Michael also has research Interests in the optical measurement of vegetation biomass, Leaf area index (LAI) and vegetation height and Photonics and optical fibre sensing.

Recent publications

  1. Schaefer, M.T., Lamb, D.W. and Bradbury, R. (2011) “A comparison of two ranging approaches to an integrated active, optical, reflectance and ranging sensor”. Proceedings of the Biennial Conference of the Australian Society for Engineering in Agriculture (SEAg), published by SEAg ISBN 978 085825 982 9, (Editors: T. Banhazi, C. Saunders & R.Hegarty)- 29-30 of September 2011, Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia,  298-306.
  2. Lamb, D.W., Schneider D.A., Trotter, M.G., Schaefer, M.T. and Yule I.J. (2011) “Extended-altitude, aerial mapping of crop NDVI using an active optical sensor: A case study using a RaptorTM sensor over Wheat.” Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 77: 69-73.

 

Paul Kwan

Paul Kwan

 

Phone: +61 (0)267732034
Email: paul.kwan@une.edu.au

Research interests/experience

Dr Paul Kwan is currently a Senior Lecturer in Computer Science in the School of Science and Technology at University of New England, Australia. His current research areas include Computer Vision, Security Informatics, Agent-based Modelling, Pattern Recognition, Data Mining, and Evolutionary Computation. He is a Senior Member of IEEE and a Senior Member of ACM. He also serves as an Associate Editor for the Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences (SpringerOpen) journal.

Recent publications

  1. Detterer D, Kwan P, and Gondro C (2012), ‘A Co-evolving Memetic Wrapper for Prediction of Patient Outcomes in Traditional Chinese Medicine Informatics’, Special Issue of Frontiers of Computer Science (Eds J Luo, Y-S Koh and J Bailey), Springer (DOI: 10.1007/s11704-012-2959-0).
  2. Hasan A, Maruf G-M, Shareef MD, Al-Mamun H-A, Kwan P (2011a), ‘Cancer Classification from Microarray Data using Gene Feature Ranking’, International Journal of Data Mining and Emerging Technologies, Indian Journals, Vol. 1:2, paper 2.
  3. Kwan P, Kameyama K, Gao J, Toraichi K (2011b), ‘Content-Based Image Retrieval of Cultural Heritage Symbols by Interaction of Visual Perspectives’, International Journal of Pattern Recognition and Artificial Intelligence, World Scientific, Vol. 25:5, pp. 1-31.
  4. Ahmed F, Hossain Bari ASM, Hossain E, Al-Mamun H-A, Kwan P (2011c), ‘Performance Analysis of Support Vector Machine and Bayesian Classifier for Crop and Weed Classification from Digital Images’, World Applied Sciences Journal, IDOSI, Vol. 12:4, pp. 432-440.
  5. Kwan P, Gao J, Guo Y, Kameyama K (2010c), ‘A Learning Framework for Adaptive Fingerprint Identification using Relevance Feedback’, International Journal of Pattern Recognition and Artificial Intelligence, World Scientific, Vol. 24:1, pp. 15-38.
Kankana Chakrabarty

Kankana Chakrabarty

 

Phone: +61 (0)267732892
Email: kankanac@turing.une.edu.au

Research interests/experience

Dr Kankana Chakrabarty's research interest are in the areas of fuzzy sets, IFS's, rough sets, bags, and their mathematical frameworks. She also works on the area of applying these notions in the domains of decision analysis and uncertaintty modelling.

Recent publications

  1. Chakrabarty K., The Notion of Intuitionistic Fuzzy IC-Bags, Foundations of Computing and Decision Sciences, 37(1), 25-38, 2012.
  2. Chakrabarty K. and Despi I., nk-Bags, International Journal of Intelligent Systems, 22(2), pp. 223-236, 2007.
  3. Xu Y., Chakrabarty K. and Zhang C., A Neural Network Abductive Model, Australian Journal of Intelligent Information Processing Systems, Vol. 9, Issue 1, pp. 81-95, 2006.
  4. Chakrabarty K. and Nanda S., A Note on Fixed Point Theorem for Fuzzy Mappings, International Journal of Uncertainty, Fuzziness and Knowledge-Based Systems, 13/6, 2005.
  5. Chakrabarty K., Notion of Fuzzy IC-Bags, International Journal of Uncertainty, Fuzziness and Knowledge-Based Systems, 12/3, pp. 327-345, 2004.
  6. Chakrabarty K., Decision Analysis Using IC-Bags, International Journal of Information Technology and Decision Making, 3/1, pp. 101-108, 2004.
Kevin Powell

Kevin Powell

 

Phone: +61 (0)260304542
Email: Kevin.Powell@dpi.vic.gov.au

Research interests/experience

Associate Professor Powell holds a Ph.D. Entomology and a Masters degree in Agronomy and has worked in International Agriculture Centres in Italy and Syria.  He is currently Principal Research Scientist in Invertebrate Sciences with DPI (Victoria), where he leads a program on biosecurity pests including grapevine phylloxera.  Research interests include climate change, early detection (using precision agriculture and molecular techniques)  and management of sap-sucking and root-feeding insect pests.

Recent publications

  1. Andrews KB., KS Powell, PD Cooper (2012) Spatial tradeoffs in the digestive and reproductive systems of grape phylloxera. Australian Journal of Zoology, http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ZO11053
  2. Clarke AR., KS Powell, C.W Weldon, PW. Taylor (2011) The ecology of Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritdae): what do we know to assist pest management? Annals of Applied Biology, 158, 26-54.
  3. Korosi GA., PT. Mee., Powell KS (2012) Influence of temperature and humidity on mortality of grapevine phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae) Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research, 18, 43-47.
  4. Rathé AA., LJ Pilkington, GM Gurr, MS Hoddle, MP Daugherty, FE Constable, JE Luck, KS Powell, MJ Fletcher, OR Edwards. (2011). Incursion preparedness: anticipating the arrival of an economically important plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa Wells (Proteobacteria: Xanthomonadaceae) and the insect vector Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in Australia. Australian Journal of Entomology, DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-6055.2011.00856.x
  5. Trębicki, P, WF Tjallingi, RM Harding, B Rodoni, KS Powell (2012) EPG monitoring of the probing behaviour of the brown leafhopper Orosius orientalis on artificial diet and selected host plants. Arthropod Plant Interactions. DOI: 10.1007/s11829-012-9192-5
Graham Donald

Graham Donald

 


Phone: +61 (0)427464303
Email: gdonald2@une.edu.au

Research interests/experience

In 2012 I was responsible for the collation, mapping and compiling of a feed-base pasture audit of 402 shires across southern Australia and delivered as a report to MLA. This updates a previous study in 1999 where we published similar findings on a 1993 survey on the same region.
Recent research has involved the study of the complexities associated with spatial information in land use management. This includes my involvement with CSIRO Livestock Industries, the University of New England Precision Agricultural Group (PARG) and the Spatial Informatics CRC. My speciality involves geographic and spatial information systems (GIS,SIS) using satellite remote sensed (RS) information that are increasingly being applied to link environmental, biophysical and livestock modelling processes. Applying basic principles and techniques to the integration of spatial information and satellite remotely sensed imagery. These processes have been applied to mine rehabilitation, assessing pasture improvement, biomass and growth rate, land use classification, integrating spatial data with a grazing system, assessing pasture variability at regional scale and modelling livestock movements.  As an example, the application of weekly National climate surfaces and remote sensed TERRA/AQUA MODIS satellite information to a spatial model to estimate pasture growth rate in the higher rainfall regions of Southern Australia has been developed and released as a commercial product (http://www.pasturesfromspace.csiro.au).
The strategic use of quantitative pasture information was applied to understand and manage feed resource utilisation for the Australian grazing industries, and has major implications for turn-off patterns derived from the National Livestock Identification System.

Recent publications

  1. Donald, G.E., Edirisinghe, A., Henry, D.A., Gherardi, S.G., Gittins, S. and Mata, G. (2010).”Pasture growth rate for individual paddocks can be accurately predicted real-time from MODIS imagery, climate and soil data”, J. Anim Prod Sc, 50:611-615
  2. Donald, G.E., Miron, D.J., Dyall, T. and Garner, M, G. (2010).”Temporal and spatial regional cattle farm turn-off patterns in Eastern Australia”, J. Anim Prod Sc, 50:359-362
  3. Trotter, MG, Lamb, DW, Donald GE and Schneider, DA, (2010) Active optical sensors for quantifying and mapping pasture biomass: A case study using red and near infrared waveband combinations from a Crop CircleTM in Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea) pastures, Crop and Forage Science, 61:389-398
  4. Edirisinghe, A., Hill, M. J, Donald, G. E, and Hyder, M. W. (2011). “Quantitative mapping of pasture biomass using satellite imagery”, Int J Remote Sensing,  32-10, 2699–2724
  5. Smith, R, Adams, M, Gittins S., Gharardi, S., Wood, D., Maier, S., ,Stovold, R.,, Donald, G., Khokar, S., and Allen. A. (2011),”Near real-time Feed on Offer from MODIS for the early season grazing management of Mediterranean annual pastures”, Int J. Rem.Sens, 32-16, 4445-4460.
  6. Donald  GE, Scott JM  and Vickery PJ (2012) Satellite derived information provides valuable evidence of whole farmlet and paddock responses to management and climate, Animal Production Science (in press)
Jess Roberts

Jessica Roberts

 

Phone: +61 (0)267733436
Email: jrober30@une.edu.au

Research interests/experience

Jessica is a 3rd year UNE PARG PhD student, her research thesis is titled "Spatially Enabled Livestock Management: Increasing biomass utilisation in rotational systems." Jessica's research is investigating the potential for livestock tracking to be used as a determinant for the timing of rotating cattle in extensive rotational grazing systems. From this research is it hoped that a movement metric can be derived from tracking data which can be integrated into a real-time production based precision livestock application. Jess has also undertaken research on ruminant nutrition in relation to methane production, at the Honours level. Her research interests include: ruminant nutrition, pasture management, cattle behaviour and precision livestock.

Recent Publications

  1. Roberts, J., Trotter, M., Lamb, D., Hinch, G., & Schneider, D. (2010, 15-18 November 2010). Spatio-temporal movement of livestock in relation to decreasing pasture biomass. Paper presented at the "Food Security from Sustainable Agriculture" Australian  Agronomy Conference, Lincoln, NZ.
  2. Roberts, J. J., Nolan, J. V., 2009. Effects of supplementary nitrate and urea on gas production and nitrate metabolism in rumen contents in vitro, Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition – Australia 17, pg 185.
Chris Guppy

Chris Guppy

 

Phone: +61 (0)267733567
Email: cguppy@une.edu.au

Research interests/experience

Chris is a Senior Lecturer in Soil Fertility at the University of New England and is a Certified Professional Soil Scientist (Stage 3). His research interests include phosphorus dynamics, rhizosphere processes and precision agriculture. His phosphorus research focusses on plant mechanisms to increase soil phosphorus availability either through root exudations or changes in root architecture.  Recent research has focussed on root and nutrient visualisation techniques through micro-CT or portable XRF to isolate root architectural responses to applied nutrients. In precision agriculture he has focussed on variable rate nutrition of crops and, increasingly, pastures as affected by subsoil constraints identified through EM surveying. He has been working in soil fertility (including S, N, K, and Si) for the last 10 years, and precision agriculture for the last 4.

Recent publications

  1. Flavel, R., Guppy, C., Watt, M., McNeill, A., Tighe, M., & Young, I. (2012). Non-destructive quantification of cereal roots in soil using high resolution X-ray tomography. Journal of Experimental Botany, 63(7), 2503-2511.
  2. McLaren, T., Guppy, C., & Tighe, M. K. (2012). A rapid and non-destructive plant nutrient analysis using portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF). Soil Science Society of America Journal, Accepted.
  3. McLaren, T., Guppy, C., Tighe, M. K., Forster, N., Grave, P., Lisle, L., & Bennett, J. (2012). Rapid, non-destructive total elemental analysis of Vertisol soils using portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF). Soil Science Society of America Journal, Accepted.
  4. McLaughlin, M. J., McBeath, T. M., Smernik, R., Stacey, S. P., Ajiboye, B., & Guppy, C. (2011). The chemical nature of P accumulation in agricultural soils-implications for fertiliser management and design: an Australian perspective. Plant and Soil, 349(1-2), 69-87. doi: 10.1007/s11104-011-0907-7
  5. Wang, X., Guppy, C., Watson, L., Sale, P. W. G., & Tang, C. (2011). Availability of sparingly soluble phosphorus sources to cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) with different forms of nitrogen as evaluated by a 32P isotopic dilution technique. Plant and Soil, 348, 85-98.

 

Niva Verma

Niva Verma

 

Phone: +61 (0)267733459
Email: nverma2@une.edu.au

Research interests/experience

Niva Kiran Verma is a research scholar currently pursuing Ph.D at University of New England. Her thesis title is  “Above gound biomass and carbon determination in ‘farmscapes’ using high resolution Remote Sensing”.
Her research interests include use of High resolution Remote Sensing data sets in various applications like Agriculture, Forestry, Natural Resources Management and Planning. Her interests also include Analysis of time series data for environmental change detection and has few papers to her credit in this field. She has ten years experience in the field of Remote Sensing and GIS.

 

Robin Dobos

Robin Dobos

 


Phone: +61 (0)26770 1824
Email: robin.dobos@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Research interests/experience

Robin is a Research Scientist in NSW Department of Primary Industries Animal Genetics Research Unit. He has extensive research experience in ruminant grazing behaviour, dairy cow nutrition and physiology, dairy heifer growth and development, mathematical modelling and decision support tool development. His research interests are in the area of how the grazing animal interacts with its environment. This includes investigating the use of spatial technology to obtain a better understanding of the key on-farm tactical and strategic decisions that lead to more efficient use of resources for the production of meat, milk and wool and which could be enhanced through improved data/information collection.

Recent publications

  1. RC Dobos, DB Taylor, MG Trotter and GN Hinch (2012) Can home range be used as an identifier of lambing for grazing pregnant Merino ewes?, Animal Production in Australia Proceedings of the 29th biennial conference of the Australian Society of Animal Production;
  2. M.G. Trotter, G. Falzon, R.C. Dobos and D.W. Lamb (2012) Developing a simple accelerometer based grazing sensor, Animal Production in Australia Proceedings of the 29th biennial conference of the Australian Society of Animal Production;
  3. RC Dobos (2011) Understanding land use patterns by livestock, AgriFood Skills International Fellowship, Fellowship funded by AgriFood Skills Australia. Available at http://www.issinstitute.org.au/wp-content/media/2011/03/ISS-FEL-REPORT-R-DOBOS-low-res.pdf (accessed May 2012);
  4. Dobos, RC, Sinclair, K., Hinch, GN and Fulkerson, WJ (2009) Frequency distribution of sward height of kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) grass pastures intensively grazed by dairy cows. Animal Production Science 49 (7): 574 - 585
  5. Dobos, RC, Fulkerson, WJ, Sinclair, K. and Hinch, GN (2009) Grazing behaviour and pattern of intake of dairy cows grazing kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) grass pastures in relation to sward height and length of grazing session. Animal Production Science 49: 233–238
Suz Greig

Susanna Greig

 


Phone: +61 (0)267732809
Email: susanna.greig@une.edu.au

Research interests/experience

Susanna graduated from a B. Science; UNE in 1994 with a major in Zoology. After working in Sydney as a freelance photo journalist and then in the North West as an agronomist in the cotton industry, Susanna returned to UNE to complete a Grad. Diploma in Education and taught as a sole and Head science and agriculture teacher at Mendooran Central School. Susanna has since worked for the Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management as an Educational Officer, in this role developed resources for schools including computer games, units of work and primary storybooks, designed, and ran several programs for primary and secondary schools throughout Australia. Currently, Susanna is running the NSW Activity Centre for the national Primary Industry Centre for Science Education (PICSE) based at the University of New England Armidale (UNE). The PICSE program focuses upon increasing the participation of science professionals that support the primary industries. Susanna is:
Coordinating a scholarship program for able tertiary bound school leaders which provides these students with an insight and industry placement experience investigating the broad range of science based careers supporting primary industries;
Running Teacher Professional Development events designed to update and support science teachers include the current science supporting primary industries into their classroom teaching;
Running the Science Investigation Awards event and several other activities which link school students with scientists in agriculture.

Recent publications

  1. Greig, S.N, Sindel, B.M, Jessop, R.J and Lamb, D.W. PICSE- Exciting and encouraging the next generation of skilled agricultural scientists through Precision Agriculture. Poster prepared for the 13th Symposium on Precision Agriculture in Australasia. The University of New England, Armidale 10-11 September 2009
Nick Reid

Nick Reid

 


Phone: +61 (0)267732759
Email: nrei3@une.edu.au

Research interests/experience

Nick is an Associate Professor in Ecosystem Management at the University of New England. He has worked in applied ecology and natural resource management in overseas and Australian universities for 27 years. His research interests span biodiversity assessment and management, ecosystem services, integrating production and conservation, ecological restoration, sustainable land and vegetation management, protected area management, wildlife ecology and management, and forest protection. Recent research projects include broad-acre revegetation using native plant seed and commercial crop planters, the nature and value of ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes, the relationship between invasive native scrub and soil erosion and health, state-and-transition models for threatened ecological communities, restoring weed-infested hardwood plantations for biodiversity conservation, the impact of feral horses in subtropical and temperate gorge wilderness, profitable biodiverse wool production systems, and the role of cotton growers in improving aquatic ecosystem health.

Recent publications

  1. Muñoz-Robles C., M. Tighe, N. Reid, P. Frazier, S. V. Briggs & B. Wilson (2012) A two-step up-scaling method for mapping runoff and sediment production from pasture and woody encroachment on semi-arid hillslopes. Ecohydrology, in press. DOI: 10.1002/eco.283
  2. Tighe M., C. Muñoz-Robles, N. Reid, B. Wilson & S V. Briggs (2012) Hydrological thresholds of soil surface properties identified using conditional inference tree analysis. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 37, 620–632. DOI: 10.1002/esp.3191
  3. Sinha P., L. Kumar & N. Reid (2012) Seasonal variation in land-cover classification accuracy in a diverse region. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing 78, 271–280.
  4. Taylor S., L. Kumar, N. Reid & D. J. Kriticos (2012) Climate change and the potential distribution of an invasive shrub, Lantana camara L. PLoS ONE 7(4): e35565. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0035565
  5. Taylor S., L. Kumar, N. Reid & C. R. G. Lewis (2012) Optimal band selection from hyperspectral data for Lantana camara discrimination. International Journal of Remote Sensing 33, 5418–5437. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01431161.2012.661093
  6. Taylor S., L. Kumar & N. Reid (2011) Accuracy comparison of Quickbird, Landsat TM and SPOT 5 imagery for Lantana camara mapping. Journal of Spatial Science 56, 241–252.
  7. Muñoz-Robles C., N. Reid, M. Tighe, S. V. Briggs & B. Wilson (2011) Assessing ground cover at patch and hillslope scale in semi-arid woody vegetation and pasture using fused Quickbird data. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation 14, 94–102.
Paul Coop

Paul Coop

 


Phone: +61 (0)267733345
Email: pcoop@une.edu.au

Research interests/experience

Paul lectures undergraduate physics and astronomy.   He also has a background in acupuncture and chinese herbs, however is terrible at speaking chinese. Recently he has been investigating methods of reducing evaporation on large water storages. Monolayers, such as hexadecanol and octadecanol have shown effective evaporation reduction on larger water storages, however they need to replenished regularly and are quite susceptible to wind. An automatic floating Wind Assisted Surface Probe (WASP) has been developed which can detect the presence of monolayer by measuring the evaporative cooling occurring for an enclosed surface subjected to a high wind speed. The aim is to develop a reliable automated indication of coverage on a water storage so that intelligent dispensers can dispense accordingly, with the complete system maintaining optimal effectiveness while minimising labour intensive monitoring.

Recent publications

  1. Craig I, Aravinthan V, Baillie C, Beswick A, Barnes G, Bradbury R, Connell L, Coop P, Fellows C, Fitzmaurice L, Foley J, Hancock N, Lamb D, Morrison P, Misra R, Mossad R, Pittaway P, Prime E, Rees S, Schmidt E, Solomon D, Symes T and Turnbull D (2007) “Evaporation, seepage and water quality management in storage dams: a review of research methods”.  Environ Health 7(3): 84-97.
  2. Coop P, Lamb DW, Fellows C and Bradbury R (2011) “Opportunities for optical and temperature-based detection of evaporation reducing films on water surfaces”. In: Proceedings ‘IWER09’, International Workshop on Evaporation from Reservoirs, In Review (in refereed published format)
  3. Coop PA, Lamb DW, Bradbury R & Fellows CM (2009) “Optical detection of evaporation-reducing films on water bodies: Opportunities and challenges”. In: Proceedings ‘IWER09’, International Workshop on Evaporation from Reservoirs, 9-11 December, Gold Coast Qld.
  4. Coop PA, (2010) “Detection of Monolayers” In:  Proceedings of the Australian Irrigation Conference- One Water Many Futures, 8-11 June, Sydney NSW
Moshuir Rahman

Muhammad Moshiur Rahman

 

Phone: +61 (0)267733459
Email: mrahma35@une.edu.au

Research interests/experience

Moshiur is PhD student of Precision Agriculture Research Group in the School of Science and Technology at the University of New England. He is keen to do research in precision agriculture using proximal and active optical sensors. He completed his MSc in Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering from Wageningen University, The Netherlands, where he did his research on Root-zone ECa mapping using electromagnetic induction sensors and investigating different interpolation techniques. He has enough knowledge on electromagnetic induction sensors (mainly EM38) and geographic information system (GIS). In his PhD he is intended to use electromagnetic induction sensors to measure variability in soil moisture and optical remote sensors as decision support tools for the Graziers.

MSc Thesis

  1. Root-zone ECa measurement using EM38 and investigation of spatial interpolation techniques. http://edepot.wur.nl/171663
  2. Verification of the GworkS-rose model for a stationary rose production system: Data acquisition and model study. http://edepot.wur.nl/175939
Greg Falzon

Greg Falzon

 

Phone: +61 (0)267732387
Email: gfalzon2@une.edu.au

Research interests/experience

Greg is the director of C4D: Spatio-temporal Analysis Support Unit and has expertise in a wide range of statistical, image analysis, machine learning, and artificial intelligence subjects. He specialises in applying these techniques to agricultural challenges. A selection of current research projects that he is investigating include:
1. Real-time Sensor Survey.
We are developing real-time algorithms for use in both aircraft and tractors that will enable variable rate fertiliser strategies to be employed `on-the-go’ as sensor information is collected across the paddock. Fertiliser deployed in this manner can be used more efficiently thereby offering benefits for the environment and economic savings for the farmer.
2.  Livestock Monitoring.
We are using Global Positioning System and radio telemetry technology to study the movement and activity of stock. Dr. Falzon’s particular expertise is in developing mathematical models and computer techniques to process the massive amounts of data collected by these devices. Specific areas of investigation include: improving paddock feed use efficiency for beef cattle production, detecting parasite burden in merino sheep, and developing electronic halters to monitor the welfare of stud horses.
3. Sensor Networks.
An array of one hundred soil moisture sensors has been deployed across UNE’s Kirby SMART Farm. In collaboration with the CSIRO we are developing algorithms and the associated software that will enable the monitoring of soil moisture in real-time. We are also extending these models further to estimate plant available water and providing projections on future stocking rates. Such technology will promises unprecedented capabilities in farm management.
4. Agricultural Pests, Biosecurity Risks, and Livestock/Wildlife Interactions.
Within this broad area of research we have a number of active projects such as the detection of the Polynesian Rat (Rattus Exulans) on the outer islands of the Kimberley’s. This rodent is of great potential risk to Australian agriculture if it were to establish on the mainland. We are developing technologies and management strategies for the red-headed pasture cockchafer (Adoryphorus coulonii) a scarab beetle which causes significant issues in the pastures of the Gippsland dairy region. In yet another project we are investigating the interactions between Australian mammals (particularly rodents) and how changes in land use are influencing their activity and abundance. Such research will assist in the management of our native wildlife particularly within the agricultural landscape.

Recent Publications

  1. Falzon G, Trotter M, Lamb D, Schneider D 2011 `Functional data analysis tools for the livestock science researcher’, Book of Abstracts of the Biennial Conference of the Australian Society for Engineering in Agriculture (SEAg), p.92-92(2011)  -- isbn: 978-858259904 -- , Australian Society for Engineering in Agriculture – 2011.
  2. Falzon, G., Lamb, D.W. and Schneider, D., (2012) “The Dynamic Aerial Survey algorithm architecture and its use in airborne fertilizer applications”, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing. DOI 10.11092011.2179020./JSTARS.
  3. Meek, P., Zewe F. and Falzon G., (2012) “Temporal activity patterns of the swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus) and other rodents in north eastern New South Wales, Australia”, accepted 01 February 2012 Australian Mammalogy.
Ron Bradbury

Ron Bradbury

 

Phone: +61 (0)267732643
Email:rbradbury@une.edu.au

Research interests/experience

Ron has a Bachelor of Engineering and a Masters degree in Biomedical Engineering. Prior to working with UNE he worked in the UK on avionics design (electronics for aircraft) and in the Sydney R&D department of the cardiac pacemaker manufacturer Telectronics Pty Ltd. Apart from lecturing electronics and physics at UNE, he currently has his own business as a consulting engineer.
His current research interests are applied and industrial electronics, biomedical engineering, signal and image processing and remote-access experiments for teaching.

Recent publications

  1. Craig I, Aravinthan V, Baillie C, Beswick A, Barnes G, Bradbury R, Connell L, Coop P, Fellows C, Fitzmaurice L, Foley J, Hancock N, Lamb D, Morrison P, Misra R, Mossad R, Pittaway P, Prime E, Rees S, Schmidt E, Solomon D, Symes T and Turnbull D, Evaporation, seepage and water quality management in storage dams: a review of research methods, Environ Health 7:3, pp. 84-97, 2007.
  2. Lye P, Boerkamp M, Lamb D and BradburyR, A novel optical fibre technique for measuring red winegrape colour, The Australian & New Zealand Grapegrower & Winemaker Annual Technical Issue, pp. 111-116, 2005.
  3. Lye P, Bradbury R and Lamb D, Optical fibre evanescent field absorbance (FEFA) as a new method for the measurement of red winegrape colour and total phenolics, Poster presentation Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference, 2004.
Geoff Hinch

Geoff Hinch

 

Phone: +61 (0)267732202
Email: ghinch@une.edu.au

Research interests/experience

Professor Hinch focuses primarily in two research areas of applied science (animal behaviour and welfare and animal reproduction).  In the last 10 years this has been focused mainly through participation in CRC research programs (Sheep reproduction: Australian Sheep CRC,  Poultry Welfare – Australian Poultry CRC, and Ruminant behaviour – Spatial Information CRC. Presently supervisor or co-supervisor of:  10 PhD or masters students in aspects of animal welfare & behaviour, and reproductive management.

Recent publications

  1. Brien, F.D., Hinch G.N.,van der Werf,J.H.J., Brown, D.J. and. Swan A.A (2011)
    Selection strategies for the genetic improvement of reproductive performance in sheep. 
    Proc Assoc for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics, 19:151-158
  2. Taylor, D.B., Schneider, D.A., Brown, W.Y., Price, I.R., Trotter, M.G., Lamb, D.W. and Hinch, G.N.(2011) GPS observations of shelter utilization by Merino ewes. 
    Animal Production Science 51:724-737
  3. Sanger, M.E., Doyle, R.E., Hinch, G.N. and Lee, C.(2011)
    Shearing induces a positive judgement bias and stress induced hyperthermia in sheep.
    Applied Animal Behaviour Science  131:94-103
  4. Taylor D B, Price I R, Brown W Y, and Hinch G N (2011)
    Effects of Merino flock size, paddock complexity and time of day on response to trained leaders. 
    Small Ruminant Research 97: 35-40
  5. Doyle R.E., Lee, C., Deiss,V., Fisher,A.D., Hinch, G.N., Boissy, A (2011)
    Judgement bias and emotional reactivity as measures of affective state in sheep .
    Physiology & Behaviour  102:503-510
Amy Cosby

Amy Cosby

 

Phone: +61 (0)267732196
Email: acosby2@une.edu.au

Research interests/experience

Amy is a 2nd year UNE PARG PhD student, her research thesis is titled "Red Headed Cockchafers in Vic Dairy Pastures." Amy's research is investigating the potential for PA technology to be used as a identification tool for RHCC infestations in high input pasture. From this research is it hoped that a identification protocol can be derived, which producers and consultants can use to apply future control measures. Amys research interests include: Dairy nutrition, pasture management, cattle behaviour and precision livestock.

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