WaterWise

Waterwise: a world-first, cloud-connected, plant-based sensor monitoring platform with advanced data analytics for reducing the water footprint of high value crops

What problem does WaterWise solve?

Irrigation management relies on growers taking many things into account. Timing, for example, is critical to maximise crop yield and quality. Successful managers do this well, but often need to rely on experience rather than definitive data to make their decisions. Differences in soil type, regional climate, water availability, system capacity, attitude to risk and the amount of data collected means that irrigation management has to be tailored and responsive. Decisions are often challenged when situations are considerably different from normal, such as when extreme weather events occur.

But recent improvements in wireless sensor technology and advanced data analytics enable use of plant- and soil-based sensing to continually monitor crops and soils, allowing application and a degree of precision not previously attainable on a commercial scale.

CSIRO had already led ground-breaking research in plant-based sensing technologies (such as ‘by letting the plants do the talking’) to improve yield and water use efficiency in Australian cotton systems. The system uses proximal (single location in the field) continuous canopy temperature measurement and offers growers a simple means of identifying crop stress.

In conjunction with existing soil moisture measurements, we thought our current system could offer significantly refined irrigation scheduling decisions.

We aimed to develop the minimum tool box (data and sensors) needed for research purposes that would quickly deliver benefits to industry.

How does WaterWise work?

We developed a platform that provides irrigation decision-making based on both monitored and forecast crop water stress status. It incorporates breakthrough science – advanced data analytics, spatial sensing systems, weather forecasts and novel crop biochemistry – to predict the future.

It uses in-field sensors that measure the canopy temperature of crops every 15 minutes. It then sends the data to CSIRO’s sensor data infrastructure, Senaps, adds in the weather forecast and uses machine learning to apply CSIRO’s unique algorithm to predict crop water requirements for the next seven days.

WaterWise provides irrigators with digital strategies to confidently irrigate at the right time to optimise yield, quality and water use for high-value crops.

The next steps for WaterWise are to take it from in-field based canopy sensors to drones or satellites.

How can I get WaterWise?

Goanna Ag are our first commercial partner bringing the WaterWise technology to Australian irrigators. Goanna Ag, which produce agricultural sensing systems for water-use efficiency, are delivering WaterWise’s smart analytics as a data stream to their on-farm customers, incorporated into their existing GoField system.

We invite other interested companies to get in touch with us to discuss licensing WaterWise as well. You can submit our form or contact Rose Roche, WaterWise project leader.

Where can I get more information on WaterWise?

Read our media release, download the WaterWise flyer or watch the videos below by team members Rose Roche and Dave Deery.