FURI | Summer 2020

Decreasing Water Usage and Increasing Income for Vietnamese Small Farmers: Modeling Plant Stress with Handheld Infrared Thermometers

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The EPICS (Engineering Projects in Community Service) Vietnam Smart Ag team is designing a handheld infrared device to aid small farmers with their irrigation practices in order to reduce water waste and increase annual income. This research serves to provide essential background for the project by investigating the relationship between canopy temperature, CWSI (crop water stress index), and irrigation protocols.  Key insights include determining necessary design and data additions to enhance functionality and suitability of the technology for Vietnamese small farms.  Future research would focus on reducing errors in handheld measurements and establishing baselines for calculating CWSI.

Student researcher

Katie Sue Pascavis

Katie Sue E. Pascavis

Mechanical engineering

Hometown: Bloomington, Illinois, United States

Graduation date: Spring 2023