Non-Contact Sensing for Protected Cropping

Protected cropping systems offer a controlled environment for optimized plant growth, but traditional sensing techniques for monitoring plant health and crop quality are often invasive, costly, and labor-intensive. This thesis explores innovative, non-contact sensing methodologies to address key challenges in plant water management and crop quality assessment within protected cropping. By leveraging advancements in millimeter-wave (mmWave) radar and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, this work provides practical, scalable solutions for sustainable agricultural practices. The research is structured around three key contributions. First, Leafeon, a novel system using mmWave radar, is introduced for accurate and low-cost sensing of leaf water content. The system demonstrates high sensitivity and reliability, enabling precise water management without physical plant contact. Second, MotionLeaf applies mmWave radar to monitor fine-grained multi-leaf damped vibrations, providing a unique and cost-effective method to detect plant water stress dynamically. This approach extends the capabilities of traditional monitoring systems by focusing on plant movement patterns as indicators of hydration levels. Third, SweetFruit employs NIR spectroscopy to measure the sugar content of fruits in a non-contact and cost-efficient manner, presenting a valuable tool for quality control in protected cropping systems. The findings from these studies collectively showcase the potential of non-contact sensing technologies to enhance precision agriculture in protected cropping environments. This thesis not only advances the state-of-the-art in agricultural sensing but also paves the way for scalable, data-driven farming solutions that can improve water efficiency and crop quality while reducing operational costs. The work concludes by outlining future research directions and discussing the broader implications of adopting non-contact sensing technologies in sustainable agriculture.

Grantor dc:publisher

UNSW, Sydney

Year dc:date

2025

Author dc:creator

• Cardamis, Mark

• Non-Contact Sensing
• Protected Cropping

Statement dc:rights

• open access
• CC BY 4.0
• free_to_read

Licence

• https://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
• https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.26190/unsworks/31170

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:unsworks.library.unsw.edu.au:1959.4/105013