A review of the progress made by PESSL V

PESSL INSTRUMENTS GmbH

Pessl Instruments GmbH has been producing reliable measuring instruments for 40 years and has developed various devices for measuring and monitoring different agricultural parameters, being one of the leading IoT providers for agriculture offering innovative and cost-effective solutions for more efficient farm management. Participating in the IPM-Popillia project gives PESSL a chance to put into the farmer's disposal all its expertise on sustainable agriculture and fulfill its mission of offering high-value, customized, cost-effective solutions while contributing to global environmental protection. 

 ABOUT THE PROJECT

The IPM-Popillia project, funded by the @EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, started in September 2020. Our expert team has been working on a monitoring device aiming for P. japonica detection and monitoring.

The insect traps our team evolved to include electronic devices with 10 MP lenses on the top of the housing and are self-sufficient through a battery and a solar panel. The traps are equipped with sensors collecting climatic data, like temperature and relative humidity which will be used to get more detailed insight into the flight behavior of P. japonica. In addition, the trap system is equipped with a lure, attracting the target species to enter the trap system. After entering the trap, insects get fixed and photographed. The photos serve as a base for the development of an automatic detection tool specifically for P. japonica. Deep learning systems using artificial neural networks train the system to detect and separate the targeted insect from non-targets, check more info in our previous blog post.

PROGRESS OVER THE PAST MONTHS

Eleven previously installed devices in the Azores, Italy, Switzerland, France, and Austria have been collected from the field and sent back to the office for repairs and upgrades. These repairs were due to various factors, including damage from harsh weather conditions, such as storms and strong winds, which particularly affected the devices in the Azores. Additionally, the devices were enhanced with new pheromones and sticky plates, and upgraded with additional weather sensors as well as the usual cleaning of the devices.

The purpose of these new sensors, which now include temperature and relative humidity measurements, is to collect crucial climate data. This data will be instrumental in refining the detection tools for Popillia japonica, a targeted insect species. The green add-on has been specifically designed to increase the effectiveness of capturing Popillia japonica, further improving the devices' performance in the field.

Following the upgrades, the devices were shipped and re-installed in Portugal(Azores), Italy(Lignano, Asti), and Switzerland(Ticino) during July and August 2024. The photos below show the installation of the iSCOUT® device in the field, equipped with the green add-on, lure, control unit, and new weather sensors.

PESSL would like to once again thank all our partners who supported the installations for season 2024:

• Màrio Brum Teixeira, Nelson Simões, and their team in the Azores,
• Paolo Barone and Federico Fantin (METOS Italy), Giovanni Bosio and Michelangelo Regis (Italian partners of the IPM-Popillia project), and Dr. Renato Del Mastro and Marco Del Mastro (STEMS),
• Michela Meier, Luca Jelmini, Casartelli Chiara, Marazzi Cristina, and Mete Nicholas from Ticino.

Azores, Portugal: 3 devices installed

  Lignao, Italy: 2 devices installed

Asti, Italy: 2 devices installed 

WHAT'S PLANNED FOR THE FUTURE?

• Looking ahead, our team plans to use the photos collected during this season to update the current version of the object recognition model.
• Applying the upcoming new model in autumn 2024 to further enhance the device's capability to monitor and detect Popillia japonica.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

M.Sc. Junia Rojic, Project support officer

At PESSL, I am responsible for all the administrative tasks related to projects, including among others proposals, reports, deliverables, time schedules, meetings, minutes, and budget control. I studied Industrial Engineering at the Federal University of São Carlos, Brazil, recognized in Austria as a Master's degree in Materials Science. With more than 13 years of experience in Project Management, including some years in Brazil working at R&D and IT companies, I am delighted to be part of a European Project, with many important stakeholders, and most importantly, supporting agriculture and food production in the 21st century. In my free time, I do sports, like volleyball and indoor football, but also enjoy spending some time reading and in nature hiking.

Minkyeong Kim, Project Assistant

As a project assistant at PESSL, I provide administrative support for both internally and externally funded projects, including dissemination, communication activities, and preparation of documents and reports. I graduated from Sookmyung Women's University in Seoul, Korea with a degree in Business Administration and Economics. With diverse experience in Finance and HR departments, my communication skills are adaptable and borderless. I am passionate about the agricultural field and its potential and I'm thrilled to be part of the team PESSL. In my free time, I love to explore new cultures through travel and photography.