LEE200C- RFT for the supply and Delivery of a Drone with Two (2) Hyper Spectral Lidar cameras to UCD

Description

Dr. Julio Isidro Sánchez is a lecturer in crop science with a background in plant breeding and genetics as well as in phenotyping. The hyperspectral and LiDar cameras will be at the core of Dr. Isidro-Sánchez´s new research group in Ireland and instrumental for his future research grant bings. The instrument will facilitate his active integration and collaborations with the Irish research community on projects of major significance to future Irish food production. Because of a reduction in genotyping costs and single-nucleotide polymorphisms, it is possible to obtain a large amount of genotypic data in a short time. This flood of genomic information has triggered the development of new strategies for the integration of molecular information in breeding programs. However, there is still a need for quality phenotypic data. Field high throughput platforms will combine non-invasive remote- sensing methods, together with automated environmental data collection. Hyperspectral and LiDar cameras on a UAV drone will be used to for screening of agronomic, physiological, and biochemical traits expressing especially under biotic and abiotic stresses. With this equipment, Dr. Isidro-Sánchez will identify of either the best genotype having the desirable traits or mechanism and genes that make a genotype the best. This includes development of high throughput non-invasive imaging technologies including colour imaging for biomass, plant structure, phenology and leaf health (chlorosis, necro- sis).