Dr. Raquel Martínez Peña visited the Information Technology group of Prof. dr. Bedir Tekinerdogan at the Wageningen University (WU) and the Netherlands Plant Eco-phenotyping Centre from November 8 to November 21, 2023. The STSM focused on remote sensing techniques for woody crops.
During her two-week stay, Dr. Martínez Peña immersed herself in the picture processing methods and technologies applicable for Pistachio and Almond orchards in Spain. The mission included exploring UAVs, satellites like Sentinel-2-Copernicus, and using software like Agisoft Metashape and QGIS. These sensor data of RGB, multispectral and thermal cameras were corelated to water stress of the plants.
The primary achievement was the successful collaboration between research groups. Dr. Martínez Peña plans to implement her newfound knowledge at the Regional Institute for Agri-Food and Forestry Research and Development of Castilla-La Mancha (IRIAF), addressing climate change and water scarcity in crop cultivation. Ongoing efforts involve deepening data analysis in vineyards, evaluating irrigation sufficiency, and publishing a review research article with the FruitCREWS Working Group 1. Future plans include organizing a technology workshop at the regional agriculture center and potential international stays by WU members to assist in measurements during the 2023/24 campaign.
The STSM at WU has not only enhanced Dr. Martínez Peña‘s research capabilities but has also laid the foundation for impactful collaborations in agricultural practices.