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1st National Workshop on Smart Farming and Data Analytics in Ireland (SFDAI)

Jun 7, 2019 | Farm Viability News

The 1st National Workshop on Smart Farming and Data Analytics in Ireland (SFDAI) organised by Dr. Peter Mooney and Dr. Liadh Kelly from the Department of Computer Science at Maynooth University is taking place on Wednesday, June 12th, 2019 in the Eolas Building, North Campus, Maynooth, Co. Kildare. The National Rural Network are proud to one of the supporters of this event.

Overview

Smart Farming represents the application of modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) into agriculture. Smart Farming sees the combined application of ICT solutions such as precision equipment, the Internet of Things (IoT), sensors and actuators, geo-positioning systems, Big Data, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs, drones), robotics, etc. Practically, Smart Farming should provide the farmer with added value in the form of better decision making, new knowledge about their farm or more efficient operations and management of the farm itself.

Primary Goals of the Workshop

The two primary goals of the workshop are to (1) highlight to farmers and the agricultural community the innovations possible in Ireland through an exploration of data analytics for Smart Farming, and (2) to interact and learn from the farming community so that researchers and scientist can develop a research agenda for Smart Farming data analytics in order to bring about the practical reality of Smart Farming and Data Analytics.

Keynote Speakers

The keynote speakers for this workshop are Mr. Darragh McCullough and Prof. Thia Hennessy. Darragh and Thia are very well known in the agricultural domain in Ireland (and beyond). Both speakers will give a keynote talk at the beginning of our workshop. In these talks both speakers will outline their thoughts and experiences on Smart Farming in Ireland, where they see challenges ahead, and what solutions are out there. Both speakers will participate fully in the entire workshop so attendees will have plenty of time to ask them questions and seek their opinions/advice.

Workshop Programme

The programme is designed to be all inclusive of the different backgrounds of all workshop participants. The core part of the workshop will be the breakout sessions in the morning and the demo sessions in the afternoon.

Time Programme Activity
08.45-9.30 Registration Desk will open.  Tea and Coffee will be available to participants who arrive during this time.
09.30-9.45 Welcome and introduction to the workshop and scene setting.
09.45-10.50 Two invited Keynote Presentations: In these talks both speakers will outline their thoughts and experiences on Smart Farming in Ireland, where they see challenges ahead, and what solutions are out there. There will be some time for a selection of questions from the audience
10.50-11.00 Introduction to the breakout sessions and breakout group forming
11.00 – 11.30   Tea/Coffee break and networking.
11.30 – 12.40  Breakout group discussions: The idea of a breakout session is to organise all participants into small groups within smaller rooms for informal discussion. One of the workshop organisers (a rapporteur) is appointed to write down the key points of the breakout group discussion and to also manage and organise the discussion in the group. Breakout groups will be tasked with specific questions to discuss, such as “What are the barriers to Smart Farming in Ireland?” or “What do farmers want from Smart Farming and Data Analytics?”
12.40 – 13.00 Breakout groups report back and group discussion (with time for raising of other issues/points)
13.00 – 14.20   Lunch and Networking. Lunch will be provided in the Phoenix Restaurant on the MU campus
14.20-16.15  Demo sessions: There will be 3 demo sessions, each of around 30 minute duration. You will be given time to walk between the demo locations which are very close to each other.
16.15-16.30 Closing – wrap up, time to raise final points by attendees.
There will be some time for additional networking and informal conversation after the workshop has ended.

Workshop Supporters

This workshop is supported by: Department of Computer Science, Maynooth University; Department of Geography, Maynooth University; the U-Flyte project and National Center for Geocomputation, Maynooth University; the School of Business, Maynooth University; The National Rural Network, and Society of Chartered Surveyors (SCSI).

More information about this event can be found here: http://www.cs.nuim.ie/~pmooney/sfdai2019/

Download the poster for this event here.

1st National Workshop on Smart Farming and Data Analytics in Ireland (SFDAI) Promotional Image

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