Award Data

Image processing methods have been studied and implemented for the vehicle classification over the past decades. The most dominant approach is the use of vehicle dimension, which requires complex processes of sensor calibration as the vehicle dimensions shown in the imagery are heavily dependent on the camera’s field of view. In general, video systems have physical disadvantages related to the ...

The respiration of fresh fruits and vegetables (FF & amp;V) converts oxygen from the surrounding air into carbon dioxide, moisture and ethylene. While ethylene is used under controlled conditions as a ripening agent, the presence of even small amounts of ethylene gas in shipping and storage containers causes most fresh produce to deteriorate much faster, potentially spoiling it before it reaches t ...

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecological approach to managing insect pests in agricultural crops, which involves analyzing comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests, their interaction with the environment, past and current conditions of the crop field, etc., in order to provide growers with pest management decisions that are optimal both economically and environmentally. Frequ ...

This project will develop a catalytic process to manufacture a new renewable and degradable bio-plastic that could be used to replace polyethylene in many applications, including those that constitute a large part of land and ocean litter such as bags, food packaging and disposable tableware.

The production of turpentine in the U.S. exceeded 301,000 tons in 2004 (Romney 2004) and the production of resin acids exceeded 800,000 ton in 2003 (Romney 2004), which also includes the production from directly tapping trees (e.g., gum turpentine, gum rosin). There is growing demand for bio-plastics (non-petroleum derived polymers); for example Pepsi announced it will be using bio-plastic bottles ...

Modern agriculture is highly dependent on nitrogen (N) fertilization to maintain high yields and profitability. In organic agriculture, cover crops and bulky organic amendments supply N; transport costs can be prohibitive, and energy used in transport is substantial. In conventional agriculture, industrial N fixation uses natural gas, high temperatures, and high pressures to convert atmospheric N ...

U.S. live fish exports are growing and have further potential for growth. In 2009 live fish U.S. exports were on the order of $44 million. In 2012, there was unique opportunity in the live eel export market and there were reports of $100-150 million in exports in that species alone. The overall goal of this project is to provide active oxygenation during the transportation of live aquaculture prod ...

Currently, there is no suitable method of monitoring the mass flux of particulate material such as flour, sugar, chocolate chips, etc. for a continuous production process. Therefore, many of the food products are manufactured using batch processes, with very high inefficiencies and wide variation in the quality of the end product. If a continuous particulate mass flux sensor were available, then f ...

This sensor development project is responsive to the societal challenge areas of 1) Climate Change and 2) Sustainable Bioenergy. Hydrogen sulfide emissions from agricultural enterprises, especially those associated with large animal feeding lots, can impact the climate. A monitoring system to better map the spatial and temporal distribution of hydrogen sulfide emissions can be factored into local ...

Animal agriculture is a $100 billion per year industry in the United States (Copeland, 2010). Livestock and poultry are raised on an estimated 1.3 million farms throughout the nation. About 238,000 of these farms are considered animal feeding operations (AFO)-agricultural enterprises where animals are kept and raised in confinement that result in emissions to the air of particles and gases such as ...