Overview

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Sensors are devices that measure various characteristics of an object of interest. They have so many industrial and consumer applications today that they have become necessary components of our daily lives. Most home appliances contain several, and present-day automobiles will not work without them. Sensors make consumer products safer, more user friendly, and more functional. In partnership with land-grant universities and other agencies, this program area supports development of robust sensors and instrumentation and associated software for observing, modeling, and analyzing a wide range of complex biological materials or chemical compounds, life forms, and processes. Sensor technologies, developed through the efforts of universities, industry, government, and CSREES and its partners, can have similar beneficial impacts when applied to agricultural, food, and forest production, processing, and product use.

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In Focus

• CSREES NPL Dan Schmoldt delivered the keynote address at an international biological sensorics symposium.
• Many types of sensor systems have been developed over the years.
• Scientists are exploring a variety of sensor applications in agriculture, food, and the environment.
• Decision support systems (DSS) can help decisionmakers analyze and understand sensor data.

Partnerships

• CSREES is on the Regional Committee on Controlled Environment Technology and Use, which assists plant scientists with growth chamber and greenhouse technology.
• CSREES is represented on the Regional Committee on Site-Specific Management (NCR-180), which addresses spatial and temporal variability in crop production.
• CSREES works in a multi-agency group that collaborates with NASA's Earth Science Enterprise and USDA agencies to apply NASA data products and models.

Events

• Competitive Grants Grantsmanship Workshops, Washington, DC/Salt Lake City, UT, September/October, 2008.
• Galaxy III Conference: "Celebrating the Extension System: Strengths, Diversity, and Unique Qualities," Indianapolis, IN, September 15-19, 2008.

Selected Results and Impacts

• CSREES funding is helping Auburn University Detection & Food Safety Center commercialize a number of different sensors for food inspection applications.
• CSREES-sponsored food safety research appears on the cover of Food Technology magazine.
• Land-grant universities are conducting CSREES-funded research on precision farming through formula funding.


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Resources

• Pulse Newsletter, Department of Energy (DOE). HTL and PDF format highlights of cutting edge science and energy research at DOE labs, collaborations, and more.
• "Turning Small Snapshots Into A Bigger Picture for Sustainability," CSREES. A 2004 Annual International Society for Optical Engineering Conference keynote.
• Sensor Technology Grant Programs From Other Federal Agencies, CSREES. A listing of funding for non-standard sensor technologies from other federal agencies.


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Contacts

Daniel Schmoldt

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