U of I researchers aim to help farmers by improving production, irrigation

CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Mohamad Alipour, an assistant civil engineering professor at the University of Illinois, joined WCIA’s Amanda Brennan in the studio to talk about a research project which is using drones to help farmers.

Alipour said the team is developing ways to monitor soil and crop moisture with drones; the drones use a sensor that allow them to see through the plant and into the soil.

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“The end goal of the project is for the farmers to be able to detect early signs of water stress in their plants so they can make smarter decisions about their plants during the growing season,” Alipour said.

Innovative microwave sensors deployed on an unmanned aerial system over the I-FARM facility for soil and biomass sensing in 2024. Courtesy of Mohamad Alipour.

Many farms in Illinois don’t have irrigation systems, which can negatively impact their crops. But, Alipour said if farmers can detect droughts early, then they can adjust and improve production.

“It’s really about turning complex data into, really, a clear, impactful insight for the farmers,” he said.

The Center for Digital Agriculture (CDA) and the Prairie Research Institute (PRI) teamed up to help fund the project. Along with Alipour, the research team includes Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist and PRI research scientist, Elahe Soltanaghai, assistant computer science professor at the U of I and CDA affiliate, and Adam Watts from the USDA Forest Service.

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